Sunflowers and Pumpkins

Sunflowers and Pumpkins is a 12x12 oil painting completed in November 2020, inspired by a fleeting roadside moment on the way to Holmen, Wisconsin. The light was golden, the sunflowers stood proud, and nestled beneath them were bright orange pumpkins—an impromptu still life nature had kindly arranged for me. I pulled over, snapped a quick reference photo, and knew I had to paint it.

There’s something warm and eternal about this pairing. Sunflowers, famously loved by Van Gogh, bring a kind of bright optimism—those big, open faces following the sun. Pumpkins, earthy and grounded, root the composition with their seasonal weight. Together, they speak to the richness of harvest time, the warmth of fall, and the bittersweet way light stretches a little longer just before the cold sets in.

Painted in my signature post-impressionist style, this piece features expressive brushstrokes, layered textures, and bold but harmonious color. The palette pulls heavily from ochres, golds, soft greens, and pumpkin orange—an autumn symphony without being cliché. It’s less about realism and more about feeling. The scene is slightly abstracted, allowing emotion and light to do the storytelling.

This piece would be at home in any kitchen, dining space, or cozy reading nook. It’s a visual reminder of the little things—sunlight on your shoulder, the smell of fall in the air, and the joy of unexpected beauty at the side of the road.