Like many of Georgia O’Keefe’s paintings depicting close views of floral centers, this piece is inspired by the close views I enjoyed when viewing the cherry blossoms. I loved observing the blooms and noticing the subtile changes they went through.
This grouping of blossoms were growing in the nook of the lower trunk, an usual spot for most flowering trees. It creates a stark contrast of rough bark and soft flowers. I love that the blossoms ooze beautifully from all over the cherry blossom trees, not just the branches. What a beautiful symbol of growth.
I wanted to portray the delicate details of a cherry blossom and rich colors of the tree bark in a larger format to make a bold statement of such an intimate observation in nature. This piece is a lovely balance of grounding, earthy tones with refreshing, lively whites and pops of pink that is often seen before the blossoms start to lose their petals.
When I moved to Japan, it was a fresh start as we had recently outgrew organized religion that year. It was an intense but slow season of growth, sometimes rough and dark like those tree trunks. But through all that I could not help but focus on the beauty of life. When I learned that cherry blossoms were symbols of new beginnings I immediately connected with them.
“Here for Growth” reminds us to be open for change and fresh starts. This painting reminds us that even in rough and dark places, growth and beauty can happen unexpectedly.
This piece will be a confident and peaceful statement for your home or office. And a beautiful celebration of your own new beginnings.
Artfully,
