This cheerful summer still life came by way of an afternoon cutting some newly blooming zinnia’s from my garden. I have enjoyed planting zinnias over the past 2 years and look forward to their vibrant palette of colors each summer. This years flowers came from seeds I harvested from last years zinnia planting. It was fun to learn how to do that.
The painting has a comforting warm nature with lots of texture and a spontaneous feel.
This is indicative of how the painting came to be. It was something that wasn’t planned but inspired by just enjoying how this little gathering seemed to resonate so well with the simple glass canning jar.
Categories: Flowers, Nature, New Paintings, Still Life, The Aura of Flowers Collection
CATHERINE J MARTZLOFF / Bright and Expressive Original Oil Paintings 
How long does it take you to do a painting?
Hi! It varies from painting to painting. Some seem to flow more easily than others. It’s hard to really attach a time to them. When I paint out doors (plein-air) the whole idea is to respond to the environment and work quickly. Those could take 3 hours or so and then I still may let it sit in my studio for a bit the next day or two, to see if there are things I want to go back in and modify. Thanks for the question.
Wow! you must be so talented to be able to get into the flow and create something so beautiful in such a relatively short time.
Thank you for the compliment. I appreciate it. It does take practice. I’ve put a lot of time into painting on a regular basis over the years and still do. I think that definitely helped me. That is one of the benefits of plein-air as a practice. One learns to respond and not get too wrapped up in thinking because the scene changes rapidly due to the light.
I imagine it is very rewarding, and also therapeutic.
Yes, it is that! Maybe that’s part of an unconscious desire to keep coming back to it.