This piece was painted on location at Bloomsbury Farms near Cedar Rapids, Iowa for their 2025 Plein Air Event and won 3rd place!  It was a sweltering July afternoon, but the fields were lovely and the spectators friendly and the fellow artists inspiring.  Orange Crush invites a close and intimate encounter with nature’s radiant charm, focusing on a single zinnia flower that bursts forth with layered petals awash in vibrant shades of orange, accented by hints of yellow and red. The richly textured oil paint captures the tactile quality of each petal, creating a sense of depth and movement as they fan outward from a shadowed, detailed center. A slender green stem grounds the flower, providing a cool counterpoint to the warm, energetic hues above.
Set against a backdrop of cool blues and purples, rendered in a textured, impressionistic style, the composition achieves a striking balance between bold color and nuanced atmosphere. The background’s subtle complexity pushes the flower forward, making its vivid tones glow with an almost tangible warmth. This work draws the viewer into a moment of focused beauty, a single blossom chosen from an overwhelming sea of zinnias during a plein air competition where it was awarded third place. Here, the abundance of nature is distilled into one exquisite floral celebration, evoking feelings of quiet joy and the simple pleasure found in observing a detail that might otherwise be overlooked.
Presented in oil on an 11 by 14-inch canvas, the piece’s deliberate brushwork and thoughtful color harmonies emphasize the natural elegance and vitality of this singular bloom. The overall effect is a lively yet serene invitation to pause and appreciate the intricate artistry found in the everyday moments of a sunlit field.