Last Peony of the Season - Oil Painting

Last of July, 6x8, Oil on Canvas
© Cindy Revell
$325 Framed
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I'm back to painting still lifes as I finish up the final painting for an upcoming show this weekend. Last of July was painted at the end of July when my peonies were done blooming and there was this one final, lovely blossom left.

This summer I did 3 peony paintings and kept jars of them near my easel. Their fragrance mingled with the lovely scent of oil paint. The smell of the peonies and my paints, the sight of the dried flowers, bottles, and bowls, all set out as I planned still lifes and left them there to inspire me, windows opened to catch the sounds of birds and a crowing rooster. Delicious.

At those moments I forget about the illustration assignments, commissions, and other projects that are waiting for me and just take it all in, such riches of the senses. Looking at that painting a few months later I remember just how it felt.

Peony Study

Illuminated, 5x7, Oil on Canvas
© Cindy Revell
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This little painting was done early one July morning. The sun was hot and burning off the dew, the air smelled fresh and flowery, bees were buzzing happily and so was I. I brought this lovely peony into the studio to paint where it glowed in the light from a west window. Lately I’ve been exploring more complex compositions, sometimes just in drawings for future paintings but so often I come back to simple motifs like this which seem to have so much impact.

This is one of the paintings that will be at the Candler Art Gallery from July 24 to mid August. I’m excited about this show because my still lifes will be hung with several of my new works which I call hybrids since they are a combination of my illustration and my still lifes. This is the first time that the hybrids have been shown publicly.