Original 24x24” acrylic painting on gallery stretched canvas. Signed and authenticated by the artist.

About the Collection, from the Artist:

“Flowers: Up Close and Personal is the start of my own personal floriography: a crypto-logical form of communication through the arrangement of flowers. This collection of original studies is the start of a personal communication system I am developing to express emotions and life experiences through flowers and paint… a way of communicating without the use of words.

My gardens over the years have become a safe space for my mind, heart and nervous system. A place I go where everything else goes silent, possibly the only place I go where this happens… This Summer was the first I spent with equal time in my garden and in front of the easel, weaving my way between the world of flowers and the world of painting. Learning to paint flowers while simultaneously allowing them to teach me about their secret language through the folklore of those who came before me.

Flowers have been used to communicate emotions for thousands of years. Across cultures, belief systems and generations flowers have been grown and exchanged as a way to express emotion and thought.

Shakespeare explored flowers in Hamlet, through the voice of Ophelia:

“There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance.
Pray you, love, remember. And there is pansies,
that’s for thoughts . . .
There’s fennel for you, and columbines.
There’s rue for you, and here’s some for me; we
may call it herb of grace o’ Sundays. You must wear your
rue with a difference. There’s a daisy. I would
give you some violets, but they withered all
when my father died.”

Flowers became an integral part of our way of life during Queen Victoria’s reign when communicating specific emotions was not allowed, flowers became a way of expressing emotion without words…

There is a language, little known,
Lovers claim it as their own.
Its symbols smile upon the land,
Wrought by nature’s wondrous hand;
And in their silent beauty speak,
Of life and joy, to those who seek
For Love Divine and sunny hours
In the language of the flowers

- The Language of Flowers, London, 1875

These works are an expression of my soul, my healing and my growth. Studies are, to me, almost more important than the bigger pieces they someday become. They are where I work out all of my doubt, chaos and frustration. They are what teach me what I need to know to continue as an artist. They are stepping stones into a new era of my journey as an artist and creative. They taught me grace, humility and patience and they reflected a mirror of my true artistic potential.

I hope you love and cherish them as much as I do.

About The Art, From the Artist:

Agapanthus or Lily of the Nile is a magical and medicinal plant. Across cultures, it is worn as a protective charm by mothers with young babies to ensure health and happiness for both and brides wear the roots as a necklace ensuring an abundance of children and easy childbirth.

Nigella represents harmony and love. The flower is a symbol of the bonds that bind people together. Nigella is also known as ‘love in a mist’ as the flowers are supported by a thread-like leaf structure, known as a ruff, giving the appearance of the flowers being surrounded by a mist. Across spiritual traditions, the Nigella flower is considered a potent flower used in plant magic, shape-shifting and love spells. Several common names, including Love-in-a-Puzzle and Love-in-a-Snarl, testify to these folk beliefs in the magic power of the Nigella flower.

The story goes that Frederik I, the Holy Roman Emperor leading the Crusaders, got seduced by a green-haired water spirit. Enchanted by her beauty, he drowned in the foggy, shallow waters of the Goksu River in Turkey. At the banks of the river, the Nigella flower grew from the green hairs of the water nymph.

The prominent alchemist and astrologer Jabir (Geber), often considered the ‘Father of Chemistry,’ included the Nigella flower as a necessary ingredient of his potent red elixir.

Specifications:

Size: 24x24x1.5”

Medium(s): Acrylic

Surface: Stretched canvas.

Frame: Unframed. I will happily make suggestion on custom framing for this piece that fits within your budget.

Comes ready to hang, signed and with a certificate of authenticity..

Payment Plans:

Choose AfterPay at checkout to make 4 interest free payments over 8 weeks.

Shipping:

All orders ship via USPS priority OR FedEx Ground. International shipping is available to all countries, please send an email to artistjessicayoung@gmail.com to arrange for international shipping.

We package with the utmost care and diligence but if any issues arise due to shipping damage please contact us within 48 hours of receiving your piece.