Bunches Of Blooms - Hydie
Bunches of Blooms- Hydie is a collection of seasonal flowers to remember, reminisce and enlivan memories. This collection was created with a deep love for seasonal flowers
A bit about me
For as long as I can remember I have been obsessed with flowers. The colours, shapes, textures, and fragrance all captivated me. As a child I remember getting excited when the violets flowered in the winter, when the blossom stated to fall in the backyard in spring to look like snow, summer was hydrangeas and pumpkin flowers and autumn chrysanthemums. Each seasons had something to look forward too. I was constantly looking forward.
This love set me on a path to become a florist and horticulturist. For much of my working life I have been surrounded by plants. Picking, propagating, arranging, planting, and painting. It was during my study at Burnley Collage I stumbled across the beautiful art form of Botanical illustration. I went on to study with Fiona McKinnon and Jenny Phillips in South Yarra and learnt the precise skills needed to measure, count, and explore the finer details of the plant world. I spent hours and hours measuring, counting leave and petals, to correctly represent the specimen for identification preposes. A labour of love. From the botanical world I wanted to explore some freedom in my painting. This is where another incredible artist came into my life. Linda Gibbs. Linda is known for her beautiful soft landscapes that leave you dreaming. Linda gave me the space to create what I feel, not necessary what I see. Going form measuring everything to closing my eyes, gave me the confidence to create what I love.
This current exhibition is a combination of all this. This is an expression of my heat and a deep romance with hydrangeas.
Hydrangea macrophylla, native to Japan, symbolising allegiance, gratitude, and sincerity toward others. They have big floppy heads of flowers, large green leaves and their colours depend on the soil ph. The flowers change with the season, letting you know the cool nights of autumn have started. They love to tell you when they need water too. They are needy in our environment, but so worth the effort.
This collection is an expression of the joy and the life Hydrangea macrophylla can bring.
The opening night was lovely, filled with family, friends and new friends. Thank you to every one that visited in the typical Ballarat weather.
Lots of people asked what my next steps will be. At the time I was creatively exhausted and needed a rest. It has taken a bit to get back up and running again. This week I am back in the studio for the first time in a along while and creating again. This week some new pottery items are on the cards and the garden is giving me inspiration to work with more seasonal flowers. I am thinking the next collection will be about how the fragrance of seasonal blooms can transport you to a time and a place.
Stary tuned. xx