The Artist Who Delights in Florals

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Visiting Ann Zvereva‘s Shutterstock web page is like stepping right into a real-life secret backyard—a world you by no means knew existed, blooming with vibrant flowers. However Ann, who’s primarily based in Russia, hasn’t all the time been identified for her pleasant floral patterns. The truth is, she used to keep away from making them.

“Many artists take into account floral patterns to be probably the most hackneyed style,” she says. “Even I prevented drawing on this matter at first.”

To search out out why she had a change of coronary heart, the place she finds her inspiration, and extra, try Ann’s Share Your Colours questionnaire beneath.

I’ve been drawing since … I used to be little. My dad and mom organized for me to review at a night artwork college, and I all the time had books and magazines about artwork at dwelling. I studied footage and drew animals, bugs, vegetation, and landscapes. Most of all, I liked to attract underwater scenes, butterflies, and the labyrinthine world of ants.

Then, at 13, I entered a college with an in-depth research of high-quality and graphic arts. I studied portray, drawing, composition, artwork historical past, ceramics, sculpture, and ornamental and utilized arts. It was a good time.

I really like being an artist as a result of … the very strategy of drawing makes me joyful—creativity costs and drives me. Traces, spots, colours, shapes, rhythms, house—that is my language of communication with the world.

I began drawing flowers as a result of … Should you return to my very first works within the portfolio, you may see I drew animals, objects and icons, vacation themes, and characters for kids. In the future, I used to be doing different initiatives and didn’t have time to attract sufficient footage for my portfolio on Shutterstock. So, to not cease importing, I simply and shortly drew a set of small flowers—and it instantly turned very talked-about.

To my critics, I say … Drawing flowers, for an artist, is as helpful as making anatomical sketches.

I gather screenshots with messages on boards the place novice artists are suggested by no means to attract flowers. I feel that is dangerous recommendation. Flowers and floral patterns are an everlasting and common theme, they’re all the time included within the high twenty requests by matter. Plus, flowers have the whole lot I really like—line, development, coloration . . .

The colours that encourage me are … the colours of valuable stones. They’re shiny and clear. Every flower in my sample is sort of a valuable stone in a body of leaves.

The colour that brings me probably the most pleasure is … pink. I’m excessively keen on pink. Particularly pink-fuchsia. Pink is the predominant coloration in my wardrobe. I usually use it in my works. I get pleasure from it and it appears magical. Dreamy and romantic. Unique and splendid. It’s not aggressive, like red. I wish to see the world in “pink glasses.”

The colour I avoid in my work is … black. Black is the absence of coloration. I normally change black with dark blue, dark purple, or dark green. I additionally don’t like neon colors. To me they’re very wild/hostile. Taking a look at them may give you a migraine.

The colour that captures my persona is … aquamarine. It’s a sonorous, mild, clear, and funky coloration. It’s contemporary. It may be noble and childish (playful). It’s crystal, fragile, skinny and clear. It’s like water . . . like spring . . . like ice. Will you ship me a psychologist’s report?

I work on my artwork … daily. I all the time have a sketchbook and colourful pens at hand (typically they’re pencils, felt-tip pens, or markers). I draw whereas strolling, touring, and watching TV reveals. In summer time, I {photograph} vegetation in gardens. I can draw one plant for weeks in several angles and in several kinds. I research nature very rigorously. Most of my sketches from nature stay on paper.

To begin a challenge … I normally set myself particular duties and search for totally different options. For instance, “pink flowers on a pink background,” “vintage-style flowers,” “Matisse-style flowers,” “shiny summary flowers,” “meadow flowers,” “tropical flowers” . . .

Or, I provide you with phrases that can information my alternative of coloration mixture, form, and composition. For instance, “mint sweet,” “sunny day,” “delicate silk” . . .

I additionally comply with trends. I comply with the collections of trend homes, I’m thinking about folk art . . .

One piece would possibly take me … I’ve by no means timed it. I don’t wish to rely inventive work in hours. I can spend a number of days searching for a good color scheme for a specific sample, or shifting components from place to put. I’m not in a rush and cease solely after I get a consequence that I’m pleased with. Additionally, I all the time really feel pure pleasure from the method. It’s a sturdy emotional journey. I handle to do loads in a single sitting. I’m environment friendly, and I don’t discover the passage of time.

My work rituals embody … occupying my two youngsters with one thing in order that they don’t distract me. I additionally drink sturdy black iced tea.

My workspace consists of … a chair. Desk. A stack of sketchbooks. Coloured pens and markers. Notepad for writing. Laptop computer. Graphic pill. The chest of drawers on which the cat sleeps. There are additionally six drawings by my son on the wall—he attracts solely rainbows, loads of rainbows—and several other by my daughter:

• A duck strolling in a meadow by the lake
• Snowmen below the snowfall
• A lilac department
• A tree with purple leaves

I additionally maintain a pin that claims, “If it appears to you that you’re doing one thing badly, do not forget that somebody is doing it worse, however earns extra.”

My recommendation to aspiring artists is …

• Don’t be afraid, simply do.
• Performed is healthier than excellent.
• Search your inside freedom and categorical your self.
• Imagine that even in the event you don’t like one thing about your drawings proper now, they may get higher and higher over time.
• Be attentive and curious; be shocked and research.
• Have a look at issues extra rigorously and take note of the gorgeous and attention-grabbing.
• Invent new issues and encourage others.
• Fantasize and play, construction, experiment, discover.
• Share your observations with the world.

The flower you’ll all the time discover in my house is … I don’t develop any flowers at dwelling. Probably the most that I can develop is a cactus. Plainly I make up for the dearth of greenery and nature within the condominium with my works.

A sample from my Shutterstock assortment that stands out to me is … A sample I name “Backyard of Eden.”

This is likely one of the hottest works in my portfolio. I used to be impressed by Indian Sarasa prints and historic tapestries. I checked out these pictures with vintage patterns, they usually had been very attention-grabbing, however occasionally too pale/dim. I wished to do one thing related, however very shiny, utilizing all of the colors of the rainbow.

The duty was to mix totally different species into one plant—styles of flowers, leaves, and fruits—in order that all of them seemed harmonious collectively. I created my chimera. The duty was tough, however I’m pleased with the consequence.

Cowl picture through Ann Zvereva.