This oil painting was inspired by the fresh, vibrant colors of summer found in a simple glass jar of zinnias and a green milk glass mixing bowl. For me there is a sentimental tie to the past and present. I can get nostalgic around vintage wares and things that remind me of a less complicated way of life. I think today’s version of that simplification are emerging in the form of tiny homes and people living “off the grid”.

In this piece a creative blend of geometric shapes provide a contemporary twist to the “old time” character of the canning jar and mixing bowl. The painting has a modern art influence even with it’s traditional subject matter. The shapes are kept simple and infused with vibrant fresh colors that have an edge of the unexpected. I use a lot of flat color with loose and more planned applications of the paint. I think the challenges were capturing the sense of nostalgia while grounding the colors and shapes in a way that’s fresh and exciting. Finding the middle ground where both enhance each other is a delicate process.

The painting was a joy to create and I am grateful for a friend who contributed the flowers. Unfortunately, this year my zinnias didn’t really come up the way they have in the past.

If you have any questions on the painting or nostalgic memories around vintage wares you would like to share, I’d love to hear from you. Contact.

Categories: Flowers, New Paintings, Still LifeTags: art, art for sale, artist, colorful paintings, contemporary art, contemporary women artists, expressionism, floral still life, glass canning jars, modern art, nostalgic art, oil painting, oil paintings, painting, rendered impressions, zinnias