I hold a profound affection for New England's hydrangeas, particularly the bush variety. Their grandeur and the captivating transformation from white to green, pink, red, and brown never fail to captivate me. I paint these blossoms repeatedly, constantly searching for fresh inspiration.

While trimming them for another intricate still life, I came to realize that the true essence resided not just in the final masterpiece's beauty but in the journey of its creation. As I carefully selected flowers for my composition, some lay beside my old, weathered shears, revealing a narrative. Equally significant was the role of the shears, symbolizing the various steps that culminated in the painting's completion.