“Blue Iris” by Brittany Cates

“Iris” oil on canvas painting by Brittany Cates, 24” x 30”

This was one of the first floral paintings I completed and it marks an important shift in my development as an artist. After months of trial and error as a self-taught oil painter, after this painting I felt technically steady. 

Of course there is always room for improvement and artists are continuously developing their skills. I had worked through the early frustration of materials and process and began to understand how to build dimension, control color relationships, and create depth with intention.

I also had a clearer sense of which tools and techniques suited the way I naturally work. I’ve always been drawn to realism and larger-scale compositions. I’m interested in clarity, structure, and presence within a painting.

I don’t approach my work with a specific symbolic meaning in mind. Instead, the paintings function more as markers of time. To me, when I look at them, they reflect where I was personally when they were made.

Because of that, I prefer not to assign a fixed interpretation. I’m more interested in how viewers respond on their own terms.

The work is meant to be experienced directly rather than explained. What it holds for me may differ from what it becomes for someone else, and that variability feels intentional.

A self-taught oil painter from Central Maine, Brittany's passion for art ignited in childhood through sketching and experimenting with various mediums.

She began honing her skills in oil painting several years ago and quickly discovered a deep connection with capturing the beauty of flowers.

Her floral works are vibrant and rich in color, drawing inspiration from the striking balance of boldness and delicacy that flowers embody.