The flora forager
"I love to adventure into the wildflower woodlands, mossy waterfalls, and grey sanda and starry expanses of the Pacific Northwest," Collins explains. "I forage almost all of my creations from foliage and flowers plucked from our sidewalks, meadows, and woods in our neighborhood. I have a small garden in the city, and my mother has a big rambling secret garden filled with old english roses in the sea town of Edmonds where I grew up."
From starry skies to Star Wars icons
Collins’ array of subjects is nothing if not eclectic – and paints a picture of the artist’s passions. Animals are a popular theme with a particular focus on birds: from a hawk in flight and a hummingbird gathering pollen to a parrot in all its technicolour glory. Collins captures each species with her signature sensitivity and uses and array of flowers including roses, tulips and gerberas.
Art is another recurring theme, with Hokusai’s iconic The Great Wave at Kanagawa and Klimt’s Mother & Child both retold in flowers and foliage as an homage to the great artists.
Popular icons also make an appearance – from Marilyn Monroe with that famous red pout evoked in two single red petals to a whimsical depiction of Star Wars icons, R2D2 and C3PO.
Find out more…
Collins’ ephemeral botanical works have been immortalised in print form – and can be bought online from the official Flora Forager store. Browse the full collection of works on floraforager.com or find out more about the artist and her inspirations on Instagram.
We bet you won't be able to look at your own flower-filled vase the same way again, wondering what piece of art you could create from your own blooms!
