Description of Peonies En Plein Air
Peonies En Plein Air was painted during the pandemic, about 3 months after the March shutdown. Inspired by the need to get out and smell the roses, this painting was painted right in my own backyard, in the heart of the NJ Highlands in Morris County. What a glorious feeling it was to be out in nature painting those breathtaking peonies. My appreciation of nature grew that day, as I aspired to capture a bit of the freedom and beauty those peonies expressed to me. They were too beautiful to cut and paint inside that day. No, these peonies needed to be painted outside, unlike the way I usually approach floral still life. Instead, I painted these flowers much like the way I approach plein air painting, outside in nature with an alla prima, impressionistic approach to strive at capturing their fleeting expression of beauty.