It has been a very mild autumnal day here in East Anglia with the thermometer on my sheltered terrace reading 22°C (72°F) at lunchtime. This mild spell has saved my sunflowers (they were planted out too late – my fault, I forgot them) and they are only now just in full bloom. But what inspiration? We can all see why a certain amazing Dutchman worked so hard to capture their intense yet fleeting vibrancy.
I lived in Holland for a short while and when friends and relatives came to stay I used to love to take them to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. I was so inspired I even had a go at copying his sunflowers and made a summer top from the finished silk.
Caroll S Tyson Collection, Philadelphia
Recently, I found the old top in a box in the loft and was struck by the change in my own style of working. But, I was also reminded of the admiration I had felt for Van Gogh as when you settle to copy a great work of art, even in a very small insignificant way, you notice more of the choices the master has made in creating the original work. Copying is a valuable tool for teaching.
It is not just the colour that is striking as even the sunflower’s outline is unmistakable.
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Agnes Ashe 
Amazing, and beautiful! 🙂
Yes, nature can be glorious as well as heartless.
Wonderful photos. I love to visit Amsterdam (just 2 hours drive from our house in Belgium) & spend time in the Van Gogh museum – lots of inspiration on colour.
Thank you. And also thanks for the okay on the Venice picture. I stayed on La Giudecca as part of my Master’s course and you are right it is possible to wander away from the main sites and find enchanting scenes.