Summer's feast: bee painting

Handpainted artwork of bumble bees feasting on a floral spread of purple toadflax. A delightful plein air painting study to bring that summer feeling into your home.

Medium: Original acrylic painting on paper

Dimensions: A4 | 297 by 210 cm (approx.)

Completed: 2023

Artist notes: Created as part of a series of charming acrylic painting studies. Each bee and bloom painted from observation plein air in the Yorkshire sunshine. The meditative process of painting bees from life is so good for my soul. If you're looking for something summery and soulful, this is the nature-inspired series for you. 

Artwork framing tips:

• Frame behind glass.
• Always include a mount so that the painting isn't too snug against the glass.
• A light grey, pastel blue, cream or white mount is recommended for these, as you want a mount that complements the subtlety of the delicate brushwork.
• Leave lots of white space around the image, the space is part of the artwork. 
• A grey frame works well (I've framed one from this series for exhibition). You could also opt for any natural wood colours or even match the frame with the colours in the artwork (purple, deep yellow, sage green).
• Choose a frame that's not too heavy for the artwork. You could try a thin frame or one with a bevelled edge.