Clippings from the Garden

It’s a beautiful day in the neighbourhood. I have been busy tending to my little garden, my sanctuary, this past several months without a painting to speak of. But I had plenty of pictures of the wildlife going on in my garden. For a little little garden it is busy with a lot of activities, and inspiration, too!. This is all just outside of my door steps. There are probably enough going on for David Attenborough to make an hour long documentary.

I took some clippings from the garden and arrange them in a vase for a still life. Actually I like to randomly set things. I find that if I put a lot of thought into where to place an object, the arrangement feels contrived to me, and then it seems to convey in the painting. Anyway I did a few sketches before settling on one which became this painting, Clippings from the Garden (Oil on panel, 24 by 18 inches). I used a limited palette and a one-inch flat brush making limited brush strokes and marks. I am please with just a few elements in this painting.

Clippings from the garden

Oil on panel, 24 by 18 inches