Description

Of Dad's many flower paintings, for me, this one really stands out. I can almost smell the powerful sweet fragrance of the flowers!

Although I am not an art expert, I would say Dad's style is best defined as expressionism, with a strong degree of impressionism mixed in. Indeed, these were the styles of other great artists he loved so much - Cezanne, Matisse, Dufy, etc. He saw the world in vibrant colors and bold strokes. His art always felt like a burst of emotion, capturing the beauty of life in every brushstroke.

In this still-life, a white Italian vase is overflowing with purple and white lilacs and bright yellow Dutch irises. The flowers stand out brilliantly against a pale brown backdrop and a light orange base. Dad's use of colors was like magic; the purple of the lilacs - rich and deep - while the yellow of the irises glowed like sunshine.

As Dad got older, he couldn’t travel around the city alone as much. And by the time of this piece I was unavailable, working full-time and often traveling. But every weekend, I made sure to visit Mom and Dad. Those visits were special. We would talk, laugh, have a great home cooked meal, and I would always get to see Dad’s latest masterpiece.

During these visits, Mom and I would arrange flowers from her beautiful English-style garden for Dad to paint during the next week. Mom had a large collection of vases, and her garden was a wonderland of color, filled with many different flowers. The lilacs and irises in this painting came from her garden.

Whenever I look at this painting, I feel a warm wave of nostalgia. It reminds me of those weekends with my parents, of the love and creativity that filled our home.

For me, Dad's art is not just about what he saw, but also about what he felt. And through his many paintings and drawings, I can still feel that deep connection to him and to the beautiful world he saw.

On this early summer day in 1993, Dad made something special for Mom, with Lilacs & Iris. ❤️

Through My Father's Eyes