Flowers Paintings

Meaning of Poppies: The symbolic meaning of poppies is beauty, magic, consolation, fertility and eternal life. Poppies come in purple, yellow, red, orange and white. Poppies also denote sleep, rest and repose. This idea was popularized in the movie The Wizard of Oz. In mythology, poppies symbolize resurrection after death. Poppies are the state flower of California. Poppies are commonly used as a central flower in Puerto Rican weddings. Poppies are most often cultivated as an ornamental plant, but are also used worldwide for food and drugs. Poppyseed is used in cooking and baking. Learn more about flower meaningsand the lore of flowers in my book Flower Symbols, a wonderful gift for gardeners and flower lovers, and a perfect companion for a flower painting gift. Available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Meaning of Marigolds: The flower symbolism associated with marigolds is indicated in the name: Mary's Gold. Marigold flowers were gifts offered to the Virgin by the poor who could not afford to five actual gold. Marigolds are symbolic of passion and creativiity. Marigolds are also known as the Herb of the Sun and are edible in salads or as food garnishes. Marigolds have been used as l9ove charms and incorporated into wedding garlands. Marigolds are thought to encourage prophetic dreams. Learn more about flower meaningsand the lore of flowers in my book Flower Symbols, a wonderful gift for gardeners and flower lovers, and a perfect companion for a flower painting gift. Available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Meaning of Lavender Flowers: Lavender flowers mean purity, silence and devotion. Lavender flowers and essential oils are used to calm, soothe and induce sleep. Lavender sachets are used to keep clothing and be sheets fresh-smelling. Lavender is also useful for healing the skin and burns. Lavender oil is antiseptic, antibacterial and antispasmodic. Lavender can be used in potpurri, as cut flowers and to make scented wreaths or other decor. Learn more about flower meaningsand the lore of flowers in my book Flower Symbols, a wonderful gift for gardeners and flower lovers, and a perfect companion for a flower painting gift. Available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

ALL ABOUT FLOWERS PAINTINGS

Introduction to Flowers Paintings

The incredible beauty of many flowers have given them their central importance as subjects for flowers paintings. Flowers paintings are popular subjects in both the western and eastern traditions. During the Neolithic period, flowers were painted on ceramic vases. Still life paintings on the interior of Egyptian tombs also included flowers, food and other objects that the deceased could take with them to the afterlife. Roman wall paintings and mosaics also included flowers paintings.

European Flowers Paintings by Giotto

By 1300AD, still life paintings including flowers were included in religious wall paintings for their symbolic significance. Giotto di Bondone (1266-1337), usually know simply as Giotto, was one of the first painters to draw and paint based on natural realism. This was a break with the Byzantine style. Byzantine art was largely based on the ancient Roman and Greek styles. These paintings had a strong abstract or non-naturalistic component.

Flowers Paintings from the 13th to 15th Centuries

During the Medieval and Early Renaissance Ages from the 13th to the 15th century, flower symbolism in paintings and plant symbolism developed as a way of teaching religious truths. In the 16th century, a great interest in the natural world spurred the creation of botanical encyclopedias, especially for plants related to the exploration of new lands. Exotic flowers were depicted in flowers paintings of the time.

Chinese Flowers Paintings

Beginning in the mid 13th century, traditional Chinese paintings were focused on a single subject such a a single flower, animal or fruit. The category of bird and flower paintings was further broken down into four main subjects called The Four Gentlemen the orchid, the bamboo, the chrysanthemum and the plum blossom. THe Four Gentlemen were also adopted by flowers painters in Korea, Japan and Vietnam. These four flowers paintings are important for the student to master because they incorporate all of the basic brush style of Chinese brush painting. Related to the FOur Gentlemen are the Flowers of the Four Seasons: the orchid (spring), the lotus (summer), the chrysanthemum (autumn) and the plum blossom (winter).

Flowers Paintings and Flemish Baroque Art

Famous Flemish baroque painters Peter Paul Rubens, Anthony Van Dyk and Jacob Jordaens. The most important innovator of still life and flowers paintings was Jan Brueghel the Elder. His fantastic flowers paintings were imaginary and included flowers that normally do not bloom at the same time of the year. The flowers chosen were often symbolic and were popular with leading nobility throughout Europe. Jan Brueghel's sons Jan Brueghel the Younger and Ambrosius Brueghel the Elder were also creators of flowers paintings. One of Jan Brueghel's innovation was the garland painting, usually depicting the Virgin Mary and Christ surrounded by a symbolic garland of flowers.

Flowers Paintings in the Romantic Era

Flowers paintings gained in popularity in the 17th through 19th centuries. Historically, flowers paintings had generally symbolized the romantic notion that the delights of this world are transitory and perishable. This was in keeping with many centuries of art that focused on the joys of the next world and the trials and tribulations of this one. The still life evolved into what were referred to as "kitchen table" paintings in the 18th century. These paintings included both flowers and food and emphasized variation in color, form and texture. However, the role of flowers paintings began to change in the Victorian era and with advent of the Impressionists.

Flowers Paintings in the Victorian Era

During the Victorian era, suddenly flowers paintings were everywhere: murals, fabrics, costumes, calligraphic art, illustrations, interior accessories and more. The unending variations of flower forms kept the interest in flowers paintings high as new flowers were imported from the East and the New World. The Victorian language of flowers is an example of detailed symbolism invested in a particular subject. Not only does the type of flower in flowers paintings have meaning, but also the color is significant. Red roses symbolize love. Yellow roses in flowers paintings convey joy and friendship, while pink roses represent happiness.

European Flowers Paintings by Pierre-Joseph Redouté

The most extraordinary creator of flowers paintings in Europe the late 18th and early 19th centuries was Pierre-Joseph Redouté. Born into a family of painters, Redouté was an artistic prodigy who left home at the age of thirteen to seek his fortune as a painter of portraits and religious themes. After discovering the flowers paintings of Dutch painters Brueghel and Ruysch during his travels, Redouté turned to creating flowers paintings himself. Redouté’s reputation for his flowers paintings was reaching great heights. Soon he was appointed as the official court painter for Queen Marie Antoinette. After the revolution, Redouté enjoyed the patronage of Empress Josephine.

All of this aided Redouté, who produced extraordinary flowers paintings for a number of books during this time. His acclaim for his flowers paintings reached its pinnacle with the sale of a book dedicated to the illustration of roses. Redouté used a stipple engraving technique that resulted in incredible detail and subtle color variations. The book was sold to French aristocracy in monthly installments of four flower paintings for three years, at which point the book was permanently bound. Eventually Redouté moved into flowers paintings emphasizing aesthetics rather than botanical accuracy and continued in this vein until his death at the age of eighty. Redouté’s flower paintings can still be found today as books, posters and even decorative stickers.

American Flowers Paintings by Edward Chalmers Leavitt

The most famous creator of flowers paintings in early America was Edward Chalmers Leavitt. The son of a minister, Leavitt was born in Providence, Rhode Island and served in the United States Navy during the Civil War, practicing his drawing technique during that time. Leavitt's flowers paintings are focused on still life set-ups and he is best know for his ability to depict textures. His work was sought after during his lifetime by the Victorian middle class.

Flowers Paintings and the Art of the Impressionists

The art of the Impressionists, the best-selling and most beloved art style for almost a century and a half, often features flowers, outdoor scenes or still life. The impressionistic style consists of placing patches or pieces of color next to one another rather than completely blending them as was done in the classical style. This particular style capitalizes on the natural movements of the human eye. The color placement in Impressionistic art causes the eye of the viewer to move rapidly back and forth, mimicking the way that our eyes function in an outdoor environment. We are comforted and healed at a very deep level by the movement of leaves as the wind rustles through the trees or the flickering of sunlight on a pond. This shimmering effect is replicated in the impressionistic style. The result is calming, soothing and inherently a form of healing art.

Flowers Paintings and Manet

The flowers paintings of Impressionist Edouard Manet are characterized by loose brush strokes, simple forms and contrasting colors. Manet’s flowers paintings style rejected the careful shading and color transitions of botanical illustrations in favor of a fresh look that unabashedly declared the role of artistic interpretation to be more important than careful accuracy. Manet also used outlining and strong lighting contrasts in his flowers paintings and art depicting a myriad of subjects. He also rejected the tradition of deep space and perspective that had been prominent in art for centuries. His works, including his flowers paintings and other still-life images, stayed near the surface of the painting, emphasizing the materials of art rather than the illusions of art.

Flowers Paintings and Claude Monet

Claude Monet is the most famous of all of the Impressionists for his self-created outdoor studio—the gardens at Giverny. Monet began creating his flower gardens, including a pond and bridge, for his own pleasure. Soon, however, he recognized the potential inspiration for his art work. As the gardens increased in complexity and size, Monet began to create flowers paintings almost exclusively. For the next forty years, Monet’s flowers paintings consumed his attention. Monet’s flowers paintings are bright and colorful. Each piece of color is distinct brush stroke. The result is a shimmering effect that has helped to keep his flowers paintings among the most popular and recognizable images of all time.

Flowers Paintings and Paul Cezanne

Paul Cezanne (1839-1906) is thought to have been the bridge between Impressionism and Cubism. Cezanne was born in France and became celebrated for his mastery of color and draftsmanship. His works were abstracted from nature and often consisted of small brush strokes that created complex patches of color. His works included portraits, still life paintings (flowers, fruit, vases and small sautes) and landscapes.

Flowers Painting and Vincent Van Gogh

As Impressionism gave way to the modern era, artists continued to emphasize the sensory pleasure of flowers paintings over the symbolic meaning of flowers. Flowers paintings had been considered inferior to landscape and portrait painting, but now began to take on a new level of expression. This is particularly true in the case of Van Gogh, whose flowers paintings treated each blossom as if it were a full-fledged portrait. Van Gogh is most famous for his flowers paintings featuring sunflowers, but he also painted a number of other flowers in his still-life works.

Flowers Paintings in the Modern Era

The continuing emergence of abstract art threatened the place of flowers paintings in realism. Although the prosaic gardenscapes and still-life images traditional in flowers paintings were relegated to the past during this period, the versatile forms of flowers actually revealed tremendous potential for more abstract images.

Flowers Paintings of Cicely Mary Barker

Cicely Mary Barker was an English illustrator famous for her depictions of flowers and fairies. She began as a greeting card artist and also created illustrations for magazines for children and youth. Barker worked in watercolor, pen and ink, oils and pastels. Her first book was Flower Fairies of the Spring (1923), later followed by books on flower fairies of the summer and autumn. A book of illustrations of flower fairies of the winter was published after her death in 1973. Barker's sister ran a kindergarten in the home where she lived and many of these children served as models for Barker's fairies and flowers paintings.

Flowers Paintings and Georgia O'Keefe

Georgia O’Keeffe successfully returned the flower to prominence with her series of close-ups of calla lilies. She wanted to have the viewer really look at the fundamental form of the flower without any preconceived notions. Her sensual flowers redefined the flower as a pure, almost geometric form. Georgia O’Keeffe’s “Calla Lilies with Red Anemone” (1928) was sold in 2001 for $6.2 million.

Flowers Paintings and the Photorealism of Lowell Nesbitt

Lowell Nesbitt was known for his large-scale realist paintings of flowers. Nesbitt's realism included distorted interpretations of natural objects. He is best known for gargantuan images of lilies, roses, irises and other flowers with petals that filled the canvases. His work has been used for US postage stamps and he served as the official artist for the space flights of Apollo 9 and Apollo 13. His popularity with the public overshadowed his mixed reputation among art critics and scholars.

Flowers Paintings and the Photorealism of Carolyn Brady

Carolyn Brady (1937-2005) is best known for her hyper realistic, large watercolors of flowers and still life art. Her early works were in textile design, where she developed a clear style of bright colors with little shading. She moved into watercolor painting, producing some of the largest watercolors ever created, including works that are five feet by over seven feet in size. Her more famous pieces include a large field of blooming flowers painted in great detail.

Flowers Paintings and Andy Warhol

The serial images of flowers created by Andy Warhol placed flowers paintings squarely in the modern era. Andy Warhol’s flowers paintings were based on photographs and usually contained a limited number of flowers with a very basic, five-petal form. Warhol’s flowers paintings series experimented with different color combinations for flowers with little depth or other images in the background. The focus was completely on the simple motif of the flower itself.

The Use of Flowers Paintings in Decor

Keep in mind that artwork for interior decor can be chosen with flower symbolism in mind. Choosing flowers paintings based on flower symbolism for yourself or someone you love encapsulates the values or feelings that you want to convey. The appeal of flowers paintings and flowers in all forms of decor is timeless and crosses all national boundaries. Publishers continue to find that flowers paintings are successful in nearly all markets and in nearly all price ranges. Not only do flowers paintings cross all demographic groups by income and education, but flowers paintings appeal to people in all age groups as well.

Sunflowers Paintings

Sunflowers paintings can be used to brighten up just about any room or environment. Sunflowers paintings have long been popular as children's themes but have also gained in popularity among adults in recent years. Sunflowers are becoming popular for wedding themes as well as for cut bouquets and for interior decor. Sunflowers paintings can depict the wide variety of types of sunflowers. Sunflowers are symbolic of adoration, since they turn their heads towards the sun. Sunflowers paintings can be used to remind the viewer of the beauty of the sun and the abundance and bounty of nature.

Sunflowers have been an extrememly important crop historically in the Americas. The following describes the many uses of sunflowers by American Indians:

• The Cherokee used an infusion of sunflower leaves to treat kidneys.
• The Dakota used an infusion of sunflowers for chest pains and pulmonary troubles.
• The Gros Ventres, Mandan, Rees, and Hidatsa used sunflower seeds as a stimulant, taken on a war party or hunt to alleviate fatigue.
• The Hopi used the sunflower plant as a “spider medicine” and dermatological aid.
• The Navajo ate sunflower seeds to stimulate the appetite.
• The Paiute used a decoction of sunflower root to alleviate rheumatism.
• Pawnee women ate a dry seed concoction to protect suckling children.
• The Pima applied a poultice of warm ashes to the stomach for worms and used a decoction of leaves for high fevers.
• The Thompson Indians used powdered sunflower leaves alone or in an ointment on sores and swellings.
• The Zuni used a poultice of sunflower root to treat snakebite.

Sunflowers are cultivated as ornamentals or garden plants, and the seeds are eaten by both humans and wildlife. Game birds, songbirds, and rodents (Martin et al. 1951) eat the large, nutritious seeds of sunflowers. These attractive weedy plants are of outstanding value to wildlife in the prairies and other parts of the West.... Small mammals who relish the seeds include the least chipmunk, eastern pocket gopher, ground squirrels, lemmings, meadow mice, pocket mice, white-footed mice, prairie dogs, and kangaroo rats. Muskrats eat the stems and foliage. Antelope, deer, and moose browse on the plants.

Abstract Flowers Paintings

Abstract flowers paintings exist on a spectrum of styles from realistic with abstracted backgrounds to completely abstracted patches of color. In fact, gardens and flowers are among the oldest subjects for art in general. The mystique of flowers has led to their inclusion in paintings and representational art for millennia. The remains of flowers have even been found near Paleolithic grave sites, indicating their symbolic importance since the beginning of time.

Abstract flowers paintings allow for the inclusion of the imagination. The essential joy and uplift provided by flowers can be captured without delineating every petal and every leaf. In fact, sometimes a photographic approach can cause us to miss the fundamental form and impact of a single flower or a group of flowers. Flowers paintings and art depicting nature has also been shown to relieve stress. A 1996 study conducted by Virginia Lohr and others showed that rooms and offices decorated with plants and flowers helped reduce stress as measured by decreased blood pressure and pulse rates. Researchers have further determined that there is a direct link between flowers and life satisfaction.

A study done at Rutgers demonstrated that flowers decrease anxiety, depression and agitation. Flowers also lead to a higher sense of enjoyment and increased contact with family and friends. Flowers make a home more welcoming and create a sharing atmosphere. Additional research by Diane Relf of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute has shown that people communicate better in the presence of flowers or plants and they tend to eat more slowly. Others studies focused specifically on seniors and tracked improvements in memory in the presence of flowers.

By decorating your home or office with flowers paintings rather than fresh flowers, you introduce flowers into your decor that will never fade. Having flowers paintings as a permanent element into your home can be a positive influence for both inhabitants and visitors. Flowers paintings can be used in almost every area of a home or business. Small flowers paintings are perfect for bathrooms, hallways, entryways or bedrooms. Large flower paintings add cheer and color to dining rooms, living rooms and family rooms. For businesses or offices, flowers paintings are traditional for waiting areas and reception areas. Flowers paintings have universal appeal and work well in just about any decor to lower stress and uplift everyone's mood!

Lily Flowers Paintings

Lily flowers paintings are both symbolic and striking in their stark beauty. Lily flowers paintings have religious as well as secular symbolism. Lilies mean magnificant beauty and also are symbolic of the process of the ascension. Many saints have been depicted holding lilies or with lilies at their feet. Lily flowers paintingsare appropriate for almost any location.

Lily flowers paintings can be placed in the kitchen, living areas, bedrooms or even bathrooms. Lilies come in white, yellow, purple, pale orange and pink. Lilies are popular for both weddings and funerals. Lilies can be forced to bloom indoors during the winter for holiday decor. Ironically, lilies were associated with lust and sexuality among the ancient Romans and transformed into a symbol of purity and chasity in the Christian era.

Lily flowers paintings were brought to prominence with the work of Georgia O'Keefe. Her close-up lilies emphasized the flower as a pure geometric form. Diego Rivera also created a number of famous lily flowers paintings. These lily flowers paintings have been reproduced so often as to be recognizable the world around.

Poppy Flowers Paintings

Poppy flowers paintings have multiple meanings and significance. Poppy flowers paintings reflect the symbolism of the poppy flower: beauty, magic, fertility, consolation and eternal life. The English name for poppies is derived from the Latin papaver, from the base word meaning "to swell". In modern times, poppies have been associated with Flanders fields as an emblem of those who died in World War I.

Poppies have an ancient history. Poppies were included in burial tombs by the Egyptians. Some historians believe the Egyptians used poppy to produce beer as well as morphine and milder medications. One inscription seems to indicate that poppy derivatives were used to calm crying children. The Greeks offered poppies to Demeter, goddess of fertility, and Diana, goddess of the hunt. However, the dangers of poppies were also well-known in many cultures:

Narcotic comes from the Greek "benumbing or deadening." Ancient peoples considered this a sacred plant of medicine and a sleep potion (Hypnos = Greek God of Sleep; Morpheus = Greek God of Dreams; Somnus = Roman God of Sleep). Pliny the Elder warned of the dangers of opium; however, its use as a medicine created addicts, such as the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, and the great Arabic physician Avicenna died of an unintentional overdose of opium in wine.
(http://www.botgard.ucla.edu/html/botanytextbooks/economicbotany/Papaver/ )

Poppy flowers paintings are highly versatile. Poppies come in scarlet red, deep orange, light orange, white, purple and pink. Most have black markings with a raised white formation in the center. Poppies can have a single row of petals or multiple layers of petals. Poppy flowers paintings are one of the most popular forms of flowers paintings, competing well with sunflowers, roses and calla lilies. Poppy flowers paintings are appropriate for any area of the home or as a bright accent in an office reception area or entranceway. Poppy flowers paintings appeal to all ages and to both men and women.

Tulip Flowers Paintings

Tulip flowers paintings have an array of uses and meanings. The tulip is emblematic of Holland, even more recognizable than windmills and wooden shoes. The tulip fields of Holland are a remarkable sight that tourists flock to view every year. Tulips flowers paintings help to bring the thrill and excitement of tulips into your home.

Tulips flowers paintings are liked by both men and women. Men often prefer simple flowers to complex, lacy types. Tulips flowers paintings also appeal to people of all ages. Small children are thrilled to see the first tulips break through the ground in the spring. A bright picture of tulips helps to keep that expectation and hope alive all year.

Tulips come in so many varieties and colors that the possibilities for tulips pictures is almost endless. During the period of "tulipmania" in Holland in the 1600s, the bulbs for prized varieties of tulips were worth the price of a small house! Tulips bloom in many hardiness zones and are grown and admired in countries around the world.

Tulips flowers paintings are wonderful for hallways, dining areas, living rooms and family rooms. With so many types and colors of tulips, it's possible to find a tulip flowers paintings that matches any color scheme.

Red tulips mean "believe me" and refer the the giver's sincerely in a declaration of love. Yellow tulips mean cheerful thoughts. Purple tulips mean royalty. Orange tulips represent energy, enthusism and desire. White tulip symbolize heaven and are wonderful for sympathy gifts. Tulips flowers paintings are perfect gifts for Mother's Day, wedding presents, housewarming gifts and birthday gifts.

FLOWERS PAINTINGS

ALL ABOUT FLOWERS PAINTINGS

Introduction to Flowers Paintings

European Flowers Paintings by Giotto