Ranunculi Abundance

In this post I tell you all about my Ranunculi Abundance folding screen.  I so love folding screens, as I think there is something magical or whimsical about them.  The tall screens are painted on both sides slightly different, which can create little 'me-zones'.

Folding screens originate from China and the first were made between the third and fourth century before Christ. The Chinese considered screens as objects of contemplation and a source of spiritual and creative inspiration. From China the screens were imported in Japan and they had various practical uses in Japan.  It was in the sixteenth century before the folding screens reached Europe.  And I am intrigued by them.  

This Ranunculi Abundance was created in the winter, when I longed for flowers and colour. I wanted to create something big and bold and decided on creating a huge vase with flowers.  Painting the flowers I had a vague idea of making a vase with roses, but painted pure from going with what draw to me, what called and that was the red and pink colours in the form I created them.  And when I looked at the flowers once I finished the first side of the screen, I realised they were Ranunculi.  I embraced the form of the flowers, as I really love them and decided to paint them in the same way on the other side of the screen.

You can follow my process in the pictures.  I roughly draw the shape of the flowers on the three screens, cut the screens.  The only reference I gave myself was drawing the vase on the screens and then I started with the flowers, which I painted intuitively and freehand. Once happy with the result of the flowers I added the greenery.  The vase and the background were added in a later stage.  

Also, as you can see there are slight difference between both sides of the screens.  The background is slightly different, but the colour of the flowers also varies a little.  One side is a little brighter then the other side.  So it can reflect your mood and you can turn the screen to the slightly softer tones or the brighter tones, if you in need of cheering yourself up a little.

I so love creating these screens, I have made some more and sold some as well.  I am always blown away with reaction of the buyers from my screens.  They do love the screens and the screens seem to have a very special meaning to them, however in a vary different way as what they have meant to me when creating them.  That is so beautiful.....

Jolanda 

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