Just as the war between Russia and Ukraine was starting, I was painting a sky and greenery onto a large 40 inch by 30 inch canvas and wondering what I should add as flowers. On the news, information about Ukraine was unfolding minute by minute. I didn’t know much about Ukraine, but I learned that the flag is blue and gold, representing a blue sky and wheat field, I grew up in an area where winter wheat is commonly grown and it truly is a beautiful sight when the wheat ripens and rustles in a brisk breeze. I also learned that the national flower for Ukraine is the sunflower, a flower very dear to my heart.

As I mixed paint, my mind wandered around these thoughts and before I knew it, I found myself swiping large deep stripes of different shades of blue across the sky with a palette knife. This was a distinct change of pace from the cloud-dotted skies I’ve been painting recently. When the time came to add flowers, my brain was stuck on sunflowers – big sunflowers. In the coming days, I continued adding layers to my sunflowers and sending well-wishes from my heart to the people of Ukraine, Russia, Europe, and even the whole world. I finished the painting with glittering metallic gold specks in the centers of the flowers. I currently have it hanging in my living room and it truly is a gorgeous painting. I won’t be sad if it doesn’t sell right away, because I can enjoy it longer.

I don’t understand why war happens. My brain just can’t compute it. I will pray for peace, and healing, and love. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that before this war began, in the beginning stages of this painting, I painted the words “love” and “joy” onto it. You can see me doing that in this little clip on Instagram.

Here are some close-ups.