Showing posts with label nature. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nature. Show all posts

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Hello, May! Hello, Flowers! Hello, Inspiration!

Ah, the first days of May!

The sun is shining, it's above 20˚C, buds are emerging from the trees, and magnolias are in full bloom. It's a lovely day today, and truly the first signs of summer have arrived!

This month at Creative Matters, we're thinking about florals. Flowers have been a clear inspiration for many other artists, designers, and creative people throughout history. Flowers have also been a clear inspiration for some of our designs over the last 25 years, such as these examples from our Art Day archives:


CMI Designer: Ange Yake


CMI Designer: Ange Yake


CMI Designer: Tiffany Wu



Thinking about the impact of flowers on the creatively minded, I've rounded up a few good quotes to inspire during this month: 



“Just living is not enough... One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower." 
- Hans Christian Andersen


“The artist is the confidant of nature, flowers carry on dialogues with him through the graceful bending of their stems and the harmoniously tinted nuances of their blossoms. Every flower has a cordial word which nature directs towards him.” 
- Auguste Rodin

The earth laughs in flowers.” 
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

“I hate flowers. I only paint them because they're cheaper than models and they don't move.”

- Georgia O'Keefe





For more inspiration, I thought I would also share an informal gathering of the favourite flowers of Creative Matters:



1. Tulips

These flowers exist in over 100 varieties.


2. Lilac

Did you know this flower belongs to the olive family?




3. Bachelor's Button (Cornflower)

Aww, these flowers are worn by young men in love.



3. Peonies

This flower is named after the Greek god of medicine and healing.



4. Carnations

This flower represents love... except in France. (In France they symbolize misfortune.)



5. Bird of Paradise

The real name of this flower is Strelitzia.



6. Orchids

There are over 20,000 species of this flower.



7. Cherry Blossoms

This flower is edible.



Happy May!