One of my favorite clients called a few days ago and asked me to repaint and add to a mural project I did for them about five years ago. Then I panted dinosaurs for their boys and sunshine and flowers for the young girl. The boys have outgrown their dinosaurs, but she still likes the flowers. It was fun to update the colors and add more in her expanded room.

Little Girl's Room

10' x 10' x 20'

completed May 26,2009

"Mourning Cloak on Crab Apple Blossoms"

Oil on canvas panel 16"x20"

sold

Shortly after our family home was built in 1949, my mother, Ruthilda, planted a flowering Crab Apple tree on the East side of the house spaced between the living room and kitchen windows. Nearly every year of its life it has put on a spectacular display of pinkness each May. In recent years it blooms only every other year. Last year, not one bloom. While that was nice in the autumn (walking in crab apple wine pulp is not pleasant...), I did miss the spring show. I was determined to make three images of the blossoms this year. Timing is everything for this to happen. Many years the tree flowers glorious pink one day, fades to a pale pink in the sun the next day, and has its blossoms blown away in the wind the third day.

I was concerned that would happen while I went to Salt Lake City on May 2nd.

Miracles happen! When I returned to Burley, cool temperatures and rain had kept the blossoms tightly shut. They opened the day after I returned and cool weather kept them beautiful for nearly two weeks!

I was able to use them as the source for the three paintings I wished!

One year I suffered a springtime cold and was sitting in the living room gazing at the tree when I noticed a Mourning Cloak butterfly flittering among the blossoms. I have used that image in watercolor several times. This is the first venture in oil. If the tree and I both live to Spring 2011, I will give it another go.

"Mourning Cloak on Crab Apple Blossoms"

Oil on canvas panel 16"x20"

sold

Shortly after our family home was built in 1949, my mother, Ruthilda, planted a flowering crab apple tree on the East side of the house spaced between the living room and kitchen windows.

"Garden Flowers"

(Work in progress)

Oil on Canvas 36"x18"

Last spring I began this painting of all the flower types that grow in the garden here. I was able to complete early spring flowers, but then was unable to continue. Also, the crab apple tree did not bloom last year and I really wanted it included. It has been in bloom now for two days! It is beautiful and this year there are more bees buzzing around it than in the last few blooming periods. That is happy news.

Though this is an incomplete painting, I decided to include it today and post it as it progresses through the summer. Columbine will be next, then roses, daisies, zinnias.....

Below is a detail of the most nearly complete section.

"Garden Flowers"

(Detail)