Every picture tells a garden story

These artists don’t all have green thumbs, but that hasn’t deterred their passion for all things botanical, finds Julia Atkinson-Dunn.

Ihave always been fascinated and consumed by art and the creative processes formed by artists. As a gardener and artist, I have experienced the inspiration provided by my garden to form the basis of my art practice. Attempting to capture the positive spirit and whimsy of gardening and arranging homegrown flowers, I have arrived at the creation of mixed media artworks that, for me, translate the magic I’ve found in my little plot.

From ancient times, garden scenes and flowers have been depicted in art, often loaded with symbolism speaking of society and themes of life and loss, as well as comfort and hope.

I was interested to learn the motivation and inspiration behind the work of some of my favourite New Zealand artists who play with the notion of gardens and recognisable forms of flowers.

I discovered that, of the five artists I contacted, only three actively gardened.

Upper Moutere embroidery artist Fleur Woods talked with warmth about her garden’s ability to whisk her away from the pressures of life and provide her with live specimens for observation and inspiration.

Her richly layered, bright artworks appear painted with thread, evoking memories of floral moments we might all remember.

‘‘For me, gardens are living artworks and the ultimate inspiration. The details represented in flora, nature’s resilience and the humbling of our ability to control the course of things, can all be found in the garden.

‘‘To have that at my fingertips every day allows me to notice more of those details and find more creative ways to capture their essence and share that with others through my art.’’

Wa¯ naka-based Katherine Throne’s deliciously textured paintings pull the viewer into softly lit corners of frothy rose gardens and rambling borders.

Her use of gardens as her subject is a natural extension of a lifelong interest, her studies in permaculture and sustainability, and time spent observing the community helpers at Auckland’s Kelmarna Gardens.

‘‘The untamed garden strikes me as a community of individuals allowed to be themselves, expressing and celebrating their individuality while supporting those around them. I loved this idea and thought how wonderful it would be if we lived in a similar manner – no norms, no expectations, just the freedom to be our best selves with support from those around us,’’ says Throne.

‘‘Being in gardens is grounding, and painting them is incredibly uplifting, but ultimately my work is about celebrating the power and uniqueness of being ourselves.’’

Melbourne-based New Zealand painter

Sam Michelle has built a huge following for her oil-based, still-life paintings, mostly depicting gentle domestic scenes.

Flowers have often featured, but her new passion for gardening has seen a shift in her work. In just her second year of growing, her garden provides her with looser, homegrown subject matter, as well as a valued connection with other gardeners.

‘‘The fleeting beauty of flowers inspires me to race and catch the feeling they give onto my canvas. I love to paint my blooms as characters, so I ensure I have a mixture of fun, moody and romantic flowers in my garden. I love my morning garden wander to see what’s about to flower, which gets me excited with ideas.’’

For Waikato’s Carmel Van Der Hoeven, gardening hasn’t captured her interest as an activity, but it does provide great inspiration and a base for her art.

Her highly recognisable paintings feel like ‘‘cropped’’ moments from wild and rambling floral spaces. ‘‘I dabble, but have never found a natural affinity towards growing, to be honest. What I do find through flowers, nature and art is a connection to life, death and movement. It helps me see purpose in the chaos,’’ says Van Der Hoeven.

‘‘Gardens offer me a subject matter which I can use and manipulate every available colour, creating something the viewer recognises as ‘gardenish’, but at the same time, that use of colour and brush mark can also present questions to the viewer. The meanings and interpretations can be endless.’’

Hawke’s Bay painter John Lancashire finds the freedom in flowers a universal language.

While his connection to gardens and flora is purely from an observer’s perspective, he admits this botanical focus is an obsession that has taken him by surprise.

Flowers offer Lancashire an excuse to paint with colour, providing a way to express emotion or story through his work. ‘‘It is not just the flowers, it is also the vessels, air, water, and the way they are put together,’’ Lancashire says.

‘‘Each flower type presents an imagined narrative for the artist, too. Roses have a superior air of authority, and dandelions are a favourite but overlooked or even scorned member of the garden, representing a kind of resilience.’’

Learning what underpins the work of these botanical artists enriches their resulting work for me. It also, unexpectedly, reveals that the words and feelings they use to describe their art and practice matches many of those I have heard from people when describing their connection to gardening.