Birthday 2021 Flowers
~ print collection ~
About the collection
The prints in the collection are taken from three flower paintings, created during 2021. They are all private commissions painted using seasonal flowers. Each piece is unique but together, they celebrate the year gone by and the memories of a moment that has now past us in time.
I have bought the pieces together to form this collection to celebrate my 40th birthday. I love surrounding myself with flowers and these pieces capture life’s fleeting moments, all year round.
Amsterdam in springtime
The piece took inspiration from Amsterdam, where the client had moved to. For this piece, I studied the Dutch masters at the Rijksmuseum, in particular Ambrosius Bosschaert, Adriaen Coorte and Abraham Mignon. To create this piece, I used the same technique of applying the paint in thin, transparent layers building up the picture slowly over an extended period of time on a smooth, panel surface. This technique allows for the previous layers to still be visible, so the colours are translucent, and the detail is very fine. For the painting, I chose seasonal spring flowers that included the famous Dutch tulips. They are also placed in a Delft vase, which is traditional for the region and an icon of the Dutch culture.
Due to the shiny nature of the original painting that is varnished, I chose a paper for the print that also has a slight shine to it. It also has a texture, which I love. Both elements are true to the original painting.
Ranunculus spring 2021
This picture was a pivotal moment for me, as it was the first time I took solace and comfort in the painting practise itself and I really enjoyed it. Painted from life, this picture of seasonal ranunculus was originally for my mum, but she found the background too dark as she is partially sighted. I couldn’t bear to change the picture as I truly believe in painting what I see, and responding to the surface. So I kept the original for myself. This piece now hangs in my living room, and now it can in yours too with the prints, which really are so true to the original that it’s outstanding. I love the floral, blowsy nature of ranunculus and the red tones against a dark green background is a theme that I return to frequently.
Dahlias early autumn 2021
These dahlias were painting as the season slowly slipped from summer to autumn. The days were still warm, but the leaves had started to turn to amber. These are locally sourced dahlias and have ignited my new passion for them. I particularly love the tightly knitted variety in concentric circles, and the colours that fade from champagne orange to fuchsia pink are breathtaking.
The original was painted for my mum, who wanted seasonal flowers in a vase against a paler, brighter background, so I chose this turquoise blue backdrop to really compliment the warm hues of the autumnal flowers.
The making of the original artwork:
