Petals and Pages

Pages from an old book, the Anecdotes of Napoleon Bonaparte, was the beginning of this image...followed by drawings of cogwheels and old tea bags. From there came an attempt to capture a bouquet of tulips and peonies. I struggled with seeing the peonies...then there were none. So. I introduced these collage flowers and birds to pull it bag in. Along with some fresh oil paint here and there to complete it.