Painting flowers always brings me joy. White flowers in particular are an exciting challenge for me to paint, so when this huge bouquet was sent to me as a gift, I had to paint it. The lilies’ petals reminded me of satin, and the petals of the hydrangeas reminded me of the intricacy of lace—so there they were, all dressed in white satin and lace. As a female artist, I strive to balance femininity and strength. In this painting my goal was to communicate not only the elegance and innocence associated with white flowers, but also boldness and confidence—all qualities which I believe are shared by women.