As I prepare for a new season of creative work, I’ve been looking back at the pieces that have filled my studio over the past decade. Some of these older paintings are "experiments"—stepping stones that helped me arrive at my current style. Others simply never found their way into a gallery show, yet they hold a special place in my journey.
I am hosting a Studio Archive Sale to clear out space, offering these unique, older, and "in-between" works at significant discounts, outside of my usual pricing structure. If you’ve ever wanted to own an original piece of my history—or grab a bargain on a smaller piece—this is your chance.
In the early part of the year, as the winter chill begins to fade and the garden remains bare, I am in the studio painting these heirloom-quality egg ornaments. Each is a unique work of art, hand-painted on an oblong glass ornament and finished with a crushed velvet ribbon. They look elegant tucked into baskets and bowls, or hung from freshly cut branches forced to blossom indoors.
Lilacs, daffodils, and Easter lilies are just a few of the flowers chosen to adorn these eggs, symbolizing spring’s beauty and rebirth.
Designed to be cherished year after year, these eggs make a thoughtful gift for a host, a meaningful addition to an Easter basket, or a unique way to celebrate a spring birthday.
These eggs are meant to be cherished keepsakes that grow in sentiment with every passing year. I invite you to bring a touch of the studio's spring quiet and creativity into your own home. Explore the collection and find the piece that speaks to your heart.
I’ve been meaning to post these hyacinth photos for the longest time but life gets busy as you may know and the seasons pass. Delft blue is an unusual color for flowers but I love this crisp colorful hue in early spring. When these hyacinths bloom in their blue and white porcelain pot I know that spring on the back patio has officially begun!
Delft Blue Hyacinth Flower
Hyacinths are perennial bulbs which means they bloom year after year. They have a sweet and powerful scent which will fill any room when used as a cut flower.
As spring approaches I find myself looking through the many floral and garden photos I’ve taken over the years. The star magnolia photos are some of my favorites because they symbolize the birth of spring to me and our magnolia tree is the first tree we purchased and planted for our home. Many years ago it it looked like a small twig and now it is a beautiful dwarf tree filled with velvety blossoms every March. This week it is starting to bloom and I have already begun my annual photos of its lovely flowers…
One might wonder why I photograph the same flowers year after year for my art photography instead of choosing something new. The answer is because the photographs are about atmosphere and light which is always changing. The subject of the tree is secondary although it provides a way for the viewer to connect with the image. The changes in weather and lighting are what make the photos unique and differentiate them from the work of previous years. Impressionist painters like Claude Monet also painted the same subject multiple times in order to study the effects of light. I am studying the expressive potential of light with the camera.
I’ve realized that I measure time in flowers, that each year is summarized in the form of a home grown bouquet. This season dahlias in a range of pinks and burgundy were most memorable and are still blooming beautifully now in late September.
Dahlias, Zinnias, and Celosia
Zinnias in shades of pink and wine appeared late in the season as did the pink celosia which is currently in the garden waiting to harvest along with a late crop of squash, tomatoes and many culinary herbs. The zinnias are Benary’s Giant Wine variety and have filled the garden beds with tall stalks of color.
Late Summer Bouquet of Zinnias, Sunflowers, Celosia, and Dahlias
The studio is bustling this month with the sound of holiday music playing as I paint a myriad of flowers on glass ball ornaments for gifts and for sale. It is a wonderful way to celebrate the season and make something special for friends and collectors.
This year’s ornament collection features dahlias and peonies on glass balls with velvet ribbons for hanging. Each ornament is a unique hand painted artwork and keepsake.
These little treasures are a joy to create and will make a memorable heirloom gift for the art collectors on your list. They are available now in my Etsy shop. Happy Holidays!
Every year in nature has its own beauty and collecting flowers is one of my favorite ways to commemorate the change of seasons. This October our backyard garden is filled with floral shades of soft pink, magenta, orange and lime green, which provide lovely palette inspiration for artwork. I like to style these flowers not only to enjoy in our home, but also to photograph and make a lasting memory of what has grown and how the colors and textures work together. It is a very relevant part of this creative process.
October Arrangement of Cut Flowers
It is also a reminder of the bounty of the garden during this time of year, when the bougainvillea is still in full bloom and the dahlias and zinnias are creating a profusion of color in many containers. This bouquet is constructed of all homegrown flowers. It features cafe au lait dahlias, queen red lime zinnias, apricot blush zinnias, xsenia cosmos, starfire marigolds, rust chrysanthemums and bougainvillea. It is truly a microcosm of how the garden looks right now.
Queen Red Lime Zinnias
To create this arrangement, I used a hammered copper vessel that is a cherished artisan piece from Nepal. Because this vase is a collectors item, I didn’t want to fill it with water so I chose to line the interior with cheesecloth and then insert a plastic water bottle holding the flowers.
Garden Style Arrangment of Dahlias, Zinnias and Marigolds
Starting with foliage, I created the structure of the arrangment first then added the flowers for a balance of color. The robust blooms were assembled in the water bottle then dropped into the vase when the arrangement was complete. Voila!
The Gilded Bloom is a creative home and garden blog featuring floral and interior styling ideas, gardening inspiration, art and photography. Thanks for visiting!
All artwork, photography, and written content on this site is the property of The Gilded Bloom unless otherwise noted. Please email me for permission and terms if you'd like to use any of the images or text.
