Floral composition 1

2019.10

There is a wonderful tradition of flower painting in European Art. Attempting to create something along similar lines, digitally, is technically and artistically challenging and – some would say – pointless. ‘Why go to the trouble of creative a complex, 3D floral arrangement.’ when the European flower painters just painted what was in front of them.’ But of course, they didn’t just paint what was in front of them – these paintings were imaginative constructs, painstakingly built from a library of distinct elements and with success or failure resting on the beauty of the overall composition. To create similar compositions digitally you need tools, techniques or simulations for modelling flower petals in various stages of freshness, wilting, drooping, shrivelling etc. – and that’s only the start.

This picture is my first attempt at a composition along those lines. Moderately successful. I learned a lot from it. Better next time.