There Must Have Been Something in the Monets

 (Hover over the photo for its title, click through to Flickr for more details.)

I don't know if it was Monet's Waterlilies... 

Monet's Waterlilies, Tate Modern

or the gentle palette of Paris... 

Soft Flora, Père Lachaise Cemetery
Tree in Bloom, Tuileries Gardens

but whatever it was, it's having a visible impact at the art table in the form of colour choices and brush play.

Peonies, Deep Pink
June Garden
Peonies, Cream

When I lay the photos and the paintings side by side, the connection astonishes me.