Inspired by Georgia OKeeffe - May 7, 2024

Georgia O'Keeffe was an American artist known for her distinctive style and her iconic paintings of flowers, particularly close-up views of flowers. Some of her most famous paintings fill the canvas edge to edge with the flower, creating an almost abstract composition. 

O'Keeffe's fascination with flowers began in the 1920s when she visited the American Southwest. She was captivated by the region's vast landscapes and unique flora, which inspired many of her famous flower paintings. O'Keeffe's floral works are characterized by their bold colors, simplified forms, and attention to detail.

Her exploration of flowers in her art was not just about capturing their visual beauty but also about conveying her emotional responses to nature. She often said that she painted flowers not because they were pretty but because they were a subject she could work with, much like how other artists might choose landscapes or portraits.

“I had to create an equivalent for what I felt about what I was looking at – not copy it.” - Georgia O’Keeffe

O'Keeffe's approach to painting flowers was revolutionary in its time. She broke away from traditional representations of flowers as delicate, decorative objects and instead focused on their essence, often isolating them from their surroundings to emphasize their form and color. This abstraction and magnification allowed viewers to see flowers in a new light, inviting them to appreciate their organic shapes and intricate details in a way they might not have before.

Her paintings of flowers also reflected her interest in modernism, a movement that embraced innovation and experimentation in art. O'Keeffe's use of bold colors, simplified forms, and dynamic compositions demonstrated her commitment to pushing the boundaries of artistic expression.

Try This

• Try creating an abstract composition of something near you: a coffee cup, a plant, your hand… anything that is within reach.
• Think about the quote, “I had to create an equivalent for what I felt about what I was looking at – not copy it.” 
• Now draw or paint how you feel about your object. Choose a portion of the object and fill your page with it, creating an abstract composition. 
• Use lines, shapes, and colors that help you express your feelings about the object.
• Remember, there is no “right” or “wrong” way to do this!
• Have fun 

References:

• Georgia O’Keeffe Museum
• Master of Flowers: Georgia O’Keeffe