Floral Inspiration :: A Bright + Colorful Arrangement Inspired by Dutch Floral Still-Life Paintings

It is quite unlike me to be madly in love with a bright and colorful floral arrangement, but there is something so magical, so ethereal about this piece that it has become one of those cherished and special creations. Every element and moment was perfection; from the perfectly bloomed Cherry Brandy Roses and delicately blush colored Carnations, radiant Bupleurum and whimsical Pink Rice Flowers and Seeded eucalyptus — to the sun’s lighting that made every detail not seem real. The blend of these stunning natural blooms reminded me of a Dutch floral still-life painting. Even now looking back at these gorgeous flowers, a piece I still can’t believe I put together with no intention but to follow the rhythm and flow of my heart — everything just came together to create something that encompasses all that is “blissful.”

It was the end of January but the sun was bright and intense, for a brief moment reminding me of the invigorating warmth of late Spring. The lighting, perfection, that amazing afternoon glow was the final element this floral arrangement needed to be too beautiful for words to even describe! 

Like a Dutch still-life painting, is the only way I know how to best describe how this arrangement looks, but really feels! It isn’t merely a pretty centerpiece with nice looking flowers, there is a tremendous amount of heart and emotion radiating, even through these photographs. And the memory of that moment, that is the true essence of a still-life painting. It goes beyond the paint strokes, the blending of colors and shapes — they evoke a sense that life in that moment was halted, frozen in time. A stillness that allows you to approach an ordinary object, to inspect and analyze every detail of its beauty in a way you wouldn’t otherwise.

For someone who finds herself quite often pausing to the look at every tiny detail of life, every little thing; from the flowers blooming in the garden, to the underlying melodies of a song and the indescribable creation of colors in a sunset. I’m naturally enamored by still-life paintings. And the Dutch are known for their elegance and pristine detailing that often forces your eye to determine if it is a photograph or in fact a painted masterpiece! 

Still-Life Art is a style of painting where a collection of inanimate objects are arranged together in a specific way, but the true magic of these paintings is that they show us a new way of looking at the ordinary things around us everyday. 

One of my favorite still-life painters is Rachel Ruysch. Her works are vivid and full of life…immaculate! Masterpieces that reveal a hidden world with both literal and symbolic meanings. The work is intensely realistic — vivid details that suggest the fragility of a floral arrangement, often alluding to the meaningful reality that “beauty fades and all living things must die.”

Dutch Still-Life Paintings are a true representations of realism. Looking closely at each floral painting, one can see the meticulously depicted delicate paper thin flower petals, tiny insects crawling about and even the aged distress of a stone vase. If that isn’t a perfect description of the essence of this floral arrangement, then I don’t know what is!

There is no denying my love for flowers and all things Mother Nature, runs deep within my soul — so much so that many times, I’m usually bursting with an overflowing amount of love I often don’t know what to do with myself. But that love makes me one with Nature! 

I talk to all growing things of Nature in the most poetic and loving of ways, and I’m certainly no poet. But the words and love naturally flows from me, to each and every bloom…..

Flowers always make people better,

happier and more hopeful;

they are sunshine, food and medicine to the soul.

– Botanist Luther Burbank

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Here’s what you’ll need to create this floral arrangements or something similar that evokes the same essence of a Dutch Still-Life Painting….

You’ll Need 

• Tools + Equipment 
  • Vase w. a Pedestal or Stand {think Urn Planters, Vintage Glass Coupes or even Dessert Platters/Bowls}
  • Chicken Wire
  • Wire Cutter 
  • Floral Scissors 
• Main Flowers 
  • “Cherry Brandy” Roses – 9 stems {or any other Large Bloom Rose variety}
  • “Pinky Peach” Carnations – 11 stems
• Greens
  • Seeded Eucalyptus – 5 stems
  • Bupleurum – 7 stems
• Fillers 
  • “Light Pink” Rice Flower – 5 to 7 stems

The easiest way to create this arrangement is as follows…..

1. Form a loose ball with the chicken wire and place it at the bottom of your vase/planter/container. Fill with water until about 1/2″ to 1″ inch from the top. 
   1. Tip :: Before creating you floral arrangement, remember all your blooms should be conditioned and prepped before. You can follow these easy steps. 
2. Starting with your Greens, begin creating the shape you desire — I suggest doing a high low technique, where one side is taller, as dramatic as you’d like, while the other side naturally drapes lower. Save a few greenery to add in at the end. 
   1. Don’t worry about covering wire and the center of your container completely, as you continue to add in flowers that will be covered, and more greens will be added before your creation is complete.
3. Choose the side what will be your main focal point, but remember all sides should look full. Select your 3 prettiest and full bloomed Roses. Starting with the largest in the center {this is your main focal point — where you want all eyes to go to first}
   1. Then place a medium bloom a bit higher and a smaller full bloomed rose below, off to the low draping side — Repeat these steps on the opposite side of your container. 
   2. For the sides, work in odd numbers, for large blooms like these roses it’s best to work with 1 single stem. Fill in larger pockets that need to filled. Make sure you are adding height and dimension by using taller stems along with roses that a bit more nestled within the arrangement. 
4. Move onto your next main flower; the Carnation. Working with odd numbers again, pick the best and biggest blooms and nestle those around your roses, always keeping your eye on that main focal point. Remember to add in some stems that are longer and others that are shorter to build dimension and texture. 
5. Next add in your fillers; Rice Flower. These are not only to simply “fill in” and cover open areas in your arrangement but they are crucial to creating the final shape and flow of your arrangement. Like the steps above, work with the main stems at your focal point first, then working your way around filling in the spots that need height and texture. 
6. Add in any remaining greens to fill in any open spaces and finalize the desired shape/ style you wanted for the arrangement.

I know most of our gardens are only now beginning to grow making our homegrown flowers limited, and unfortunately the current world pandemic has us no longer visiting our favorite flower shops or picking up fresh blooms from the market as frequent BUT I hope this might inspire you to create something beautiful when those garden flowers do begin growing soon. And when you can buy the flowers and blooms that make you happy!

And if all this floral arrangement and post can do is to simply serve as a tranquil moment in time for you, or that it may fill you with love, light and happiness — than that’s all I could want from it! 

I hope that it brings you a smile and fills you with hope as it does with me, let it serve as my way of showing you my LOVE and Care for you!!!