Detailed Observations

Thompson was the Grand Prize Winner of International Artist magazine's Challenge No. 117, Florals & Garden

Canadian artist Gerry Thompson is often inspired by her own life when painting. Many times her pieces reflect the beauty of overlooked or floral subjects. Over the past few years, her primary focus has been large-scale paintings of peonies. “These have been my most joyous of all of my painting life. I find beauty in life itself, even in difficult times, and I just paint what inspires me,” she says. “There are no political or social messages. The viewers will make their own observations.”

When finding subject matter, she often looks for something that tells a different story and has dramatic light and shadow. “It is why I prefer to photograph possible future paintings around midday on a sunny day. I often prefer a close-up, often magnified, view of the subject. I seem to go through phases as to what subjects appeal to me,” she says, adding, “But throughout all of my painting life, my greatest love has been florals from my everyday life, wherever they may be at the time.”