Almond Blossom

Almond Blossoms…. my copy of Van Gogh’s painting.

However, it is more learning than copying. Throughout this painting by Van Gogh, I felt and learned the shape of the branches and the various forms of each flower.

Because the reference pictures are very small, the posture of the flowers are not clear, so in the painting process I often needed to guess and determine the direction, angle, and stage of blooming in a cluster of white… , unripe bud or full bloom? Had some petals fallen off and withered? Many things needed to be taken into consideration, and because of that not a single flower is identical to another.

Precision is not what I strive for. If you carefully analyze this painting with Van Gogh’s, you will find many places in the original work where the flowers grew differently, with the position and shape of the branches varying likewise. Because it is not so much a copy, it is better to say that through the original painting, I am learning to savor the beauty and existence of flowers. So, although I am “recreating”, it would more accurate to say that I am actually “experiencing” the Almond Blossoms.

In the process, instead of lifting the brush, mixing the paints, and applying the pigments on the canvas, I spent more time admiring and savoring the beautiful feelings that these flowers bring to me. Gentle and refreshing; what a beautiful existence!

Here, I want to pay tribute to Van Gogh through this painting. Although time and space are intertwined and the former are no longer there, I am very grateful for his teachings and the many inspirations and touches he has brought me during my art career.