The Flower Atelier - Behind the Series
Growing up, I’d wake up to my mom watering half of her about 30 house plants in the giant north facing window of our house, then carefully turning them to get sun on the opposite side. I was moving a few hours away and gave her my beloved jade plant to watch over. It grew so large, I could not believe it. I, on the other hand, cannot grow anything. I have kept *1* plant alive in the last 5 years, until my mom gifted me back a cutting of my own jade. So now, I’m up to two.
After moving in with my now husband, and having the cutest little dude, I realized my living room still felt like a place to walk through and not a place to experience. Then, I realized why it wasn’t my particular brand of cozy. It was the flowers. My space was missing that vibrant life I grew up with.
I have always painted florals in my sketchbooks, but never thought to translate them to canvas and I’m so excited that I have now. This series, “The Flower Atelier” blends florals with my abstract DNA. I’m hoping that when the world gets hard, as it seems to do a lot these days, and you, like me, need the coziness only your mom can create, these florals help bring those small moments to you.
The Large Pieces:
I am lucky to have been raised by someone who is forever my biggest fan, and my greatest supporter. My entire life, I have wanted to travel the world. Finally, a few years ago, once my artwork started supporting me full time, I was able to get those first stamps on my passport. This very large painting is dedicated to my first trip overseas, to the Mediterranean. I made the background imperfect, to give the illusion of being near an old, tiled fixture or wall. I love ancient ceramics so much, I may have to do an entire series on them in the future.
At the heart of it, we are all just flowers with complicated emotions. This painting reminds me of sitting by the ocean and soaking up the sun. A little photosynthesis for you.
Summer in the midwest is full of roadside corn and my mom’s homegrown tomatoes. I didn’t like them growing up, as I’m sure a lot of you relate to, but now I get excited for summer tomatoes every year. I named this “growth” for the tomatoes, and for myself.
My mom is a Maxwell House fan, but my favorite coffee is Cafe Bustelo. I saw someone say online “it will make you hear colors” and its so true!
My mom’s favorite music growing up came from the soundtrack to the movie Steel Magnolias. I can still sing almost every word to almost every song. It felt like the perfect thing to add to a series inspired by her.
My mom and I share an obsession with space and the stars. The constellation pictured behind the flowers (and coffee, of course) in this piece is Ursa Major, or the Big Dipper. The Big Dipper famously points to the North Star. My own North Star, is my mom, of course.
This piece is purposefully imperfect. I Love the saying “there are no straight lines in nature” by Antoni Gaudí and I believe that can be said about our lives as well. I think these detours and soft edges in our lives and in nature are what makes them beautiful.
This bold piece makes me feel like the flowers are directly in the north facing window I had growing up; it is intense and beautiful.
Vienna by Billy Joel is my favorite song. I thought it was the perfect sheet music to incorporate into this piece. It is a manifestation of a goal I have. I’d love to play the piano someday. I think it is such a cozy instrument and it’s one of my favorites to listen to.
We aren’t hunter and gatherers anymore, but when I go to the farmer’s market I swear I can feel that instinct in my veins as I gather my coffee, vegetables, and little treats.
Leave calla lilies and pomegranates out for Hera: Queen of the gods & patron saint of the girlies
These days, we all need a little more coziness. I aimed for that throughout this series, and I think this piece perfectly captures it.
Coffee and flowers will forever remind me of my mom’s house. Somehow, she creates sanctuary wherever she goes and forever whoever she talks to. I aspire to be like her one day.
Dedicated to girlhood, slow mornings, and that first sip of coffee. This piece is to you, from me, if you also love to romanticize the little things.
Everything in this painting is poisonous or venomous. I liked the juxtaposition of how pretty they are with how deadly they are. Especially because you wouldn’t know right away by looking. Most of us anyway.