Number 2: Valentine’s Talk – Original Artwork

The inspiration for this painting series came to me while looking through old photographs. One photo, in particular, stood out: it depicted wildflowers in a beer can and was taken during a rare family trip when I was six years old. I picked the flowers with my older half-sister, whom I met for the first time on this trip, along with the other kids in the group. I have always cherished this photograph and the joyful memories it represents.

As the image continued to linger in my mind, I decided to recreate it as a painting. Initially, I intended it to be a standalone piece. However, while working on it, I discovered numerous possibilities, leading to the creation of an entire series. During the process of painting the first image, I realized it lacked a storytelling element, so I began incorporating narrative clues that viewers can interpret in their own way.

All the beer cans featured in this series were purchased from my favourite local craft beer and wine shop. Most of them come from local breweries and are designed to be collectible. This design concept mirrors the fleeting nature of flowers and raises questions bout human-made versus nature-made creations.