Oil on canvas, 16”x20”

This was my first completed painting of 2025, part of a series of flowers I had been exploring for several months. Flower paintings have always had a calming effect on me, the process is quiet, steady, and peaceful, and this one was no different.

Here, an all-blue palette transforms the rose into something both meditative and abstract. Without the distraction of multiple colors, the eye is drawn to the sculptural qualities of the petals: their curves, folds, and shadows, revealing a presence that is delicate yet strong.

I’ve found that flowers painted in shades of blue have an especially soothing effect. After finishing each painting, I hang it in my home for a while to see how it feels in daily life. This one, like my other blue paintings, radiated calm…peaceful and meditative.