FLOWER SERIES

I resisted painting flowers as a central subject matter in my work for a long time. When I really thought about it, I realized it had to do with the temporal, transient nature of  this form in nature. Flowers, whether growing or cut are always changing from one day to the next. Somehow, that bothered me. How could something so beautiful be subject to such transience, it's time of peak beauty lasting only days, not years or decades. I guess they reminded me of my own mortality.  I realized this subconscious prejudice made no sense. Immortalizing beauty, however transient or fleeting is the central focus of what I had always done. And in the grand scheme of things, EVERYTHING decays and dies, given enough time. The most beautiful paintings, the grandest sculpture are all subject to decay and destruction. I'm grateful I was able to put my prejudices aside because it opened the door to a new area of exploration.