“RAF Coral Roses”, mixed media by Kerry McFall
Tuesday morning the Random Acts of Flowers office was a sea of roses and leafy branches, bordered by dozens of vases and rolls of ribbons – a flower lover’s Disneyland! After my flower arranging class a couple of weeks ago, I had worked up the nerve to volunteer. The other volunteers were cinching up aprons and diving in to the blooms as my new friend Lorraine showed me the ropes (and scissors, and wires, and even how to de-thorn roses using a little flexible plastic soap dish!) Many of the volunteers were seasoned regulars, and by working with them, I learned all kinds of interesting tips and tricks. The most important thing: shop the entire room, plus the cold room, plus the vase warehouse, because you just never know what treasures lurk beneath the tubs of blossoms. Treasures like dried cattails, bunches of those little red or pink berry thingies, a clear coral-colored lucite vase, probably vintage 50’s ( I managed to snag that one!) Or three velvety deep burgundy callas, ever so gorgeous and elegant, plus a metallic 80’s-style vase which coordinated perfectly with them, which became the inspiration for this arrangement by another volunteer:
“RAF Gorgeous”, mixed media with digital manipulation by Kerry McFall
Time flew past as we all chatted and clipped and consulted. I was in my “arting happy place,” that same place I find myself when I draw or paint: completely oblivious to anything but what is before my eyes and in my hands. Noon already! And I was thrilled to look up and now see wave after wave of carefully arranged flowers, each one unique to the arranger’s designs and whims, each one including a Random Acts of Flowers card with the name of a sponsor or donor. The flowers had come from weddings, events, florists, families; some arrived in perfect conditions, others needed serious de-constructing and trimming and rehabilitation in a fresh water bath. Another set of volunteers had accomplished all that earlier on Monday. Still other sets of volunteers spent hours washing and counting vases (recycled or donated), cleaning up after everyone else, and finally delivering the arrangements, delivering the smiles.
It occurred to me only as I was too tired to really do anything about it, that I should photograph some of the arrangements and paint them. Another volunteer was talking about making prints of photos or paintings and doing cards or a calendar, thus giving the arrangements an even fuller life. Hmmm… great idea! So as a possible proof of concept, here are two paintings, the first one based on my favorite arrangement that I put together, the second one based on one of the volunteers’ favorites that hadn’t already been put on the delivery van by the time this inspiration struck.
What could be better inspiration? All the flowers and arrangements and creative arrangers that I could possibly imagine, a fun group of volunteers to work with, and smiles all around. I’m liking Knoxville!
Technique Notes: I photographed the arrangements in the workshop – not the best lighting, but a good tool for remembering details.
Back in my “studio” (aka the dining room table,) the first painting was lightly outlined with transparent watercolor, spattered with a toothbrush all over, then lines were drawn with ink. Several more layers were then painted using both opaque and transparent watercolor, and highlights were emphasized with wax pencil and white Sharpie marker.
The second painting was done using the same sequence, only more wax pencil to make the batik-type white edges. BUT after all that fuss and bother, it wasn’t as colorful as the original, and I didn’t like the proportions – wonky vase, flowers not big enough, etc…. So I fired up my Photoshop and messed around until I had it closer to what I originally intended – ain’t technology grand?