Bespoke Poppies on a Purple wall - yummm!

These were made just for this hallway that connects the front entry to the dining room and kitchen. The owners spotted my work at the Rochester Art and Apples Festival this year where they were inspired by another poppy piece that was not quite big enough. Fortunately, I was able to see the space and help them solve the challenge of making the work so that it could be seen from either end of the hall. We did it by creating two companion pieces that are 3' x 3' each and spaced them a little over one foot apart.

The following picture is a close up of the pieces on my easel.

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.

Poppies, single and double
































Oil paintings of poppies on 11" x 14" panels that have a 3/4" cradle. The edges are painted such that they could be hung without a frame. Contact Pierre Paul Gallery for purchase.

Poppy Triptyk





































These 3 pieces were designed to be hung together vertically. They are each 12" x 12" oil paint on canvas. The paint was mostly applied with a knife providing for a heavy texture. These pieces may be purchased through Pierre Paul Gallery.

Poppy Study 2



















SOLD - 14" x 11" Oil on 3/4" wrapped canvas. This is another little practice sketch with my palette knife. I started the big (4' x 5') poppy piece last night! Will post a progress of that work soon.

Poppy Study 1















SOLD - This little oil painting is 11"x14" and is painted with a palette knife. I have a couple of larger poppy pieces in the works and I wanted to brush up on my knife skills as at least one of them is going to end up being painted entirely with the knife.