Hello people!
Welcome to another Saturday blog post.
Im so thrilled to announce that my painting BLOOMING BOND it's ready and I totally love it! so here I will tell you all about it.
During 2020 I saw a stunning picture of a brown horse by the photographer Sara Shier and I knew I was to paint it someday, the day arrived 5 years later and I could be happier.
At the beginning I didn't know exactly how I wanted it as I like to create my own compositions, then I thought about my late room design and that I've been filling my space with flowers, more than usual and I've realized how much I enjoy painting flowers and petals — how each one is unique, imperfect but perfect at the same time, and full of life. I started to paint without a strong statement, just inspiration from the picture of the horse and one self-portrait that I did years ago where I blended myself with flowers, but this time I wanted to do the same for the horse with oils and I wondered what would be the message, the clues.
The first clue or key word I had received was clear: CELEBRATION. Why? Because the first time when I finally received the canvas and made the sketch was during Father's Day, and then I understood the connection after realizing it was Father's Day….
All this made me connect again with my dad and his love for horses.
So, This piece is about celebration of memories, connection, and beauty — and maybe also about how love finds its way through brushstrokes
But also I have created this painting as a way to honor the deep, often unspoken bond between animals and the natural world, the masculine energy through a horse and the feminine energy with the beauty of the flowers.
Richly detailed and emotionally resonant piece that beautifully blends realism with floral surrealism. At the center of the composition is a majestic horse rendered in warm chestnut tones, its calm and soulful eye inviting a quiet connection. The horse’s presence is softened and surrounded by a lush, dreamlike array of oversized flowers in a spectrum of delicate colors — creamy yellows, dusty pinks, purples, soft blues, and muted greens.
The flowers do more than frame the horse — they intertwine with it, gently overlapping and blending into its form, almost as if the horse itself is blooming from within the floral tapestry. This creates a magical atmosphere, suggesting a unity between animal and nature. The background is rich with deep green foliage, enhancing the sense of depth and immersion in a hidden botanical sanctuary.
The brushwork varies beautifully between soft blending in the petals and more textured, defined strokes in the horse's anatomy and leather harness, creating both harmony and contrast. The lighting subtly highlights the horse's face and certain blossoms, guiding the viewer's eye with elegance.
🌿 Connection Between Nature and the Animal Spirit
The horse, a symbol of strength, loyalty, and freedom, emerges gently from a lush garden of blooming flowers—not as something separate from nature, but as part of its soul. The intertwining petals and leaves represent how animals, like us, are intricately connected to the cycles of life, beauty, and emotion. It's a reminder that gentleness and power can coexist, and that the natural world is full of quiet wisdom.
🌼 A Personal Tribute
This painting is a tribute to a memory, a feeling, and a presence that has stayed with me — the image of a horse that carried peace, power, and companionship. As I painted, the flowers began to speak to me as symbols of transformation, healing, and the seasons of life. Each brushstroke was like a meditation on how we carry love for animals and how their spirits often mirror our own. This piece is deeply personal, a way of expressing gratitude through paint.
🌸 Beauty in Contrast and Harmony
I was inspired by the contrast between the horse's strength and the delicate softness of flowers. In this painting, I wanted to create a space where both elements could exist in harmony — where the wild and the gentle meet. The flowers wrap around the horse like a cloak of dreams, expressing the idea that power doesn't always have to roar — sometimes, it blossoms.
🐴 A Symbolic Vision
Horses have long been symbols of freedom and intuition. As I began this painting, I imagined a guardian spirit of nature—a horse surrounded by the blooming language of flowers. Each bloom represents a part of the journey: resilience, softness, renewal, and quiet strength. This piece speaks to the inner landscape of those who feel deeply and live close to nature's rhythms.
This painting holds something very personal for me. Horses were my dad's favorite animal, and whenever I paint them, I feel a deep, emotional connection to him. He never had the chance to see my art, and sometimes I imagine what his face would look like if he could see this piece. I think it would have made him proud, or at least quietly happy in that way dads are. Painting horses has become a way for me to feel close to him — like we're still sharing something we both loved. The flowers surrounding the horse also carry meaning for me. Even though I grew up in the desert, flowers have always been part of my inner world.
This painting it's available HERE
This week I was also playing with the design of some images of a perfume with pineapple and ice essence from the brand Shay and Blue and I was working on some images with digital illustration inspired by the brand.
And as always I have been enjoying the Sky and the Earth so here I leave you a beautiful rainbow that I gave and a super beautiful mushroom that I found in my garden.
TO WATCH: I prepared a video that is already ready on my YouTube channel where you can see what inspired me to make the painting, how I painted it, what my ideas were, my feelings, and where you can discover much more about my creative process. Don't miss it!
STAY HAPPY, CREATIVE AND KIND.
SEE YOU NEXT TIME!
XOXO
VALERIA
