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There’s something magical about standing in the middle of a sunflower field in full bloom!

That was me in an Oregon Sunflower field during our hike through the Columbia River Gorge.

I took some photos, but more than that, it was the feeling of being there that stuck with me.

"Oregon Sunflowers" ‐ Acrylic on Panel ‐ size 22" x 28" 

We've heard this a lot: “Paint what you know.”  But for me, "Paint the places you’ve been to" brings more than just visual joy — it holds emotional meaning and lasting memories that inspire future paintings. Be there and feel it!  I found that personal experience is a powerful inspiration.

Later, back in the studio, I looked through my photos. But instead of copying one exactly, I used them as a starting point.  Crop, design, or combine photos to create my own story.  Let your heart lead the way to finish your paintings. It's more fun that way.

I've never had a problem coming up with what to paint. Photographs of my trips and ideas are queued up, more than I have time left to paint.

"Purple Lupines on Hood River Walk", Acrylic on Canvas, size 8" x 16"

You can see the step-by-step progression of the painting here.