Most women admit they appreciate flowers as a gift. Many women artists either express their affection on canvas or in an installation. I’ll discuss these women artists from the 18th, 20th century and present day.

Why do we (women especially) love flowers? The softness, scent, and beauty reflect women’s desirable attributes. Flowers are given as a token of love, carried in a bridal bouquet, and worn as crowns by young flower girls.

Flower crowns were perhaps introduced by William Shakespeare in his 16th century play, "Midsummer Night’s Dream" where the crown (not as flashy as Kate Middleton’s tiara) was worn by the fairy queen, Titania.

Dutch artists from the 18th century have been well known for their still life with flowers.
Rachel Ruysch, a woman from the Northern Netherlands, specialized in flowers and was a prolific artist for seventy years. She would become the court painter for a Bavarian prince until his death in 1716.

Ruysch’s painting, "Roses, Convolvulus, Poppies and Other Flowers in an Urn on a Stone Ledge" (1680) can be seen at the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) in Washington, DC.

In Holland, Ruysch painted into her 80s, inscribing her age, 83, on a painting completed in 1747.

In the 20th century, Georgia O’Keefe was renowned for her paintings of flowers of all kinds: poppies, petunias, morning glories, and jack-in-the-pulpit.
We marvel at O’Keefe’s abstract interpretation of the flowers we all know and love.

A popular craft is where live flowers can be pressed, and then used as bookmarks or greeting cards. A microwave flower press is available below from Amazon.com for you to begin your own original work of art.

Contemporary British artist, Rebecca Louise Law replaced paint with flowers.
Upon seeing a sea of daisies as a child, she soon became enchanted.
She would study painting and printmaking at Newcastle University, UK.

In her studio, Law began to create 3-D installations, using bouquets of flowers her father grew and from florists.
She has gained popularity with a who’s who list of clients: Jo Malone, Hermes, Cartier, Gucci, and a recent installation for Viacom’s lobby on Broadway, NYC -"Flowers 2015: Outside In."

This is an installation by Rebecca Louise Law called, "Hated Flower, 2014."

Photo is courtesy of the artist, Rebecca Louise Law.

I mustn’t forget to mention those male artists also known for their love of flowers: Vincent van Gogh’s paintings of sunflowers and irises, and John James Audubon’s flowers - (although he is best known for "The Birds of America" book) - one of the top ten most expensive books ever sold.

You can own a Microfleur 5" Microwave Regular Flower Press, available here from Amazon.com