Sunflowers with African Cloth by Patricia Clements
Our Artwork of the Week, Sunflowers with African Cloth is a captivating still life painting that celebrates the vibrant beauty of sunflowers, placed on the rich and colourful patterns of African cloth. Painted in oil on block canvas.
Reminiscent of Vincent van Gogh’s iconic sunflower series, the painting features a bunch of sunflowers in full bloom. Each flower exudes a sense of vitality and radiance, with their golden petals seemingly glowing against the canvas. The artist’s brush strokes bring the sunflowers to life, capturing the essence of their intricate details and elegant curves.
The sunflowers stand tall and proud in a striking blue vase, which serves as the perfect contrast to the warm tones of the flowers. The depth of the blue creates a sense of harmony and tranquillity within the composition, enhancing the overall visual appeal.
However, what truly sets this artwork apart is the addition of the African cloth beneath the vase. The artist found inspiration from a beautiful piece of cloth acquired at a local market. The rich greens and yellows of the fabric complement the vibrant hues of the sunflowers impeccably, creating a harmonious symphony of colours. The presence of the African cloth also infuses the artwork with cultural significance. It serves as a bridge between nature’s floral beauty and the artistic expressions of a diverse and vibrant continent.
The textured block canvas and the use of oil paints add depth and richness to the artwork, making it a captivating sight from any angle. The painted sides provide a seamless finish, making it ready to be displayed without the need for a frame, a thoughtful touch by the artist.
“Sunflowers with African Cloth” is a piece that captures the essence of nature’s beauty and cultural appreciation. The artist’s ability to translate inspiration from a piece of African cloth into a stunning artwork that complements the sunflowers magnificently is truly remarkable.
VIEW ALL ARTWORKS BY PATRICIA CLEMENTS
Questions to the artist about the artwork
What was the specific inspiration behind combining sunflowers with the African cloth in this artwork?
The main inspiration for this artwork was the colours of this piece of African cloth . I passed this shop selling these beautiful African clothes and materials and all the colour combinations were stunning. I thought it would work with the boldness of Sunflowers. I often buy various items from second hand shops or charity shops which inspire my still life paintings.
What emotions or feelings were you hoping to evoke in viewers through this artwork?
I wanted my viewers to be bold over by the patterns and colours of the African material. And the combination of the colours yellow and lime greens with the flowers. It is a contemporary feel to a still life painting.
What techniques or methods did you employ to achieve the rich and vibrant colour palette seen in both the sunflowers and the African cloth?
First off I did an underpainting of thin acrylic paint. Then I used a mixture of tubes of oil paints and then oil sticks. I have been experimenting with oil sticks, especially oil pigmentation sticks. I was recently asked to write a blog on them for Ken Bromley artist magazine where I discussed the pros and cons of them, which can be found here Breaking Down The Barriers With R&F Pigment Sticks | Ken Bromley Art Supplies
The use of oil paints on block canvas gives the artwork a distinct texture. Can you describe how this choice contributes to the overall visual impact of the painting?
I have used oil paint thinly in parts especially on the African material picking out the design. Then I used the pallet knife to use pure colour from the tubes of oil paint this was on the Sunflowers.. This was combined with the oil pigment sticks which I used directly on the canvas mainly on the Sunflowers. This brought out the Sunflowers away from the material to stand out. I like to use pure colour for the flowers. I really enjoyed painting this picture and I hope it shows in the finished painting.
