Blooming Fanstastical!
Falling in love with a Dionne Wood Bloom Flower is not exactly hard. After hanging the breathtaking piece at Artform, we asked her about how she ended up creating the magnificent pieces of beauty and joy.
What drew you to this craft initially?
I have always worked with textiles and when I received a book about paper flowers I discovered how the paper could be coloured, manipulated and shaped in spectacular ways.
What does a typical day at work involve for you?
If there was a typical day... cutting, painting, folding, threading, wiring card-stock or crepe paper into botanical forms. Recently I have been using material from my garden for reference as my work becomes more realistic.
What is the most rewarding part of your work…?
Working out how to make new forms, new colouration or preservation techniques. For example, I spent months trying to make an anthurium lily. I tried putting wire between two pieces of crepe paper, between sticky-backed paper, got a real flower 3D printed and pressed paper pulp onto the form. Finally, it worked by sacrificing a real flower and rolled lightweight modelling clay onto it and then finally sanded and spray painted the dried shape.
What is the most challenging process for you?
Knowing when a piece is finished. I'm not sure I have ever got the concept of less is more. With a chandelier, in particular, I could add smaller and smaller details forever.
Can you give us a little insight into your creative process?
This is difficult to answer. I know what I don't do. There is never anything written or drawn. There is no plan except in my head. I might get a pile of paper and see what colours look right together. But mostly I just decide on a general size and colour scheme, make some of the components and then begin to build it up, making and adding what I think is needed as I go.
How would you describe your work and what influences your style?
I feel like my work falls into a broad category of botanical sculpture. Paper flower artistry is becoming more and more popular and increasingly realistic. Other paper flower artists like Tiffanie Turner are definitely an inspiration but fashion designers are probably more so. The vibrancy of people like Christian Lacroix or Dolce and Gabbana make me happy and hopefully, my work invokes something similar.
