I got more flowers and added them to the existing bunch. And I started a second study. This one measures 24 x 18. I omitted the vase this time. In this study I’m just focused on the flowers themselves. But I keep adding new blooms to the group and some of what I painted reflects the bouquet the way it looked before the new additions. So it’s confusing.
But the main thing is that I’m looking at these flowers and painting them. I’ll keep painting flowers. When these wear out, I’ll get some more and paint those. I must sort these flowers out because even though I’m emulating Bonnard’s big dining room picture, La Salle à manger sur le Jardin, it has no flowers so I am already striking out on my own path. Paintings can change quickly. I started with Bonnard’s idea, but just the inclusion of the bouquet begins to nudge the whole motif into a different direction.
This flower direction is a good one to travel. The flowers exert some pull upon me. They suit my temperament, and I spend hours staring at them, describing their forms and colors with bits of paint.
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