We are absolutely delighted to share this breathtaking collection of floral artwork from our students today, and if ever a post were guaranteed to brighten your day, this is it.
Flowers have inspired artists for centuries, and it is not difficult to understand why. They offer an extraordinary range of challenge and beauty, from the complex layering of petals and the delicacy of stamens, to the interplay of light on a glossy leaf or the subtle gradations of colour within a single bloom. They reward close, patient observation, and they have a way of revealing something new every time you look at them.
What makes this collection so special is the wonderful variety of approaches on show. Janet Ferrier Robinson’s “Autumn Splendour” is a gorgeous example of Chinese brush painting, with chrysanthemums rendered in Chinese ink and watercolour with an elegance and fluidity that is entirely its own tradition. The characters and seals that accompany the image give it a sense of calm authority, and the composition has a wonderful natural grace.
Larisa Andreassen’s Black Parrot Tulip, worked in ink and watercolour, is dramatic and deeply beautiful, the dark crimson petals with their extraordinary frilled and feathered edges rendered with real botanical precision and a painterly richness that makes the flower almost leap from the page.
Margaret Orchard’s “Purple Moment” is a tour de force in coloured pencil, with a bearded iris captured in all its ruffled, layered glory. The way she has handled the transitions between violet, purple and deep pink across those magnificent petals is simply stunning, and the sense of three-dimensional form is remarkable.
And then there are the hellebores, two interpretations of this quietly beautiful winter flower, one in watercolour by Nola Sindel and one in coloured pencil by Norma Hall. Both are exquisite in their own way, demonstrating just how differently the same subject can be approached depending on the medium and the hand of the artist.
If this collection has stirred something in you and you would love to develop your own skills in painting or drawing flowers and plants, we have a number of courses that could be just right for you. Our Botanical Painting Diploma Course and our Botanical Coloured Pencil Diploma Course are both wonderful starting points, and we also offer a Chinese Brush Painting Course for those drawn to that beautiful and meditative tradition. Flowers can also be explored across many of our other courses, including watercolour, drawing and painting, pastels and coloured pencil, so if you are not sure which route is right for you, please do get in touch with us at the college and we will be very happy to help you find the perfect fit.
If you would like to receive a roundup of all of our blog posts once a week to keep you inspired in your inbox, why not sign up to our newsletter. You can access our sign up at the top of our page. If you are a London Art College student and you would like your artwork featured here, drop us a line at any time.
