I’ve managed to stay fairly optimistic about this never-ending winter in Calgary… until now. The April 14th snowstorm was the last straw and today I woke up to more snow. I am now wondering if the tulips in my garden are going to survive this. Last year they were partway up on March 29th, and I’ve been waiting and waiting to paint them.
Yesterday I broke down and bought some tulips, and at 10:30 last night I decided to set up a still life. I was looking at my still life and thinking that I may not get to paint it until Tuesday since we are having company tonight and I work tomorrow. Then I thought, “it’s perfect right now, just paint it now.” I worked until 2 am (that’s when I took the photo at left). It was fantastic! The painting wasn’t quite finished, but there wasn’t much left to do today: mostly detail in the leaves, flowers and vase.
Here is the finished painting, which is now my favourite still life painting EVER! That is, until I do my next painting.
I see now why I did not get into the shows I applied to—it was a bit premature before, but I’m still glad I applied. Now I can get on with making a good body of work and apply again.
Dayna Bordage Art 
Dayna,It’s looking fab. I love it!
Marie
Thank you Marie!
Looking forward to all that spring will bring to your work. I’ve always loved your still life paintings, and this is no exception.
Yes, I am SO looking forward to spring this year!
i love all the different shades of orange! But i gotta say, this only comes second in my heart to my two tulip paintings in my staircase. Altho this one also has a great story behind it . . .
It actually looks better in real life though. I’m having trouble capturing the orange in a photo. It is very orange, but the tulips are actually not the same orange as the drapes, I’ll have to see if I can fix the image…
It is a better photo up now, although it shows the drapes being a bit more yellow than orange. Ah well, you’ll just have to see it in real life ;)
It looks great Dayna! I have rhubarb and asparagus poking up through the snow these days…and some tulips :)
Thanks Mel! I am very jealous and eagerly awaiting my own rhubarb and tulips ;)
I love seeing the studio and setup in the background. So Dayna it is! Beautiful painting too :)
Thanks Pick! I love taking “studio shots” of my paintings and their respective still lifes. Maybe one day I will compile them all together.