We all know how much Vincent loved color – that goes without saying. Lately, I have noticed that when I set out to study one of his works, I tend to lean into the color even more than Vincent does. With the sunflowers, I worked hard to get as close as possible to matching Vincent’s colors. However, the more studies I do the more I feel free to push the colors further. This has been very exciting for me and I am really enjoying it. It kind of surprises me when the piece is completed, too. In the process, I rarely think that I am way off base with the color. Then, when I am finished and see my study next to Vincent’s work, I am always surprised that it is so much brighter.
Van Gogh: “Daubigny’s Garden,” Auvers, June 1890; currently in Amsterdam at the Van Gogh Museum.
Study: “Daubigny’s Garden (After Van Gogh),” acrylic on canvas, 10″ x 10″