FlowerPaintingsOnline.com

There is no questioning the meaning of flowers in many cultures, and their use in a variety of means.  Of all things from nature, flowers are most often used in ceremony, decoration, symbolism, and the symbolic meaning of flowers has certainly been represented in flower art.

Gardens of flowers have been the subject of some of the most stunning flower paintings in history, just has humans have used flowers from nature in their gardens to enhance their lives for centuries.

So what are our top ten flowers used in flower paintings? Well this list of flower names is highly personal but just for fun:

1. Roses: There are many types of roses (bedding, bush, climbing) and endless colors, but roses are the universal symbol of floral beauty and many other things. Shop.

2. Orchids: Orchids have a cult following, probably because of their endless species. There are so many, and likely many that have yet to be discovered. Shop.

3. Wild Flowers: This is not so much a species but a whole catagory of flowers. Those of us who have spent time in the wilderness understand the start beauty and often endurance of random wild flower encounters. Shop.

4. Lilies: These flowers come in many exotic colors and patterns but we think there is special relatinship between lilies and one color: white.

5. Carnations: Could be called the 'all purpose flower' for their use in bouquets by florists, boutonnieres, and corsages, they also make great artwork.

6. Daffodil: Also known as Narcissus, when these bulbs sprout it means spring is here. They have also inspired artists for centuries.

7. Sunflowers: Sure these flowers are a good source of seeds and oil, but who can forget Van Gogh's stunning paintings.

8. Tulips: With their vibrant colors and perfect natural shape, tulips almost begged to be painted.

9. Daisies: Sometimes, simplicity is best.

10. Bougainvillea: Its hard to find more brilliant colors, plus they remind us of the tropics...

Ones that probably should have made the list and didn't: Lotus, Camellia, Dogwood, Magnolia.

What are your favorites?  Have a special flower painting, website with floral art, or thoughts about flower painting in general?  Leave a comment below.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Flowers and Floral landscapes have meanings and symbolism in just about all cultures and historical periods. Therefore, it’s no surprise that they are so often reflected in art, and there are endless flower paintings that are widely recognized today. Many famous painters made flower paintings a significant part of their portfolio, and their flower art often helped define their legacies.

Pierre-Auguste Renoir, a painter from the mid-1800 impressionist movement, chose flowers as the subject for many of his paintings. Renoir did his study and painting in Paris, and his work was often an experiment with landscapes and outdoor scenes of Parisian daily life. His focus was often on trying to paint by using light in new ways, which appears in his paintings of roses, chrysanthemums, and other spring flowers, which still stands as some of his most famous work

Renoir was friends with fellow impressionist painter Claude Monet, who set the standard for impressionism flower paintings. Iris, water lilies, and flowers in ponds and gardens at Giverny appeared on canvas like never had before when Monet found his true inspiration. In fact as he matured, Monet focused so much on floral art that he invested more and more time in gardening so that it grew more colorful flowers as subjects. Claude Monet’s flower art is likely the most famous in the world.

Henri Matisse is yet another French artist who had a broad range of interest, subject and works, but often gravitated to beauty and nature. He was influenced by Monet and other impressionist painters, and incorporated some of this form into his own style of beautiful colors with broad strokes.

Art from Matisse varies from females to still life, but flower paintings from Matisse are also highlighted in his portfolio. “Still Life with Magnolia” typifies the simple, colorful, unique style of Matisse.

No discussion of flower paintings is complete without the impact made by Vincent Van Gogh on the world of impressionist art. Van Gogh brought his own bursts of color and style, mainly in daring outdoor or landscape painting, often including flowers.

However there is one floral varietal most associated to Van Gogh: sunflowers. His stunning collection of sunflower paintings is world recognized, which almost treat each flower as it's owns subject. In these paintings there is an emphasis on the pure brilliance and sensory joy of the blooms in his paintings.

Impressionist flower paintings dominant galleries world over, but there continue to be examples of famous abstract flower paintings, and realism.

An American icon, Georgia O'Keefe is a 20th century artist who partly defined her works through realistic flower paintings, usually close ups of flowers such as roses and iris, emphasizing colors as purples and pinks. Her tendency towards oversized flower works, showing the details of the petals, pistils, and interior tend to convey symbolism, and have a show her unique style.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!