Each Summer, our backyard is host to a flurry of activity. My wife, Son and I have emptied the green house and the plants placed into the ground or strategically placed pots dotting the landscape. Animals both footed and winged have grown accustomed to the feeders and have enjoyed the bounty of our retirement salaries. Feasting on suet and black sunflower seeds they have welcomed their families and friends into our yard. With this bounty comes some unexpected and delightful surprises. Seeds that escaped the veracious appetites of the wildlife sprout into volunteer sunflowers. These plants are wonderful for paintings in that they are stationary and don’t seem to mind me painting their likeness. Armed with paint and a painting blade I have captured two such volunteers. The painting is highly textured, giving the flowers an almost 3-dimensional appearance.

Acrylic paint on artist board glued to cradled wooden board. Measurement: painting: 9 inches wide by 12 inches; cradled board: 11 wide by inches 14 inches tall by 0.75 inches deep.