I knew I wanted to paint some fun, bright, happy florals – especially after such a cold, rainy and even snowy winter – to help lift my spirits, so I chose this boldly colored Bird of Paradise and painted a cheerful lemon yellow background to add to the sense of the painting’s overall warmth. Using extremely thick oil paint and a palette knife, this painting just leaps off the canvas in person.

If you’re in Florida this weekend, stop by my booth at the Bonita Springs National Art Festival, artinusa.com/bonita/.