I looked back and saw that I had started this painting at the end of January but I got so overwhelmed by the size of my canvas and my over ambitious undertaking that I abandoned it. As I was prepping for my Solo Auction, I was pulling out my pieces from the year and that one found it’s way forward and I placed it on my easel to remind what still had to be done. After painting “Mother of the Mourning Doves”, I thought I wanted to continue working with birds and that piece definitely inspiring this one.

It’s where this piece started but it isn’t where it ended. I continued working and allowed it to evolve and lead me where it was going to. I was so deeply loving working on wood and working bigger, playing with paint and a theme. Besides their beautiful faces and quirky hands and skinny arms, I so loved the plant details. The halo ended up looking more like an archway and the blue leaf to me reminds me of a stain glass window.

So I called this piece…

“Santa Maria del Fiore”, inspired by the beautiful name of the cathedral in Florence… St Mary of the Flower. I have had various feedbacks about this piece and what people have felt and how they connected with it. From 3 sisters to mother and daughters to seeing Italy in this piece. Maybe it’s a bit of all of it. Maybe they are all one in the same person but separate too and maybe they are still birdlike. All in all very enjoyable and I worked through this piece every single day and that was totally wonderful for me.

I can’t wait to get back to my easel and paint some more. My urge and need to paint is still so strong and although my energy levels have been a bit on the low side and I am working carefully, I’m so loving being here.