Flowers are nature at its most beautiful. The designs are so complex, and the colors are endless. Flowers are a favorite subject of mine. Painting them is exciting and challenging; it allows me the opportunity to create through negative painting. I apply a loose, watery background of color and paint over it to form the shape of the flowers. The end result is an artistic interpretation of nature.

In this painting, the flowers are common California sunflowers done in transparent watercolor. I see them often, and they never lose their appeal. The flowers are a perfect setting for the ever-present black-capped chickadee. It nestles in among the blossoms and is almost unseen.