Loaded on the truck and rolling this morning...

Poppy Ensemble 4' x 5'

These big bold beauties and I are off to the Birmingham Street Art Fair .  I know that means I run the risk of selling them even though they would look fantastic over my own fireplace; which currently has nothing but hanging hardware installed over it! A former boss and lady friend of mine (with an authentic Irish accent) would always say "the cobbler's kids never have any shoes!"

I started this piece weeks ago with no specific thoughts about the color other than the subject. Then, I met some customers in Rochester that have a spot for a big poppy but not quite this big. I used their swatches to inspire the color of this piece. This is one way that I often work. A composition in mind and then something completely separate from the subject that might inspire the color and mood. In this case it was a group of paint swatches. BTW if you ever want to talk paint swatches, I speak fluent Benjamin Moore...yum, my favorite!


Here is a close up of the paint swatches and my palette:

Benjamin Moore Paint Swatches and a sampling from my palette below.

Red Poppies for Heidi installed:

30" x 40" is the perfect size for over a buffet!

This piece made the long journey to Montreal in perfect condition! I was almost as proud of my packing job as I was the painting. You know you are "seriously" packing something when it requires a trip to Lowe's.

Thank you to Heidi for sharing this photo and for keeping the faith during this long distance project. What a nice addition to a very sophisticated dining room! BTW, the walls are "Tyler Taupe" by Benjamin Moore. You can't beat Benjamin Moore's paint colors. My favorite back-drop to an original Kim Rhoney painting!

Shipping off to Montreal, Quebec!!!    This piece was commissioned for a client in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Quebec which is about 30 minutes from Montreal city center. How exciting for me to have an opportunity to export such a lovely piece to an international collector! The deep red of the poppies were the vision of the client and the composition was inspired by a previous piece. I am very please with the finished result and look forward to posting a picture of the finished piece hanging in her dining room! 

Title:  "Red Poppies for Heidi - "30" x 40" Oil on Canvas