Paintings for the Garden

Buddha among the Peonies

A few years ago I was helping a friend, who owned a local gallery, host a weekend botanical event. It was at a peony farm in west Sonoma County. A group of peony enthusiasts from San Francisco were making a daytrip to the gardens. I arrived early to set up the outdoor space. I took some time before the event started to walk through the garden. There were rows and rows of peonies with luxurious blooms, their petals glistening with morning dew. Many varieties of peonies populated the garden, all in perfect form. I was mesmerized by the flowers as I wandered the garden paths. Then I looked up and saw a large statue of a seated Buddha just beyond the peonies. I lit some incense that I happened to be carrying, and placed the incense sticks in front of the Buddha. The image of the Buddha statue surrounded by the peonies has stayed with me; reminding me to seed your garden with these paintings.

Garden Nurturance

I love gardening, growing things. In the summer months, if you can’t find me look in the garden. I will be there, digging in the dirt with my hands, bending over to tend to the flowers or vegetables that grow there. For me gardening is both relaxing and rewarding. I feel connected to the land and to the plants, like I am a participant in a lively and mutual relationship of giving.  I am enlivened by all of it, even the “heavy lifting”.  In the garden everything is always evolving and changing, and each moment of the life cycle is interesting.  Garden Art springs naturally from my own love of flowers and plants, and I have chosen the pieces with care, selecting ones that integrate with natural spaces.

It’s not only the growing that I love about gardening. I am inspired by the balance of Japanese gardens, and I, too, try to create a contemplative and conscious environment in which the flowers are the highlights. I bring other objects, both natural and handmade, into the space to create a unique garden in its entirety.

Gardening Artistry

I have a friend who is a master at this. He uses all sorts of “found objects” to decorate and extend his garden. Every garden he makes has its own character and feel. He never overdoes it. He always creates a beautiful balance using unusual materials in ways that surprise and delight. It was he who first suggested that my paintings were perfectly suited for garden adornment.

It is enchanting, walking among the foliage and blooms, then, around a turn in the path, you happen upon a sculpture or a found object placed amongst the color and greenery. I like the mix of made art with the natural, alive, growing and changing art of the flowers and trees. I have admired this mix of art in sculpture gardens, botanical gardens, and public parks.

Garden Art: Metal prints with an extra layer of protection against weather, water, and sun. They can be mounted on a post, or on a wall or fence.

These days of fire and drought make it difficult to maintain a flower garden. The scarcity of water can make an expansive floral display unwise. It is the moment we are in. My gardens are nowhere near as large, lush, and full as they were ten years ago. The combination of increased heat and reduced rainfall shows in the world all around us. I keep a smaller garden now, but I do enjoy adorning it with colorful paintings. You can’t just wait for beauty to happen. Sometimes you have to lend beauty a hand, bring some color to the landscape.

Garden Art is intended for the beautification of outdoor spaces. Even if your garden will grow only rock you can, nevertheless, enjoy colorful blooms and peaceful art that stays brilliant year-round.