Barbara Dave

After retiring from the field of psychology in 2000, I pursued my long-time dream of becoming an artist. I dedicate myself everyday to this dream. Painting is my passion.

My subject matter is always flowers, sometimes in vases, but almost always painted much larger than life. In this larger-than-life likeness, I want the viewer to be drawn into the blossom, almost catching the fragrance and seeing more clearly details that would be missed on a smaller scale. Each brushstroke, invested with emotion, pays homage to my flowers.

Inspiration for my images comes from greenhouses, florists and one of my favorite places, the Biltmore House and Gardens in Asheville, North Carolina. The camera is a big part of my creative process. I choose the flowers (although sometimes they choose me), wait for the exact light I want and then shoot many photos, varying the position of the flowers and camera in relation to the light. The painting becomes my interpretation of that unique image I captured.

Painting is a lifelong pursuit and one that will never cease to give me purpose and great satisfaction.