Mary Oliver stood among the flowers and wrote, “The poet must not only write the poem but must scrutinize the world intensely, or anyway that part of the world he or she has taken for subject. If the poem is thin, it is likely so not because the poet does not know enough words, but because he or she has not stood long enough among the flowers—has not seen them in any fresh, exciting, and valid way.”
Garvey|Simon, Magnolia Blossom Series No. 3, colored pencil on paper, 21 x 20", by David Morrison.David Morrison looked closely and saw things afresh. He writes, “I became obsessed with drawing branches and tree trunks by looking at them through magnifying glasses that allowed me to peer deeper into an astonishing world of abstract shapes and patterns.” His Prismacolor drawings are not the pristine specimens seen in botanical drawings, but a blossom torn off in the wind, a twig dropped long ago and now lichen covered, a piece of sycamore bark.
In Magnolia Series No. 3 a blossom torn off with a bit of stem is isolated on a piece of white paper, allowing the viewer to look at it without the visual distractions of its one-time context, its shadows on the paper making it appear three-dimensional in its two-dimensional state.
Carol Corey Fine Art, Iris and Poppies IX, oil on paper, 18 x 14", by Elise Ansel.He says, “I want to take the ordinary and give it iconic status. The viewer discovers not only the intricate detail (only a small portion of the detail in the actual object) as well as the abstract quality of that detail.”
Elise Ansel explains, “My work has always involved crossing back and forth over the border between abstraction and figuration, searching for things that are fresh and unexpected, but in my floral paintings, I allowed the pendulum to swing more extremely in each direction. I created both realistic enlargements of the exquisite details within the Dutch Golden Age still life paintings and completely abstract images of the bouquets as a whole.”
Anne Neilson Fine Art, Bright Spot, oil on canvas panel, 8 x 8", by Millie Gosch.
Feminine imagery in Old Master narratives, “fecundity and flowers being a celebration of all things female” are central to her work but, she says, it “really is about paint and painting. It’s a celebration of what paint can do. Paint can celebrate life. My paintings are a dialogue with the Old Masters with whom I share a love of paint. The abstract forms and colors in my paintings carry the life affirming energy that used to be communicated with illustrative pictures.” 
Somerville Manning, Mars, diptych, acrylic on canvas, 31½ x 63, by Marie Theres Berger.Iris and Poppies IX references a Dutch Golden Age still life painting by Willem van Aelst. Rachel Ruysch was an apprentice to van Aelst and her painting in the Detroit Institute of Arts was a further inspiration to Ansel. She comments, “Having spent the last decade looking at art history through a female lens, countering or supplementing a male perspective, overturning narratives of violence and voyeurism, rendering subjectivity in the feminine, I was energized by the opportunity to align myself with a female artist from another time, another place; to draw strength and inspiration from her accomplishments, and to extend what she had begun.”
Born in Germany, Marie-Theres Berger studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and at the École du Louvre in Paris where she now lives. At the École du Louvre she studied the artists of French fauvism and German expressionism who continue to inspire her work. Her 63-inch-wide diptych Mars displays her talent as a colorist, blurring the line between reality and abstraction, capturing the emotion of standing “long enough among the flowers.”
Top row: Celebration of Fine Art, Desert Blush, watercolor on canvas, 24 x 24", by Heidi Rosner; Elizabeth Butler, Kumquat Safari, oil and copper leaf on wood panel, 30 x 60". Bottom row: Elizabeth Butler, Softening Into, oil on wood panel, 48 x 48"; Jones & Terwilliger Galleries, Spring Glory, oil on canvas, 36 x 41", by Michael Malm. Through the remainder of this section, you’ll hear from artists, galleries and art events also sharing insights into the genre of florals and botanicals.
Anne Neilson Fine Art represents a few talented artists who paint florals in various styles. Millie Gosch, an impressionistic style painter, typically paints in plein air but is often drawn towards the drama of blooms. “The different shapes, textures and colors are fun to put together,” the artist remarks. “When arranging a still life to paint I always think of color compliments and the variety of textures and shapes.” Stephanie Neely, a realism painter, is heavily influenced by the Great Masters like Vermeer and Caravaggio. Her striking works exhibit a higher contrast approach to her florals with rich detail as if you were viewing the subject right in front of you. Florals offer another way to paint from life, and the completed paintings allow these florals to continually stay in bloom. The beautiful moments in time offer an inherent timeless elegance. 
Anne Neilson Fine Art, Shadowed Blooms, oil on canvas, 30 x 24", by Millie Gosch
“Floral art is timeless and compliments almost any décor style. It is a way of bringing color and a breath of fresh air into your home,” says Susan Morrow Potje, co-owner and show director of the Celebration of Fine Art. “Florals are represented in many different mediums from watercolor, oil, acrylic, pastel, sculpture and mixed media. Each brings a different element of the beauty of nature to life.” Celebration of Fine Art is a juried, invitational show that has come to be recognized for its diverse array of exceptional art, like the genre of still life, but more importantly for its inviting and interactive atmosphere that encourages connection between art lovers and artists. It’s because of this atmosphere and the ability to interact with artists and learn about their process that Celebration of Fine Art has become a true destination for art lovers from all backgrounds.
Anne Neilson Fine Art, Lightning in a Bottle, oil on canvas, 24 x 20", by Stephanie Neely.
Celebration of Fine Art, Shades of Summer, acrylic on canvas, 30 x 48", by Beth Zink.
“When choosing a floral piece for your collection, make sure it matches your heart,” recommends artist Elizabeth Butler. “Flowers are a unique expression of life, growth and celebration; here for a few fleeting moments to lift us with their carefree beauty. If something makes your heart sing, that is the piece to acquire forever, for you will never tire of looking at it or of feeling it’s resonance deep within.” Butler feels deeply connected to the earth and strives to communicate through her paintings the awesome and moving power in the beauty of the natural world around us. Her intricate and colorful paintings like Royalty and Kumquat Safari, pictured here, and are fine examples of her talent and passion in depicting floral subject matter.
Celebration of Fine Art, Black Orchids, oil on wood panel, 48 x 48", by Elizabeth Butler.“In all of my floral work, my goal is to draw attention to the essential beauty flowers bring to everyday life while recognizing the critical role that flowers play in nature,” says artist John Kotos. For his painting Anthos, Kotos drew inspiration from the vibrant hibiscuses growing right in his backyard while aiming to connect with his Greek heritage. “I sought to have the flowers explode off the canvas with their vibrant oranges, yellows and reds,” he shares.
“My painting Vase is inspired by Jan Philip van Thielen’s painting Roses and a tulip in a glass vase. I was drawn to the pops of color that are elevated by the dark background as well as the otherworldliness of the flowers.”
Elizabeth Butler, Royalty, oil on wood panel, 36 x 60"
Tehachapi Arts Commission, As Beauty Unfolds, oil, 16 x 12", by Sandy Fisher.
When purchasing floral art, Kotos says, “I am drawn to work that makes me reflect upon my relationship with nature and the abundance of life that flowers represent. For me, the color choice of the artist is essential in building a connection to the flowers and the artwork.”
Jones & Terwilliger Galleries showcases a diverse collection of artists that range from classical realism to contemporary impressionism. The romance of flowers from the garden is captured by Michael Malm in Spring Glory showing a young girl filling a vase with peonies. “His ability to capture the drama of light is impressive,” the gallery notes. “Ukrainian artist, Yana Movchan’s sublime mastery of the technique and structure of Renaissance painting, combined with the symbolism of magical realism, takes on a contemporary feeling that touches the heart of the viewer. Both artists strive to move the viewer emotionally with the beauty of nature. [We] believe art picks you, and that is the emotional tug a collector should follow.”
Top row: Jones & Terwilliger Galleries, Love Birds, oil on canvas, 12 x 16", by Yana Movchan; Nancy J. Balmert, White Hibiscus, oil on canvas, 24 x 24". Bottom row: Nancy J. Balmert, Sugar Blues Iris, oil on canvas, 24 x 24"; John Kotos, Vase, acrylic on canvas, 48 x 48"; Ingrid McIntire, Flowers of Red, mixed media, 48 x 30"“I love florals!” exclaims artist Nancy J. Balmert. “Floral paintings are like bringing fresh flowers into my home. As to painting them, my techniques are inspired by the Old Masters. I combine the lighting effect of Rembrandt, the fine details that characterize Vermeer’s work, and what I call “soft edges” in the style of Reubens. The techniques create paintings with far more depth and intensity than a photo could ever produce.”
Jones & Terwilliger Galleries, Double Peace, oil on canvas, 11 x 14", by Yana Movchan.
Nancy J. Balmert, Rhapsody Rose, oil on canvas, 14 x 14"
She continues, “I consider myself both artist and collector. My paintings are ones I want to own and enjoy every day. Trends may come and go, but the appeal of flowers is universal and long-lasting. So, in addition to subject and technique, the quality of paints and the mediums are critical to producing works that future generations will love as much as I do, and last for centuries—so I use the best. My medium adds shine and helps to keep the paints flexible to avoid cracking in the future.”
Guests at this year’s Tehachapi Art Show, hosted by the Tehachapi Arts Commission, should expect to find some astonishing floral subject matter within the mix of works that seek to portray the Tehachapi, California region. Pieces from past events, like Sandy Fisher’s oil painting As Beauty Unfold, is a great example of the quality brought to the show. “I am fascinated by the brief beauty of cacti blooms and have several species of cacti in my own yard,” says Fisher. “Each year I eagerly await the emergence of the buds and the subsequent unfolding which produces the finale of the beauty of the bloom.” 
Tehachapi Arts Commission, Lamp, oil, 24 x 18", by Chuck Kovacic.In Chuck Kovacic’s oil Lamp, “The light of day is outshone by a lantern entwined with roses and wisteria. A fitting entrance and tribute to the Cesar Chavez monument,” the artist shares. Nita Harper was also compelled to paint a scene from the same monument, a piece titled Chavez National Monument Roses. “The day was overcast, but the springtime roses popped and spoke to me! I was compelled to paint them,” says Harper.
Top row: Tehachapi Arts Commission, Chavez National Monument Roses, oil, 9 x 12", by Nita Harper; Hilary Gomes, Gold, oil on linen, 36 x 36". Bottom row: Ingrid McIntire, Flowers of White, mixed media, 48 x 30" ; Hilary Gomes, Abundance, oil on linen, 30 x 36"; Ingrid McIntire, Rainbow Mod, mixed media, 48 x 30" For Ingrid McIntire’s work, color is everything. “It’s what brings soul to life and makes my heart sing: the golden yellow of a bald eagle’s beak, the onyx black of a tiger streak, the cosmic white of a lotus petal, the passionate red of a wild rose, the purple of an iris—how brightly it shows,” says the artist. “Along my path, color and nature have been my greatest inspiration; my greatest teachers. Without heeding them, I couldn’t dive deeper. My creativity is healing—it’s abundantly clear. Since childhood, I’ve had an eye for texture, composition, color, patterns and precision. Details are one of the greatest gifts we can pay attention to, and I hope you will join me in celebrating that when considering my art.” 
John Kotos, Anthos, acrylic on canvas, 48 x 48"As a contemporary female realist artist, artist Hilary Gomes paints blooming garden roses that are a way for her to focus on ephemeral beauty. “My paintings explore the symbolic transcendent themes of roses and thorns, contemplating the mystery of beauty,” she says. “Visiting and painting roses reminds me of what it means to exist and to love. I paint from harmonious garden compositions while integrating representational floral painting traditions. I paint to explore strong visual tonal contrast, luminosity, unified compositions, color harmonies and uniqueness. Ten minutes from my home studio, I visit rose gardens from Filoli Gardens in Woodside, California, for inspiration for my paintings. I use a process of transparent tonal under-painting, color glazing, direct painting and scumbling oil painting techniques to create luminosity and brushwork. I am inspired by 19th-century floral paintings.” —
Featured Artists & Galleries
Anne Neilson Fine Art
721 Governor Morrison Street, Suite 180
Charlotte, NC 28211, (704) 496-9181
www.anneneilsonfineart.com
Carol Corey Fine Art
6 N. Main Street, Kent, CT 06757
(917) 797-9654, carol@coreyfineart.com
www.carolcoreyfineart.com
Celebration of Fine Art
18400 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85255, Hayden Road and Loop 101, Exit 35, (480) 443-7695
info@celebrateart.com
www.celebrateart.com
Elizabeth Butler
Phoenix, AZ, (480) 440-2806
elizabethbutlerfineart@gmail.com
www.elizabethbutlerfineart.com
Garvey|Simon
New York, NY (By Appointment)
(917) 796-2146, liz@garveysimon.com
www.garveysimon.com
Hilary Gomes
email@hilarygomesfineart.com
www.hilarygomesfineart.com
Ingrid McIntire
hello@theeyeofingrid.com
www.theeyeofingrid.com
John Kotos
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, (904) 651-6061
www.jtkpaints.com
Jones & Terwilliger Galleries
Sixth Avenue (Between San Carlos and Dolores), Carmel, CA (831) 626-9100
73-375 El Paseo, Suite A, Palm Desert, CA (760) 674-8989
www.jones-terwilliger-galleries.com
Nancy J. Balmert
www.nancybalmert.com
Somerville Manning Gallery
101 Stone Block Row, Greenville, DE 19807, (302) 652-0271
www.somervillemanning.com
Tehachapi Arts Commission
Tehachapi, CA, (626) 945-3753
info@artstehachapi.org
www.artstehachapi.org
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