Sunflowers on Goatskin Vellum

Helianthus annus

Watercolor on Goatskin vellum scraps, various size skins mounted to 8x10” mat board.

This is the common sunflower. There are four paintings depicting different stages of flowering, from bud to developing seeds. Each one is painted on goatskin vellum scraps in watercolor.

Sunflowers were used by native peoples as food (seeds and petals are edible), medicine, and dye.