YOUR FAVORITE FLOWER?

PEONY PASSION
by Sea Dean
10" x 8" Low Profile Wrap Canvas


Currently available at Daily Paintworks

RADIATE I
by Sea Dean
6" x 6" Wrap Canvas
Framed as shown
Now available at Artfinder


With all the garden shows in our area it's hard to ignore that this is flower season. I read a blog recently that asked for readers to share their favorite flower. I was quite fascinated to read the answers. I wonder if blogs in other parts of the world would come up with different results. I actually went back and counted all 270 choices and the clear winner was the lucious PEONY chosen 34 times,  followed by the DAISY with 25 (no surprises there) and runner up, a tie between ROSES and SUNFLOWERS. Also popular were POPPY, a favorite of Georgia O' Keefe with 14 votes and HYDRANGEA with 15 votes, both loved by many daily painters.

GIVERNY 1900 by Sea Dean after Claude Monet

 Currently Available at Daily Paintworks

Some surprises were that Claude Monets favorites, IRIS and WATERLILY had only one vote each and they are some of the most famous flower paintings in the world. There were also some unusual one vote flowers to research; the amusing Dutchmans Britches, Maga and Margarita, Psychotria Elata (which apparently looks like lips), Spiked Rampion, Schersmin, Laurina Blossom, Lisianthus and Borage. More surprises came with Gladiolus, Cherry Blossom, Orchid, and Carnation with only one or two votes. And Daffodils only 5 votes and Tulips only 7. Even grouping all types of lily, they still only achieved 9 votes.

STAR PERFORMANCE by Sea Dean SOLD

My favorite bouquet flower is STARGAZER LILY. They are outrageously beautiful and their perfume is out of this world. I love receiving cut flowers, but so many die or droop quickly, not the proud Stargazer! I also love luscious deep red PEONIES and PETUNIAS because my father planted them and I plan to paint the gorgeous bouquet of silk peonies on my dining table at the moment. In memory of my grandmother, who loved her small garden, there are, HYDRANGEAS and PANSIES. For my sister her name translates as LILY OF THE VALLEY. For my mother SUNFLOWERS AND GERANIUM for garden favorites and GLADIOLI as cut flowers.

More of my favorites are VIOLETS and SNOWDROPS, which stir memories of making posies for my mother, grandmother and teachers when I was a child. And BLUEBELLS, BUTTERCUPS, COWSLIPS, DAISIES, FIREWEED, FOX GLOVES, FRANGIPANI, HOLLYHOCKS, LUPINES, SNAP DRAGONS and STEPHANOTIS all have their special place in my heart.

BUTTER UP BUTTERCUP by Sea Dean

Currently Available at Daily Paintworks

I think we usually choose certain flowers because they have a special connection, perhaps they were a grandmother's favorite, or it starred in your first bouquet. I've given my choices and now it's your turn. What are your favorite flowers and why? I love to read your comments.

TEA AND HYDRANGEAS ACEO

TEA AND HYDRANGEAS
ORIGINAL ACEO BY SEA DEAN
3.5" x 2.5"
On Auction starting at just $11

To view my Gallery or purchase this painting please visit Daily Paintworks. Larger originals or prints may be available by contacting me. You may also view ALL my available ACEO in my Facebook Gallery here.

I'm giving one of my favourite miniatures a reprise today. I painted this in memory of my grandmother who had the most amazing pink and blue Hydrangeas in her garden.

Cat 13040 Tea and Hydrangeas

TEA AND HYDRANGEAS

TEA and HYDRANGEAS

ORIGINAL ACEO OOAK  
3.5" x 2.5" 
To view my Gallery or purchase this painting please visit Daily Paintworks. For immediate shipping inquire about the "Buy Now" price available if there is no current bid. Ask about larger originals in the same series or prints.
 

Hydrangeas always remind me of my Nana. At her house, when you came out of the kitchen, there was a cold outside loo directly across from you. A few steps down past the laundry copper was what today we would call a patio, but to her was the back yard. In front of you was the shed where all the action took place, mangling the clothes, fixing things, storing the boys precious motor bikes etc. And on the right was a tiny garden, with a concrete edge, in which brightly coloured pansies and Nana's huge blue and pink Hydrangeas were always in bloom.

The kettle was always on the hob in Nanas kitchen and strong tea was served up to all and sundry with heaps of white sugar and creamy milk. If you were lucky it was laundry day and there was spotted dick or treacle pudding steamed in the laundry copper. Or perhaps there was baked rice pudding or homemade jam on a crusty white bread. Ah those were the days!

Now Nana had a secret! There was no such thing as tea bags back then, so there was the challenge of what to do with the tea leaves. Never one to waste anything, Nana would pop out to the garden patch, swish around the spent leaves with a bit of water from the tap and empty them at the base of her Hydrangeas. This completely confounded me, why put black tea waste on such a beautiful display of colour? But one day Nana told me her secret, that tea was what gave the Hydrangeas their colour and made them grow big and beautiful! Needless to say whenever I see a Hydrangea I think of my Nana.

Now every time you see a Hydrangea you will think of my Nana too and perhaps one day you will pass on her secret to your granddaughter.

Cat # 13040 Tea and Hydrangeas