Where Daffodils Dance – 20″ x 16″ Oil on canvas $1450
This is the only daffodil painting I created this spring, which feels a little surprising given how much I look forward to their appearance each year. I have a few small garden beds in my backyard where they grow, and this time, I was a little less hesitant about cutting them to bring indoors. I gathered a fuller bouquet than usual—something that felt both satisfying and a bit uncomfortable. There’s always a tension between abundance and restraint, and I think that feeling made its way into the painting.
The arrangement came together on a quiet morning with a friend, who brought over some vintage fabric swatches to explore. We chose a blue and cream patterned cloth that hinted—at least to me—of pineapples, though that wasn’t the actual motif. It lent a gentle energy and structure to the composition, and provided a nice balance to the vibrant yellow blooms. A green apple, lemon, and lime rounded out the scene, offering both color harmony and a grounded everyday presence. The tan pottery jug is one I’ve returned to many times in my still life work. Familiar and well-loved, it feels like a conversation partner—each time I paint it, I notice something new.
Looking at Where Daffodils Dance now, I see the gesture of spring carried forward in color, curve, and light. The composition is generous without being loud. It captures the feeling of a moment that has been gathered with care—a bouquet that won’t last forever, but holds something honest and hopeful in the meantime.
The paintings palette carries warmth, freshness, and a nod to tradition through the vintage textile. Painted in a loose, expressive style that balances realism with painterly brushwork, this piece captures the fleeting energy of spring with both intimacy and confidence. It would sit beautifully in a sunlit kitchen, a reading room, or anywhere that invites pause and uplift.
Please scroll through to see the still life set up and other angles of the painting!
Categories: Flowers, Nature, New Paintings, Original oil paintings, Seasonal art, Still Life
Perfect for spring!
Thank you!