NEW…DUTCH FLOWER STILL-LIFE SERIES…FLOWER FRIDAY

Everywhere I look lately I see flowers…fruit…beautifully draped fabric… furniture with lovely flowers flowing from interesting vessels. It seems that floral designers everywhere have been inspired by the paintings of the old Dutch and Italian masters.

I’ve been enjoying many flower designers use of a dark background with a painterly arrangement of flowers, fruit and vases, lush fabrics, wood paneled doors…similar to old Dutch paintings…Dutch still-lifes. I especially like combining antique furniture, gilt mirrors, unique vases with a contemporary, impressionistic painting style.

I love painting flowers. I pour over flower, gardening and entertaining coffee table books, enjoying the talents of floral designers.  Veranda Magazine has also inspired me over the years with their flower photographs and books.  There are so many places to get  inspiration.  Sometimes, I use a particular photograph to choose a color theme…or the composition inspires.

Here are the latest paintings inspired by the Dutch Still-Life style.

“FLOWER DRAMA ” ala Dutch Still-Life

24″ x 30″  Acrylic on Canvas – Framed
Frame – Wood Silver Leaf
1-1/4” canvas floater.

$1200

****I AM DONATING THIS PAINTING FOR THE 12TH ANNUAL BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS BENEFIT/ SILENT AUCTION, SATURDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2019, THE RITZ-CARLTON, AMELIA ISLAND TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF NASSAU COUNTY. Check out the fabulous silent auction items here at WWW.QTEGO.NET/QLINK/BGCNASSAU 

This painting was inspired by Ariella Chezar, known for her flower workshops at FlowerSchool New York. Her book, The Flower Workshop, is a joy for any flower lover. Her use of pretty pinks and salmons with bright greens from the opposite side of the color wheel makes this painting pop. Of course I had to add that touch of purple and blue…a little white to lighten up the arrangement…and those lush purple drapes.

“WILD FLOWER ROMANCE”

24″ x 30″  Acrylic on Canvas – Framed
Frame – Wood Silver Leaf
1-1/4” canvas floater.

$1200

This painting was inspired by an arrangement from Nicolette Owens, just a little bit wild with the drama of a Dutch still-life. I especailly love the funky little purple and orange flowers.

I love combining fabrics, flowers, found objects, unusual props, and interesting pots, vases or vessels

“ANEMONES, BEGONIAS, AND PEONIES”

24″ x 30″  Acrylic on Canvas – Framed
Frame – Wood Silver Leaf
1-1/4” canvas floater.

$1200

One of my favorite flower books, Styling Nature, A Masterful Approach to Floral Arrangements by Lewis Miller, has such beautiful flower photos…the inspiration for this painting and many more to come. Lewis Miller is known for his Flower Flashes in New York City…huge, colorful arrangements of fresh flowers placed at a seemingly random location many times in a public trash can!

“Found objects”…I love this term. Nothing is more fun than scouring antique and vintage shops searching for the right vessel for a flower arrangement. Many times I use some old vase that has been gathering dust in my armoire…or a sentimental piece that sits on a special piece of furniture. (One of my favorite vessels is a pewter samovar that belonged to my Grandmother).

My painting, “TULIPS IN GRANDMOTHER’S SAMOVAR” features this antique samovar, a small photo of my parents at their engagement party, and part of a painting by Ellen Diamond that I cherish…a painting within a painting…This painting hangs across from the actual vignette in our home.

Many interior designers talk about “collected finds”…those special items that are fun to incorporate in your home design. I love using these special finds in my still-life paintings.

Happy Flower Friday…Visit art gallery above to see more paintings.

Coming up…more information about The 2019 Boys & Girls Club Benefit!

GET READY TO BID…IT’S FOR THE KIDS!

Come celebrate with me. I’ll save you a seat at the table.