Flowers are not just for girls. They are also for male botanists doing research.

Poppies



 O.k, I'm only kidding - all guys (botanist or not) can and should appreciate their beauty. I certainly do, and it just so happens that there are a few fantastic patches of California poppies on my street.  Three houses in a row have literally hundreds of them splattered everywhere right up to the sidewalk.  Needless to say, I was impressed and told myself I should do something to commemorate this great display.  I also noted that I have yet to paint any natural scene, or anything outdoors for that matter.  This was a moment I had to seize.

It is also a fact that the poppy (California Poppy) is the state flower of my home - the great state of California.  They are everywhere, including other states, but that doesn't matter because California called dibs first. Anyways, this was another reason I thought it a nice opportunity to take a stab at painting flowers and grassy stuff. 

 
These are all snippets from a painting that is 12 X 16 inches.  It is a regular oil on canvass, and the painting drawn from various photos I took of those great poppy gardens my neighbors have. 

I will definitely return to this subject in the future (maybe even get a little crazy with some plein aire).