“If thou hast two loaves of bread, sell one and buy flowers, for bread is food for the body, but flowers are food for the mind" - Galen of Pergamon, c. 200 AD
Painting flowers is like being on a mini retreat. We can enjoy our time with the flowers in the present moment with this gift of nature, relaxing, resting, rejuvenating. We feel sustained, supported and encouraged by the beautiful presence of the flowers. We can carry this through into our lives.
When we are painting flowers, it doesn’t matter what the finished image looks like, it’s about spending time with the flowers really looking at them, touching them, smelling them, enjoying them. Afterwards your artwork will be a direct reminder of the peace you felt when you were painting, and you can go back to these feelings of wellbeing at any time.
You too can take some time to paint flowers. They could be outside or indoors, it doesn’t matter.
Here are some photographs of previous Bread & Roses sessions at Unity Yard, Holmfirth:
Preparation:
You will need some flowers. They can be indoors in a vase or pot, or outside in nature. They can be grand, tall flowers, or they can be little, tiny gems. They can be cultivated or wild (wild flowers are a dream to draw and paint, and they can be done on a small piece of paper).
You will need some paper, either loose with something firm to draw on such as a table or board; or a sketchbook
And you will need something to capture the colour, such as coloured pencils or watercolour paints and a brush
Decide beforehand how long your flower painting session is going to be. For example it could be for between 30 minutes and an hour
Prepare yourself a nourishing drink or snack of your choice, such as a reviving cup of tea, some fresh fruit, or a healthy oaty bar
Activity:
Sit in front of your flowers (it could be just one flower). Take take a long slow deep breath and follow it all the way in and all the way out, feel your whole body relax
Whilst keeping your focus on your body, begin to also focus your attention on the flower
Slowly, begin to draw or paint. You can lightly sketch out your flower first if you like, or you can paint direct
Don’t think about other things, such as how ‘good’ your drawing is, or what ‘others’ might think. Drop all of that (it doesn’t matter) and just think about the flower. Really be there to enjoy the flower. The flower may not last long, we want to be here for it
Continue to paint your flower mindfully. Feel the peace, the quiet that comes from being with and painting the flower
When your allotted time is up, don’t worry if your painting isn't finished, it is still perfect and beautiful. You can put your painting somewhere where you can see it, and you can look at it whenever you want to go on a mini retreat again, whenever you want to feel stillness, peace, and happiness
The more you practice drawing and painting flowers, the easier and more enjoyable it gets!
“If you can appreciate each thing, one by one, you will have pure gratitude. Even though you observe just one flower, that one flower includes everything” — Shunryu Suzuki