Allison Redies

Joyful Sunflowers at Memorial Park

What a joyful experience I had painting the beautiful garden at Memorial Park! As soon as I saw these elegant sunflowers framed in orange and purple, I knew I wanted to paint them. As I set up my artwork, people would stop and ask to see what I was painting or comment on the work. Children especially, were so interested to see what I was creating. As I painted the first layers, I asked a few of these children if they would like to paint some colours or dots for me. The kiddos could not wait to get their hands on the brush and even some adults participated. What a wonderful sense of play and connection to collaborate with people in the community. The arts have such power to connect people.

In my paintings, I often choose vibrant colours and paint quite loosely to create the foundation of the work. I look for interesting shapes, lights and darks, and layer colours to bring out more detail. I want to share the joy of creating with the viewer.

I have been an art teacher for children for over 20 years. When I paint, I want to create with the joy and freedom of a child and painting with a sense of play is a big part of that for me. I have been spending more time painting “en plien air” this summer, taking time to notice the beauty and wonder all around us.

Medium: Acrylic on canvas

Size: 16″x20″