American Flowers Week, started by Debra Prinzing and running from June 28th – July 4th, is a time to showcase some fab American designers who bring joy through flowers and their creativity. Here, we’d like to spotlight more of the florists from the Art in Bloom event that took place this month at the North Carolina Museum of Art.
These American artists interpreted the museum’s paintings in such inspired ways. After all, why not match a hallway painting or bedroom display with a floral arrangement that complements the visual artistry and in fact, amplifies it?
My favorite was Amy Wurster of Poppy Belle Floral Design. She was inspired by Formulation: Articulation, Folio I/15, by Josef Albers. The German artist headed Yale University’s department of design and is considered one of the most influential teachers of the visual arts in the twentieth century. Don’t you love how she used similar vases and then just put in different shaped flowers to match the rectangular designs of Albers?
It felt like the perfect interpretation for a modern design.
We also liked the work of Angela Martin of Oak and Dahlia Floral Design. This was inspired by Toy Pieta by Scott Avett.
But the same concept can be applied to traditional paintings or sculptures as well.
Here Sofia Sanchez of Santall Design clustered flowers for her interpretation of Pair of Torah Finials, Torah Shield, and Torah Pointer. Notice how she used tall lilies and delphiniums to match the height of the scrolls and large puffball hydrangeas to illustrate the silver balls.
Pamela Reynolds of Flower Hive Designs transformed the overall feeling of Bust of a Woman, by Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse. The peach and pink-toned roses were so soft and pretty and the white stocks were so creamy.
Furthermore, Gene Jackson, of The English Garden took a traditional painting called The Oddie Children, by Sir William Beechey and found vases that complemented so well. Glad he used greenery for the right-hand height because otherwise, it would have been too busy.
Christine Reel Brander, of Blooming Botanists, was inspired by Still Life with Pastries, Wine, and Eggs, by Juan Bautista Romero. I get why she used taupe tones in the roses and straw-colored stems in the overall display. The white anthuriums also were lovely, as was her use of a napkin for one of the vases to correspond to the painting still life.
But I still love lots of colors and this was too neutral for my particular tastes, but was a good complement to the overall task of interpreting a painting or sculpture. The neutral bowls and vase were also on point. Think a few more bright orange calla lilies may have added just an extra pop of color.
This one by Andrea Shead, Coastal Garden Club, was intriguing because of the circular shapes she used for The Supper of Pulcinella and Colombina, Alessandro Magnasco. It was sculptural but also so pretty. Dotting the blue hydrangea with wildflowers was such a nice touch.
Another inventive pairing was created by Steve Taras. Why not line a floor with bud vases as a gateway to something more special? We always think of garden paths lined with flowers as being only outdoors, and this was a fresh take on the concept.
One other painting generated big smiles. The pomp of a wide white collar worn by the gentleman in this painting was cleverly interpreted by E.W. Fulcher of Bloom Works. It was inspired by Portrait of a Man, Probably Sir John Scott (1564-1616), attributed to Robert Peake the Elder. Really giggled upon seeing the circular ring of carnations that matched that period’s fashion choices for men. And the brashness of a few stems and branches just was brilliantly applied.
I have to say, the collective talents of the floral artists in North Carolina did dazzle. We have so much talent in the United States and more and more people are appreciating the art of flowers.
Hopefully, these ideas will inspire you to rethink how you use art and flowers in your home. After all, the more flowers you have, the happier you will be.
Photography via the North Carolina Museum of Art.
A version of this story originally appeared on FlowerPowerDaily.com.
Jill Brooke is a former CNN correspondent, Post columnist and editor-in-chief of Avenue and Travel Savvy magazine. She is an author and the editorial director of FPD, and a contributing digital editor of aspire design and home magazine.
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