The Van Gogh Series :: Peach Blossoms

I still have several 'singles' that I've been working into pairs of earrings. I'm a tad behind on posting as things always tend to get crazed at the end of the year. But I'll try to get more posted over the next week.

One of the many styles I love from Van Gogh is the the way he captured flowers and blossoming trees. The paintings feel so organic and natural with accentuated colors that bring out the uniqueness of each style and type. He painted a peach tree (below) many times, through several color ranges that doesn't fail to disappoint.

When Van Gogh first arrived in Arles (1888), he didn't find the warm climate he'd expected. Instead he found snow on the ground, but still he painted what he could find. He painted indoors at first because of the weather, concentrating on still life and portraits. Likely when sprigs like this almond blossom (above) were just coming into bloom.  

But once spring was in full bloom in Arles it brought on a flurry of painting by Van Gogh where he was fascinated by blossoming fruit trees, including peach, almond, apricot and plum trees. He made 14 paintings on this series shown here of a Peach Tree in Blossom. He wrote Theo, his brother, "I will have to seek something new now the orchards have almost finished blossoming." 

He picked up this style of painting during his time in Paris where Japanese art and painting blossoming trees were popular. Lacquerware and porcelain from Japan poured in from trading ships during the 19th century, and artists began to copy the powerful colors and clear lines of Japanese works. Van Gogh was impressed by Japanese prints, as were many of his fellow Impressionist painters. My earrings for this post are clusters of pink Czech glass with pale pink quartz-faceted briolettes. Simple cluster earrings that you'll find in my Etsy shop.