I can’t imagine any artist not loving spring! The season is never long enough for all the painting ideas that emerge with each new bud and flower. Years ago I realized that it was hopeless to try to paint everything in season so now I make notes, photograph flowers and sketch every chance I get and count on gloomier days to turn those ideas into paintings.

Since so many of my paintings hint at the small stories of nature and gardens, taking note of the goings-on of birds and visiting bunnies is at least as important as noticing color combinations that intrigue me. Driving in the car I had a split second image of a blooming cherry tree we passed. Amid the pale pink flowers sat a bright red cardinal! It isn’t a combination I would have normally thought of but it was dramatic and will eventually turn up in a painting I’m sure.

For fast sketches in color I like to play with Yupo synthetic paper.  It is easy to drip and mix the colors to catch the attitude of the subjects and save them for another day.