Summer flowers by Bianca ter Riet

‘Summer Flowers’ is a warm and expressive floral still life in which colour, light and movement come together in a vibrant ode to summer. The painting depicts an exuberant bouquet of sunflowers, soft pink dahlias, white wildflowers and deep reds, loosely arranged in a transparent glass vase. The composition feels spontaneous and natural, as if the flowers have just been picked fresh from a summer garden.

The sunflowers form the radiant centrepiece of the work. Their golden and orange petals seem to catch the light, bringing warmth and energy to the painting. Surrounding them, the pink and white flowers provide softness and balance, whilst small dark accents add depth and contrast. The colour palette is rich and sunny, with warm earth tones, golden-yellow highlights and subtle pastel shades that together evoke a dreamy summer atmosphere.

The painting style is expressive and loose, with visible brushstrokes and a painterly texture that brings the work to life and gives it dynamism. The flowers are not rendered in a photographic style, but rather depicted intuitively and with feeling. It is precisely this free style of painting that gives the work its charm, movement and emotion. In some places, the paint appears to be applied more thickly, giving the petals and highlights extra depth and making them almost tangible.

The soft, neutral background enhances the light and airy character of the painting. This makes the flowers appear to glow from the canvas, as it were. The transparency of the glass vase is subtly rendered with playful reflections and loose lines, creating a beautiful contrast with the full, colourful flowers.

Summer Flowers radiates joy, warmth and a sense of carefree summer days. The work balances between Impressionism and modern figurative painting: spontaneous, atmospheric and full of emotion. A painting that not only brings colour to an interior, but also a sense of light, softness and summery energy.