Thelma with ribbons in 2012 at art club meeting
April 2, 2019
Prelude to The Amazing Sunflower
A few years ago as my husband and I returned to Wichita, KS from
Alamogordo, NM, to live out our senior years. We had bought a small
fifth wheel to live in temporaily. That got old quickly. Decided to drive
our old neighbhood and we see an open house sign in front of this house on
a corner lot!
As the realtor proudly showed us the place we looked out and could see the
swimming pool glimmering as the sun hit it. We liked that but had never
taken care of a pool. The realtor asked "what do you think?" We told her we'd
like to think about it overnight.
She says "I can call you in the morning as I will be putting this place online in
a day or two." We told her we didn't have cell phones. She says"Oh, then take
mine and you can call me". Never heard of a realtor willing to do that.
We didn't call, we drove to town knowing we'd take the house even if she didn't
come down on the price. Visions of what we'd do with it filled my head, but
maybe not my husband's. I already knew that my studio would be the room
overlooking the screened in porch and the pool.
The Perfect Place
As we moved in, we liked it even more as there was a pool table and wet bar
in the basement. Whoopee! Soon fall came and we covered the pool and waited
for spring to arrive. Oh, that pool would be so grand! Well, to make a story short,
I don't swim and my husband did but didn't care to except to save me, if necessary.
As summer ended, we both decided what we'd do with the pool in early spring.
The winter dragged on and on it seemed as we made plans to fill in the pool and
have a garden. Eighteen loads of dirt later we had our garden, ready for the raking
and plotting where we wanted certain flowers.
Sunflowers are the state flower of Kansas and I wanted to try my luck with those.
Chose the spot, bought a large package of seeds and soon the planting was done.
The Rain
Three days after planting, overnight it rained three inches. Well, picture that, please.
In seven days, the seeds were sprouting...not just where they were planted, but the
water scattered them agaist the curbing of the pool and wherever the water took them.
As the ground dried a bit, I thinned all but thirty nine plants, leaving new plants in the
original chosen spot. Kansas has hot summers requiring lots of watering, for average
growth. All except one, and it made tremendous GROWTH. The seeds all looked alike
or so I thought.
Buds are Forming
In mid July, buds were forming. The anticipation was high now...the one I kept my eyes
on was special. It was nearly six feet tall and as the bud expanded, the size of a dinner plate.
I didn't think I could "fall in love" with a flower, but I did.
As August approached, I took my camera with me to the garden that morning. This might be
the "day". A few bees were checking it out as well.
I carefully looked at all angles and decided to snap more than one angle. Later, in the day I
uploaded them to my computer and printed the one I liked the most.
Painting Session
Three weeks later two friends came to paint with me. I had chosen the sunflower to paint on
a 14 x 11 canvas which I had toned in black acrylic a few days earlier. Some days an artist feels
like it all comes together as we paint. This was done "alla prima" in one session. So now time
for the unveiling!
THE AMAZING SUNFLOWER
Garden Gold 14 x 11 oil/canvas
I have this painting in a gold frame that sets it off perfectly.
Available on this website through PalPay.
Check it out.
I appreciate any comment you might have on this painting
or on any other paintings on this website.
I paint for the sheer joy of it,
Thelma
New email address:
tvanschoiack99@gmail.com
