Vuillard Is My Inspiration

Inspiration from the beautiful work of Vuillard drew me back to floral subject matter this past winter. It had been a long time since I had painted florals; however an intense study of the work of that 'Master of Dappled Light and Color', Edouard Vuillard, I felt the urge to work on floral subject matter. It seemed like a good way to find a glimmer of light and a promise of spring in the cold winter months of an Ontario winter.
Since gardens and flowers weren't available to paint I set up a still life of gushing hydrangea's(silk ones) in my still life stage and lit it dramatically, to find some inspiration. I did know that I wanted to approach it in a contemporary way; with more than a little ambiguity. I also wanted texture. I am working in oils on canvas.
The first stages of the painting were painted almost exclusively with rags and palette knife. I went in with brushes to define some focal areas, and lifted paint in places where I felt it needed it.
Here's my image, titled: SUMMER ON THE WATER WITH HYDRANGEAS