Sketching Sunflowers: An Artist Date at Buttonwood Farms
This summer, I treated myself to an artist date at Buttonwood Farms. If you’ve never been, imagine fields covered in golden blooms as far as your eyes can see—thousands of sunflowers turning their faces to the sun. It’s a place that feels both grounding and expansive all at once.
I tucked my sketchbook under my arm, found a quiet spot among the flowers, and let myself simply be present. The hum of bees (there were just as may bees as sunflowers), the sway of the tall stalks, the warmth of the summer sun on my skin—all of it seeped into my drawings. I sketched the flowers right there in the field, letting the moment lead my hand. Later, back in my studio, those sketches became the seeds of a new painting.
This visit was more than just an outing; it was a reminder of how important it is to pause, to fill our cups, and to make space for joy and beauty. Artist dates, a concept Julia Cameron writes about in The Artist’s Way, are meant to spark creativity by giving ourselves dedicated time for play and inspiration. For me, Buttonwood’s sunflower fields were exactly that—a place of renewal, connection, and color.
A spread from my altered book that I created back in the studio
The painting that grew from this experience is a colorful abstract interpretation of the sunflowers. It’s less about capturing the flower exactly as it looks, and more about the feeling of standing in that field—the energy, vibrancy, and joy that nature gifts us when we pause to notice.
🌻 This painting, titled “Dancing in the Sun,” is now available for collectors—an invitation to bring a bit of that sunflower magic into your home.
Whether you’re an artist, a flower lover, or someone looking for more beauty in your everyday life, I hope this reminds you to take yourself on your own “artist date.” Go somewhere that inspires you. Sketch, photograph, write, or simply breathe it in. You never know what seeds you might plant within yourself.
MORE ARTIST’S DATES & ADVENTURES HERE…
