FLOWERS-1

FLOWERS-1

A Journey Through Colour and Nature

In the world of art, commissioned pieces often carry a weight of responsibility, as they bridge the artist’s unique vision with the client’s personal desires. Flowers-1, painted in 2008 by the artist Lyn Potrykus, is one such piece that was carefully conceived to fit into the very fabric of a client’s home. The artwork would not only reflect the client’s aesthetic but would also become a part of her living space, harmonizing with her carefully curated decor.

What began as a simple request transformed into a delicate exploration of colour, texture, and natural beauty. Flowers-1 is more than just an acrylic painting on canvas; it is a conversation between the artist’s intuition and the client’s vision, a delicate fusion of the two that resulted in an artwork that speaks of nature, craftsmanship, and the personal touch of creation.

The Commission

S. Grant, the client behind Flowers-1, approached Potrykus with a request that would ultimately bring together the artist’s abstract sensibilities and the client’s love of nature in an unexpected yet harmonious way. The client had a very specific vision in mind, a hand-painted piece that would complement the rich and vibrant tones of her home’s interior. She brought with her a sample of her décor, swatches of fabric, a collection of photographs, and a vision for how the space should feel. The decor was a mix of elegant florals, soft pastels, and deep earth tones, and she desired a painting that would reflect these elements while standing on its own as a work of art.

In the world of commissions, the artist is often asked to take something deeply personal, a client’s taste, their lived experience, and transform it into an object that resonates on a more universal level. Flowers-1 was conceived with this very challenge in mind. It was to be an exploration of natural beauty, but it also needed to blend seamlessly into the modern, sophisticated decor of the client’s home.

The Concept of Flowers-1

The title Flowers-1 speaks to both the literal and abstract elements of the piece. At its core, the painting is about flowers, natural, delicate, and ever-changing, but it also explores the idea of how flowers can transcend their biological form and become symbols of emotion, beauty, and even time. The number “1” in the title hints at the idea of this piece being the first in a potential series, suggesting that the artist was not merely painting a singular, one-off object but was exploring the potential of flowers as a theme, a concept, a metaphor. The client wanted something floral, yet they didn’t want it to be too literal or overly sentimental. It was a delicate balance.

The challenge was to create a work that felt grounded in nature, yet still conveyed a sense of contemporary elegance. Potrykus would need to create a piece that was both reflective of the natural world but also abstract enough to feel timeless and suited to the interior it was destined for.

Flowers-1 would not be a traditional floral still life but rather a modern interpretation of the flower, blending elements of abstraction with soft representation. It would feature blooms, petals, and stems, but not necessarily in a way that would feel like a direct copy of what could be seen in a garden. Instead, Potrykus sought to capture the spirit of a flower, the movement of its petals, the vibrancy of its colours, and the delicate balance of form and void that nature embodies.

The Medium. Acrylic on Canvas

Potrykus chose acrylic paint as the medium for Flowers-1, a decision that would give the piece the flexibility and texture it needed to express both the vibrancy and subtlety of the flowers. Acrylics allow for both fluid, translucent washes of colour and solid, opaque layers, making it the perfect choice for a piece that would need to convey a variety of textures and nuances. The smooth, quick-drying nature of acrylics also allowed Potrykus to layer the paint with precision, creating a sense of depth and movement within the composition.

The canvas itself, measuring 29 cm by 42 cm, was a relatively small scale, perfect for a space that did not require a large statement piece but desired a subtle focal point, a piece that would add colour and life to a room without overwhelming it. The dimensions of the canvas lent themselves well to the intimate nature of the flowers being depicted, allowing the viewer to engage with the work up close and appreciate the nuances of brushstroke, texture, and colour.

The Inspiration. Nature as Muse

The flowers depicted in Flowers-1 are not intended to be a precise representation of any specific flower found in nature. Rather, they are an abstraction, inspired by the organic forms of petals, stems, and leaves. Potrykus was drawn to the idea of capturing the fluidity and energy of natural growth, the way a flower’s shape bends and twists in response to light and the environment. The forms in Flowers-1 are suggestive rather than definitive, capturing the essence of a bloom in motion, reaching toward the light, yet still restrained by the frame of the canvas.

The inspiration for the piece came not only from the physical form of the flowers but also from their symbolic power. Flowers are rich in meaning, they represent growth, fragility, beauty, and life cycles. These concepts tied directly into the themes that the artist wanted to explore within the painting. Potrykus had long been fascinated by the transitory nature of flowers, the way they bloom, fade, and eventually return to the earth. This impermanence mirrored the human experience, which made the depiction of flowers not just about nature but about time itself.

The flowers in Flowers-1 seem to float, suspended in the abstract space of the canvas. The artist uses the interplay of light and shadow to evoke the natural light of dawn or dusk, a time when flowers are most alive with colour and vibrancy. Soft, translucent hues of pink, yellow, and lavender mix with bolder strokes of deep green and rich red. The result is a painting that feels as if it could change with the light, constantly evolving depending on the environment in which it’s placed.

The Client’s Vision

For S. Grant, the commissioned painting was intended to be a reflection of her home’s ethos. She wanted something that would evoke warmth and tranquillity, yet also add an element of sophistication and interest. The delicate tones of Flowers-1 were designed to seamlessly complement the soft, pastel hues in her decor, while the abstraction allowed the painting to become a more fluid part of the space. The gentle interplay between form and colour echoed the natural beauty of her surroundings, while the contemporary brushwork ensured that the piece would feel at home in her modern interior.

Grant’s home was designed with an eye for detail, mixing elements of classic and contemporary styles. She was keen on creating an atmosphere that felt timeless yet fresh, blending the organic with the modern. Flowers-1 was to be a perfect balance of these qualities, its delicate floral forms representing the organic, while the abstract composition and colour palette connected to a more contemporary aesthetic.

For Grant, Flowers-1 would be more than just a decorative piece. It was intended to embody the spirit of the home itself, full of life, beauty, and quiet elegance. The piece was to occupy a space where it could be appreciated from a distance but also discovered in closer inspection, revealing layers of colour, texture, and meaning with every glance.

The Completion and Reception

When the painting was finished, it was delivered to Grant’s home, where it was carefully hung to complement the surrounding decor. The moment it was placed in its new home, Flowers-1 became an integral part of the space. The soft, flowing lines of the flowers seemed to breathe life into the room, their colours harmonizing with the soft furnishings, yet their abstract nature invited the viewer to look deeper, to wonder about the story behind the painting.

In many ways, the completion of Flowers-1 marked the realization of a collaboration, between the artist and the client, between the natural world and the world of art. It was a testament to the way in which art can take something as simple as a flower and elevate it into something timeless.

The response to Flowers-1 was everything the artist had hoped for. It blended effortlessly into its environment, yet stood out as a statement of both beauty and artistic integrity. For the client, the painting was a perfect match for her vision of her home, an enduring symbol of nature’s delicate beauty, captured on canvas for years to come.

The Legacy of Flowers-1

Flowers-1 became a defining piece in Potrykus’s portfolio, showcasing the artist’s ability to balance abstraction with representation and create a work that was both personal and universally resonant. The piece became a reminder of the beauty in impermanence, of the quiet moments in life that can be captured and held in time. In many ways, it became more than just a commissioned work, it was a reflection of the artist’s own ongoing exploration of nature, colour, and form.

As time passed, the idea of Flowers-1 resonated with those who saw it. It became more than just a piece of décor, it became a part of the narrative of the space it inhabited. Whether seen from afar or up close, the painting continued to change with the light, creating an ever-evolving dialogue between the viewer and the work. And perhaps, in that way, it was no longer just about flowers, it was about the act of seeing, of perceiving beauty in the fleeting moments of life.

Flowers-1 stands today as a quiet testament to the power of art to transform a space and connect us to the natural world in ways both subtle and profound. It reminds us that beauty, in all its forms, is ever-present, waiting to be discovered and appreciated.

You can commission a custom art piece in your choice of colour (subject to availability), adding a personal touch that reflects your unique story and experiences. Each artwork is carefully crafted, ensuring that no two are ever the same, just like the moments they capture. This process not only creates a meaningful connection between the artist and the patron but also highlights the individuality of each person’s journey through time.

Commissions Form

The more information you provide, the better we can tailor the piece to your vision. Please note that commissions typically take between 2 to 6 weeks to complete.

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