Since it is Sun-day, how better to brighten it than with a series of sunflowers. And who better to paint them than Vincent van Gogh, whose series of paintings of sunflowers in a vase are as iconic as the Mona Lisa or Michelangelo’s Sistine chapel?
An article in the online DailyArt magazine tells us that the famous Sunflowers (one of which you can see above) is actually the second series of sunflower paintings made by van Gogh: “There is an earlier series of four works, made during his years in Paris that depict flowers lying on the ground. Paul Gauguin saw van Gogh’s Parisian sunflowers and greatly admired them. He subsequently acquired two paintings and hung them above the bed in his apartment.â€
So, the famous Sunflowers, seven of them in all, are actually the second series and they were, of course, painted to decorate Gauguin’s room when he stayed with van Gogh in Arles. They are now scattered in museums around the world.
You can read the whole article at https://www.dailyartmagazine.com/van-goghs-sunflowers/.
Here’s Gauguin’s painting of van Gogh at work.
Watermill painting tutors have also tried their hand at sunflowers, and it is fascinating to see the different approaches to the subject. Here is Maggie Renner Hellmann’s colourful composition.
And here is Randy Hale, feeling somewhat abstract:
Sandra Strohschein’s is a softer approach
And here’s a photograph which epitomises the warm welcome that you will receive the Watermill: Lois with a great smile and a bunch of sunflowers in her arms.
Have a lovely Sun-day and perhaps contemplate joining us for one of our inspirational, colourful and vibrant painting holidays this year or next.
We still have some places this year (see below) and you can find out more about our 2023 creative courses by going to the Preview page of the Watermill website. Just click here.
First, the list of our remaining painting tutors for 2022. You can find out more about each of them by clicking on their Profile page link in their entries below.
Vicki Norman – fully booked, waiting list open
2 – 9 July 2022
Oils and watercolours (and other mediums)
To learn more about Vicki and her course at the mill, please visit her 2022 Profile Page.
Pamme Turner – one or two places left
9 – 16 July 2022
Watercolour and gouache en plein air
To learn more about Pamme and her course at the mill, please visit her 2022 Profile Page.
Carl March – two or three places left
16 – 23 July 2022
Drawing and watercolour en plein air
To learn more about Carl and his course at the mill, please visit his 2022 Profile Page.
Paul Talbot-Greaves – three or four places left
20 – 27 August 2022
Watercolours (and acrylics)
To learn more about Paul and his course at the mill, please visit his 2022 Profile Page.
Rebecca de Mendonça – three or four places left
27 August – 3 September 2022
Pastels
To learn more about Rebecca and her course at the mill, please visit her 2022 Profile Page.
Mike Willdridge – fully booked, waiting list open
3 – 10 September 2022
Watercolours and drawing (also gouache and acrylics, with a special emphasis on drawing on location.)
To learn more about Mike and his course at the mill, please visit his 2022 Profile Page.
Varvara Neiman – still plenty of places
10 – 17 September 2022
Water-based oils, acrylics and watercolours
To learn more about Varvara and her course at the mill, please visit her 2022 Profile Page.
Milind Mulick – fully booked, waiting list open
17 – 24 September 2022
‘Colourful watercolours’
To learn more about Milind and his course at the mill, please visit his 2022 Profile Page.
Cynthia Armstrong – one or two places left
24 September – 1 October 2022
Watercolours and gouache
To learn more about Cynthia and her course at the mill, please visit her 2022 Profile Page.
Tim Wilmot – one or two places left
1 – 8 October 2022
Watercolours
To learn more about Tim and his course at the mill, please visit his 2022 Profile Page.
Grahame Booth – fully booked, waiting list open
8 – 15 October 2022
Watercolours
To learn more about Grahame and his course at the mill, please visit his 2022 Profile Page.
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