Sweet Peas

Oil on Birch Board 5x5

• Original $125.00 set in a gold floating frame

• Showing at Meetinghouse Arts, Freeport, Maine August 1 - September 7 unless sold

• Previously shown at Neiley Gallery and Studio, Freeport Maine.

My love for sweet peas began during my time in Seattle in the 1990s. There is nothing more mesmerizing than the cornucopia of sweet pea bouquets at Pike Place Market. The market's vibrant atmosphere is elevated by the intoxicating, thick scent of sweet peas filling the air. As I painted these flowers, I couldn't help but reminisce about those delightful days spent exploring Seattle's bustling market.

Upon moving to Boston, I longed to grow my own sweet peas. Despite my best efforts, they struggled to thrive. Then, in June of 2002, everything changed. That year, my first sweet pea bloomed, and on the very same day, I discovered I was pregnant with my daughter. My daughter's birth was a moment of pure joy, and I soon noticed something that made me smile. She was born with a birthmark on her foot, shaped like the delicate petals of a sweet pea flower.

The painting's composition reflects the delicate beauty of the sweet peas, with their tendrils reaching out like tiny fingers, holding onto nearby supports for stability. Their blossoms are a symphony of colors, ranging from pale pinks and crimsons to deeper fiery red oranges. and whites with subtle gradations in color.

Sweet peas have woven themselves into the tapestry of my life, from the bustling markets of Seattle to the quiet serenity of my Boston garden. Now in Maine, I refuse to keep trying. Wish me luck as I dream of tendrils framing my garden arch this summer and becoming the backdrop to my garden wedding!

The Process

How I LOVE painting on large canvases! The bigger the better. So creating a little beauty on a ‘itsy-bitsy’ of a 5x5 was a wonderful exercise on just capturing the essence with brushstrokes. The use of color is key to capturing the vibrancy, without overwhelming with detail. I look forward to an entire series of flowers, farm veggies, and birds in these ‘itsy-bitsy’ sizes that are perfect for kitchens, bathrooms, and hallways.