I am a painter who often sets up his easel before a grand and glorious vista: my landscapes encompass the majesty of towering mountains or the vastness of the sea – as they celebrate the wonders of God’s creation. Sometimes I prefer the more intimate pleasures of a garden, where the formal pattern of trees, flowers, and architectural elements suggests a wonderful harmony between the works of man and God.
Rarely do I narrow my focus to still life, in essence bringing the glory of nature indoors to savor the delicate perfection of a still-life. That’s what I’ve done in Lilac Bouquet, where the horizon becomes, in effect, the walls of a room, and the glory of nature is concentrated into a single vase of flowers.
My challenge in Lilac Bouquet is to convey the sensual experience of the garden in my portrayal of this lavish bouquet. I want my viewers to delight at the delicate contrast of mauves and purples, to sense the rich perfume of lilacs wafting on the breeze, to imagine the buzz of bees hovering about the flowers. Lilac Bouquet extends my celebration of this regal and fragrant shrub; it is, in effect, a companion to Lilac Gazebo, reminding us that in any setting lilacs are lavish and lovely.
