Sunflowers and Bees

Celebrated in the iconic artworks of Van Gogh, and enjoyed as a delicious snack and oil in our households, the sunflower (helianthus annus) is best spotted in autumn garden patches and farms throughout New England. Each year, I visit an organic farm in Greenville, Rhode Island to pick an array of sunflowers for our first art class. With these bright-faced flowers as inspiration, we used magnifying glasses to study their huge yellow and bronze blossoms, leaves, as well as to explore the intricate internal structure that unfolds in spirals. It’s a complete delight to see the children’s paintings unfold, becoming fully vibrant with color and detail — expressive of each personality.