Growing and New Floral Still Lifes

It all began with a Mother’s Day outing to Southern Hill Farm in Clermont, Florida.  I had been hearing about this place from others and seeing posts on instagram. I was excited to take photos of the zinnia flowers. They had a great deal: you pay for a glass jar and a set fee, then pick as many blooms as you can fit inside. We wandered through rows of colorful petals, selecting our favorites. I took many photos onsite and later both my husband and I arranged the flowers in vases and took more photographs.

As summer arrived, I got busy with other projects but knew eventually I would want to make a series of zinnia floral still life paintings. Eventually, I felt inspired to dive into my photo collection to decide what to paint. I began by sketching a still life with a paint marker, and realized I needed to incorporate other plants and flowers for added interest and texture. 

I studied the work of one of my favorite floral painters. While my style differs, I took note of how she fills her compositions letting elements spill off the canvas. I gathered various reference photos of floral arrangements into a folder, aiming to work more intuitively by adding diverse elements to my initial painting.

The next four paintings evolved into compilations of flowers and plants sourced from multiple photographs. This approach was a stretch for me, as I typically focus on one or two images when creating. At times in the process I was excited, and then there were moments that I thought they might end up being painted over. But experimenting, trying new things, and persevering through uncertainty is where growth and breakthroughs occur.

 

Here’s my latest collection of floral still lifes! They are vibrant and hopeful, showcasing and freezing in time the fragile fleeting beauty of flowers. Originals can be found under the floral collection here. If interested in reproductions they can be found at: heather-nagy.pixels.com

Do you have a favorite flower? I’d love to paint more of these kind of florals, and also think it would be great to paint some bridal bouquets. A lasting reminder of a very special day—feel free to reach out if you’re interested!