Florilegia means "a gathering of flowers" in Latin.

This series of floral illuminations was inspired by the Vanitas of Dutch Golden Age Masters and early botanicals but specifically grows out of the Victorian language of flowers. To the Victorians, each flower conveyed a specific meaning such as, faith, hope or fidelity. I explore these references in my mixed media assemblage paintings. Each work contains an antique, hand colored, magic lantern slide which is built into the canvas covered board and illuminated from behind. Onto this base I’ve layered elements of collage, found objects, paint and pattern, creating visual and conceptual depth. At times whimsical and reaching, these paintings are a playful expression of a flower’s spirit as seen through a kaleidoscope of associated meanings and symbolism.

The strawberry blossom symbolizes purity in the Victorian language of flowers. The strawberry itself is associated with the Virgin Mary and while the Sacred Heart symbolizes Christ, mine is seeded like a strawberry and is wreathed by strawberry blossoms instead of the traditional roses. The fleur-de-lis has represented Mary's purity in religious art and they are embedded about the canvas and painted into the scrolling vines echoing both the strawberry runners and leaves.