For some of us, Winter this year has passed rather quickly; for others, it was way too long. Finally, Spring is beginning to be in full bloom: it has always symbolized change and hope for something better, something fresh. Like these artistic flower arrangements that we present to you today!
Spring is just around the corner and even though times are tough, that does not stop us from bringing wonderful nature into our homes. Flowers are always a very beautiful touch. They are colorful and they smell nice. Not to mention that they have been a major inspiration for hundreds of artists over the years. Observe these lovely flower bouquets and find some inspiration to create one for your living room or your kitchen table!
1. Jim Farrant, Sweet Peas and Daisies
Jim Farrant is a contemporary British artist. He paints everyday scenes that mostly depict women, but also flowers and dogs. Farrant is inspired by the American Realist school. Also, he is very popular both at national and international art fairs.
Take a look at this wonderful bouquet of daisies. The petals of the flowers are so realistic, even the withered ones. Their shadow on the wall, along with the shadows of the vase and the window are amazing. It looks like a real photograph in a cozy living room as the sun rises.
2. Édouard Manet, Pinks and Clematis in Crystal Vase
Édouard Manet needs no introduction. A leading figure of the Impressionists, he painted many flower arrangements. The one presented here is one of his least known. However, it is particularly lovely. Look at this vibrant purple clematis. Isn’t it a beauty?
3. Laura Coombs Hills, Mixed Bouquets
Laura Coombs Hills was born in 1859 and she was an American painter and illustrator. She specialized in watercolor and pastel still life paintings, in miniature, as well as miniature portrait painting. The works Hills created in the 1880s were influenced by the Barbizon school. However, in her more mature works, she found inspiration in the Boston School’s romantic Impressionism. Her designs and illustrations also prove her kinship with Art Nouveau.
4. Tosa Mitsuoki, Chrysanthemums
Flowers hold a special place in Asian art too. Tosa Mitsuoki was the painter of chrysanthemums. He was born in Japan in 1617. The painting below is actually a reproduction from the Edo period. Mitsuoki probably painted the original in the early 17th century. In his works, one can observe his reintroduction of the Yamato-e style, which faded in a way when he took over the Tosa school of painting.
5. Johan Laurentz Jensen, Still Life of Flowers in a Terracotta Pot
Johan Laurentz Jensen, born in 1800, was a Danish painter specializing in flower painting. He created numerous artistic flower arrangements in vases or baskets with a dark and neutral background. His works are rich in color, variety, and textures. Moreover, he painted exotic plants, and even fruits and birds. Nonetheless, Jensen always preferred painting beautiful bouquets.
6. Mia Tarney, duch*ess Peony
Mia Tarney is another contemporary British artist. She started by painting portraits and figurative paintings. Later on, she turned to still life and floral subjects. According to Tarney, flowers are delicate and ethereal but at the same time, they are strong and imposing. She captures their charm on huge canvases, just like the work below. In this way, she manages to bring them to life with all the thorough details.
7. Kapwani Kiwanga, Flowers for Africa (Nigeria)
Originally trained as an anthropologist, Kapwani Kiwanga translated her research into art. Her work Flowers for Africa are real flower arrangements that were put fresh in some exhibitions and left to wither, according to the exhibition’s duration. However, these bouquets were in fact background décor. That is they played an important role in creating a specific ambiance for the overall exhibition.
8. Floris Hendrik Verster, Still Life with Zinnias in a Green Jar
Floris Hendrik Verster, born in 1861, was a Dutch painter. He came from an artistic family that encouraged his pursuits. Thus he took painting lessons with Gerardus Johannes Bos and George Hendrik Breitner. Moreover, he trained at the Royal Academy of Art in Hague and for some years he painted in the Academic style. Nonetheless, he experimented with still-life paintings, such as the one below.
9. Pierre Auguste Renoir, Roses and Jasmine in a Delft Vase
Here is another Impressionist in our small feature. Of course, this doesn’t come as a surprise because Impressionists painted en plein air. So the majority of them painted many flower arrangements too, besides scenes from nature. We can find beautiful still lifes with flowers in vibrant colors. Here’s a ravishing bouquet of Roses by Pierre Auguste Renoir.
10. Vincent van Gogh, Poppies and Chamomile
It wouldn’t be fair to talk about artistic flower arrangements and not mention Vincent van Gogh. He painted many flowers in his lifetime. He painted several poppies too, among others. Besides, they were something like a heritage symbol from his Dutch roots. So, between 1886 and 1890, Van Gogh painted seven different paintings that included poppies. Don’t you just love their vibrant red color?
