Peony Explosion
Dennis Perrin
Throughout the year I paint flowers. And mostly those flowers come from faraway places like Ecuador, for the growing season for the flowers I love to paint is excruciatingly short here in New England. But every June, the peony bushes in my garden burgeon with silky, lush peony blossoms, which for me is an annual call to action. I do all I can in the short window I have, to create paintings that prominently feature these unspeakably beautiful flowers that I have carefully nurtured into being. This week so far I've put 3 new pieces down on canvas, and my plans are to get some more going and completed before the season ends this week. Here's the week's produce so far:
This is called "Sunburst Paeonia" because of the brilliance of these beauties in the direct sun. I love the challenge of painting peonies on the bush in the sunlight. It's daunting yet exhilarating, and oh, so satisfying when they work! This painting is 20" x 16," oil on canvas.
Each Peony season I like to do at least one "major" peony still life. This typically happens during a rainy day or two, which causes me to retreat to the studio. I chose a square format for the compositional challenge it presents, and the deep rich background tones to perfectly complement the creamy whites and high key magentas of the peonies. I call this one "Paeonia Proliferation," because it seems when the peonies start, they just keep coming. This is 24" square, oil on canvas.
Finally, I always like to have a figure in the mix when painting peonies, so Aimee and set this one up on the first sunny day after the rains and painted it alla prima. I love the juicy-ness of the flowers set against the statuesque figure and the dark shadow of the porch. And, as always with peonies, the ever elusive playful dance between the warm and cool colors in the blossoms. Oh, Peony, how you move me! "Garden Study: Peonies and Figure in Sunlight," oil on canvas, 20" x 16."
Have a wonderful week! And, by all means, let me know what you think.