"Gold was the flower!
Gold the fresh, bright, morning hour!"

- the buttercup, The Snow Queen, Hans Christian Anderson

Flowers have always shared a significant part of art history - we've seen them in paintings; we've seen them on sculptures. We've seen them on our little sister's doll's clothes' print. We've also seen them painted on eggs, plastered over posters and pressed on cards.

Like nature's quiet beauty, flowers can play a part warming a picture up and adding to its intimacy, flow and drama. Almost every flower has a meaning and a story to tell - as a picture is worth a thousand words, flowers can add to them and weave a story of its own.

We've come across, some of us as budding illustrators, times that seem like a dead end; we're out of ideas as to what to add to a background. While concept character artists don't really need a background, many pin-up illustrators, painters and fanartists usually find themselves worrying about what to add on to complete a picture. It's hard to set up a composition without having any idea regarding the supporting subjects themselves, and characters and/or objects find themselves sometimes needing a complement.

But have we really thought about adding flowers? Those small, unobtrusive little works of art that nature lovingly made? Yes, flowers are pieces of art on their own. Ever thought about adding art to art? How about making art out of art?

There are a few ways to go about it. Although flowers are generally a preference of an individual, they're a big contributor when it comes to actual ideas. Problem is, how do we use them, and where do we start?

Flowers: by means of illustrative media - Adding art to art

As mentioned above, flowers can pretty much be used in illustration works - like drawing, coloring, etching, etc.

But here's the down side: you look at the piece of paper or your screen. You grit your teeth and say, "Where do I start? What sort of flower should I use?"

Good question. Here's where planning and research comes in. Planning doesn't really start from deciding on the flowers to use, actually, unless you're drawing the flowers themselves. When you're a fanartist, for example, planning starts from the characters you plan to use. Flowers are added as a complement to the characters or pairing. They speak for the character(s). Similarly, the same goes for flowers that complement a still-life object and a person in a portrait.

The number of flowers used need to complement the composition used to frame the main subject. Try not to overcrowd or use it too sparsely unless that fits in. Overcrowding causes the picture to lose its focal point and using flowers sparsely actually attracts more attention to the complementary flower than the actual subject.

Choosing flowers that complement the colors in a picture often helps. White easter lilies, being neutral in color, can add a touch of class to any picture of cool or warm colors. Even adding them to a nearly grayscale, monochrome picture works too. Red Anthuriums (Flamingo/Boy flowers to some of us) go very well with a lush, green backdrop, being striking in color; sunflowers brighten up a good sky backdrop and blue irises go well with cool, well-watered backdrops.

"Words" that these flowers speak also adds to a picture. For example, Anthuriums are a symbol of hospitality. Some fanartists may find it fine to add anthuriums as a complement to a hospitable character. It adds drama to a green backdrop, adding a hint of wildness and openness; at the same time being a welcoming sight (reflecting its 'hospitality' ).

_{Nutshell summary:
Planning: Basing the flower on: Character/Object/Main subject
Planning: Number the flowers based on composition
Planning: Color complements
Planning: Message}

Flowers: Flower Craft - Making art out of art

Summer is a great blessing to any gardener - and any craft artist looking for something fragrant, soothing and relaxing to work on. Flower craft can vary from the simple greeting card to towels, table arrangements, picture frames, cushion covers, lampshades, artistic shelf-edgings, necklaces, stationary, cakes and even toiletry.

A simple but brightly colored Gerbera daisy, treated with desiccant, when framed adds color to any living room as a work of art on its own. Pressing flowers into notepaper makes great stationary.

One simple personal art project is to make artistic ice cubes using edible flowers. While collecting pansies for example, pop one into each ice cube mold and fill that with water. Freeze it, and viola! Pansy ice cubes, fit for royalty - and a photography session. (Note: Avoid giving pregnant women pansies to eat. Photography of food and drink has its own submission category.)

Flower craft is also great group activity, if you worked on it with your friends and family. Let's not forget origami flowers and floral arrangements.

The subject of flowers is a wide one, and that's really prominent in the art world even if some of us don't really notice it. We could never run out of ideas and inspiration when it comes to nature, and flowers are a great way to start, for those of us who are new to the art scene, and those who are established in it. So think about it - this summer, with our gardens full of blossoms? Even a simple walk in a park or garden is enough to be inspiration. This is but a short art blog; the possibilities lie out there and in your hands, not in here!