Painting among the blooms at Stem & Green, Headbourne Worthy.
September saw another visit to the glorious Stem and Green flower field in Headbourne Worthy, run by James, to paint with a lovely group of creatives. Just ten minutes from central Winchester, it feels like stepping into another world, with row upon row of spectacular blooms, an endless palette of colours and shapes, and inspiration at every turn.
Our dahlia painting workshop
Layering wax crayon, watery colour and bold acrylic inks.
Our workshop was all about looking closely, playing with materials and letting the flowers inspire us. We layered wax crayons, watery colour, bold acrylic inks and fluid acrylics to create expressive, characterful paintings. Happy accidents and unexpected marks were all part of the fun!
A flower with quite a history [H2, Jenny's heading]
Originally from Mexico, dahlias arrived in Europe in the late 18th century and soon became horticultural stars. By the Victorian era, dahlia shows were attracting crowds, with growers proudly exhibiting their finest blooms.
Today, dahlias are enjoying another moment in the spotlight, from contemporary bouquets and cutting gardens to spectacular displays at major flower shows. Yet their appeal is wonderfully down to earth. They're grown in back gardens, allotments and pots, shared between friends and proudly displayed at local horticultural society and village flower shows.
From enormous dinner-plate blooms to tiny pom-poms, spiky cactus flowers and delicate single petals, there's a dahlia for everyone. They're surprisingly accessible to grow, too, rewarding a little care with months of colour.
A personal connection
I remember the dahlias in my granddad's garden. These cheerful flowers bring back lovely memories of summer gardens and blooms gathered for the house. Perhaps that's why they keep finding their way into my paintings!
If you've spotted my recent still life paintings on Instagram, you might have noticed little vases of dahlias popping up here, there and everywhere. They seem to have become something of a recurring character in my work, sneaking into compositions whenever they get the chance. Keep an eye out for them!
Thank you, Stem & Green
Happy accidents and unexpected marks were all part of the fun.
A huge thank you to James for welcoming us back to this beautiful, uplifting space. It's such a privilege to have somewhere so inspiring on our doorstep, and a wonderful reminder that sometimes all we need is a little colour, a few art materials and permission to play. Same time next year!
