A celebration of life
This project was for a celebration of life gathering in honor of a woman I knew from childhood. Before I was invited to create floral arrangements, I was making artwork that in hindsight, reminded me of her and became incorporated into the design. My art process does not have a plan or goal. It usually unfolds in front of me to capture a moment and the spiritual world I’m tapping into. The colors of warm pastels and cheerful patterns that I had not drawn before came through my pencils and brushes. The initial painting in the image above was channeled on the evening I learned of her passing.
Five year old Erika felt the most present throughout this process as I spent the most amount of time with her around that age. I had memories of Lori as a warm and lively lady who gave amazing hugs and had a cozy home.
In honor of her life, her daughter took lead in organizing and envisioning a celebration in the area where she spent a large portion of her life and where my family and I knew her from.
With the daughter’s invitation I utilized a modest budget to bring the vision to life through floral arrangements and an art installation.
My process for this project reflects a direction I will continue to take with bespoke artworks. One that is intentional, deeply spiritual, and connected with the heart of its purpose.
I drafted a sketch and began to gather ideas for flowers and vases to use. I was also given a few requests from her daughters to incorporate, a color palette, and inspiration photos.
The vision was to decorate the front of the church and add accents to the pink pew bows, as an ode to a special wedding.
As I explored ideas, I felt inspired to incorporate vases that resembled what I would find in her living room and kitchen where she hosted many gatherings.
A floral installation in the church was necessary to fill the open wall. I used baby’s breath, chicken wire, and a golden hoop to create a floating piece that could hang easily in the center.
In the reception area, the theme would be English garden tea party. Lori’s daughter gathered tea cups, tea canisters, and trays for refreshments. I brought in floral touches of baby’s breath, roses and lavender.
