Material girl
Beginning her career as a children’s art teacher, Limzy was inspired by how children see the world differently, and by the materials she used in class for their art and craft activities. So with minimal time to devote to her own work, she began to make use of the little objects she found around her home and in the classroom – and from there she developed her signature style, which combines beautiful watercolour illustrations with her unique take on collage.
"My works are mostly about that very moment I feel and visualize with nature" - Limzy
Floral fashion
But Limzy’s most sought after works are undoubtedly those that combine delicate watercolour illustration with meticulously arranged flower petals. Thanks to their delicate structure and colour palette, petals make the perfect medium for Limzy’s feminine and fluid fashion illustrations, evoking the folds, frills and fluidity of fabrics in a way that couldn’t be matched by paint alone or even the photographer’s lens.
We spoke to Limzy to find out more from the artist herself...
Q, Where did it all begin? Why flowers?
A, One day I was figuring out a gift for my grandma's birthday. I plucked a rose from her garden and somehow thought that it looked like a puffy dress. So I press-dried it and made her a little artwork. She loved it almost instantly!
The immediate response from my grandma gave me such a huge inspirational kick, that I have always been looking for a zero-distance experience in art with people.
Flowers and other ordinary materials can easily be comprehended by almost everyone. In college, we were encouraged to do projects with serious topics and abstract ideas, but I personally feel it creates a barrier between the art, the artist, and the viewer. This approach is straightforward and simple, un-overanalyzed and genuine, that even my grandma understood it. So to me, it was also a break out of my comfort zone for my artistic direction.
Q, What’s your favourite flower to use and why?
A, I don’t have any favorite flower in particular, as each petal and foliage is as unique and different as the next. But I do find baby’s breath charming to work with. They look amazing either fresh or dried, and are extremely versatile. They complement other flowers well, but also intensely gorgeous alone.
Q, Do you come up with the concept or pick the flower first?
A, I use to work and create in a very organized and systematic way. But I learn to just let go of my worries and be more versatile, as how nature has taught me. Sometimes I have an idea in mind, but when I don’t have the suitable materials, or the timing or location is not right, I will keep that ‘sketch’ in mind. Other times when I travel, I find the most extraordinary materials or inspirations that I have to complete on the spot. This happens for daily practices.
But when it comes to organizing and selecting works for an exhibition, it is however another tedious story to tell.
Q, What’s the biggest challenge working with flowers?
A, A blooming flower comes and goes. I have to work very fast every time I ‘paint’ with petals and foliage. Some stay longer but some wilt in hours. I rely a lot on natural lighting to take pictures of my art, so I have to complete shooting before sundown. I also learn that ‘done is better than perfect’. My works are mostly about that very moment I feel and visualize with nature. It might not be the best work at that point of time, but it best represents that particular story and context.
Q, What exciting projects are you working on at the moment? What’s next?
A, I've just finished my first solo exhibition in Australia at Wollongong, all the artworks are created with preserved flowers, and parts of the sales will be donated for charity. I am also planning to work on a book about my art collected during travelling. Last but not least, my partner and I just started a new arts direction called Big Yaard. It is aimed to help out local artists and artisans in Malaysia to approach the public in accessible and interactive approaches such as workshops, studio visiting and flea markets.
And we’re not the only ones who’ve had our heads turned: so impressed was fashion house Dior, they commissioned Limzy to create a series of exclusive artworks for Miss Dior fragrance. From fabulously fulsome frills brought to life with thousands of tiny purple flowers to the fluid elegance of silk skilfully rendered with just a couple of carefully placed lily petals (not to mention this beautifully simple scent bottle transformed with a smattering of delicate pink roses) we are well and truly hooked!
Are you a budding artist? Give it a go yourself and share your creations with us on Instagram.
