Bringing Spring Flowers: The Latest From Lily Stockman

Posted on March 6, 2012

As much as I LOVE winter and though we still have snow on the ground here in Coeur d’Alene, I find my heart longing for spring. Maybe it is because, since moving from Florida and experiencing my first real winter, it’s March and I feel ready to trade my fur-lined boots for sandals. Or perhaps it is because since visiting George in Seattle two years ago, I know how utterly beautiful a Northwest spring can be! And we’ve heard that as gorgeous as these snow-covered mountains are, Coeur d’Alene is the place to be in the warmer months.

My anticipation for spring is likely pretty obvious in this week’s posts.. The latest series from Brooklyn artist, Lily Stockman have me longing to grab a few pencils and a sketch book and take off into the woods to see what wildflowers I can find.

Garden Club, acrylic on unstretched canvas, 156x96

Following in the footsteps of her plant-loving family and Victorian-era amateur botanists, Stockman examines her own existence in the natural world. The works are, at times, modern interpretations of botanical illustrations whose style has been made familiar by naturalist artists such as Ernst Haeckel. Others, much more loose and abstracted, remind us more of the feeling of being connected to the natural world– its brightness and simplicity.

Brooklandia, oil on panel, 24x18

She is examining the natural Renaissance we seem to find ourselves in– the reaction perhaps to the pervasiveness of technology. We are planting gardens in our backyards, enjoying farm-to-table dinners and find ourselves yearning for engagement with nature like never before.

The Way We Remember It, oil on canvas, 60x72

Advances in technology have led us far, far away from living our daily lives entwined with the natural world. Instead of being essential to survival, our relationship with nature has changed to one of pleasure and preservation. When we spend time cultivating that relationship, it is not just helping preserve the earth, but to preserve our own natural souls.

Concord Silhouette, oil on canvas, 60x72

Clover for Ajay ( Jaipur at Night ), oil on canvas, 72x60

To see more of Lily Stockman’s work, please visit her website. Her work can be seen in the NYU 1st Year MFA Show at The Commons Gallery in New York, opening tomorrow March 7, 2012.

All images are via the artist’s website.

Lesley

Painter, art and artist consultant, traveler, discoverer-- Lesley Frenz blogs and paints her way throughout the West Coast and Northwest, sharing the work she finds significant and meaningful. All while highly caffeinated.

patience

March 6, 2012 at 11:49 AM

i love the garden club – and the title “the garden club”

i didn’t realized how close we were to each other lesley!

Lesley
March 6, 2012 at 5:36 PM
Neither did I! Hubby & I were just looking at housing options in Seattle, as that seems to be where we’re leaning toward ending up permanently. If that happens, we’ll be even closer! ( Although it will be a few years yet.. )