Preparing for a Holiday Art Show at Toronto's Botanical Gardens: My Process of Creating Abstract Florals

With December in full swing and the holiday spirit filling the air, I’m thrilled to be preparing for an upcoming holiday art show at Toronto’s Botanical Gardens on December 15th. This exhibition will showcase a series of my new abstract floral artworks, all in 8x8 format. The process of creating these pieces has been an exciting and reflective journey, inspired by the lush beauty of nature and the festive mood of the season.

In this blog, I’ll take you behind the scenes, exploring the creative process behind these abstract florals and sharing how I’ve approached the task of capturing nature in a fresh, bold, and imaginative way.

Abstract Floral painting flowers vase acrylic paints

Inspiration from the Botanical Gardens

The idea for these abstract floral pieces began to take root during a visit to the Botanical Gardens earlier this fall. Walking through the gardens, I was mesmerized by the endless variety of plant life, from delicate orchids to towering ferns. The vivid colors, intricate patterns in petals, and interplay of light and shadow created a sense of natural wonder that I wanted to capture in a unique way.

For this holiday show, my goal was not to create realistic botanical illustrations but to distill the essence of these plants into something more abstract—something that reflected not only their beauty but also the emotions they evoke. With winter settling in and the holidays approaching, I wanted these pieces to feel festive, full of life.

Abstarct floral art painting, wall art, bold strokes bright colours

Choosing the 8x8 Format: Compact but Impactful

I chose to work with 8x8-inch canvases for this project, a format that allowed me to experiment with composition while maintaining a compact, intimate feel. The square format presents a unique challenge in terms of balance and symmetry, but it’s also a versatile size—perfect for capturing small, concentrated bursts of color and texture.

Working in this smaller format pushed me to focus on the essentials: How can I convey the energy of a flower, the curve of a petal, or the vibrancy of a color in just 8 inches of space? This limitation actually fueled my creativity, encouraging me to embrace bold strokes, layered textures, and dynamic shapes.

Developing the Color Palette: A Balance Between Nature and Festivity

I aimed to evoke a sense of spring in December by working with soft pastel tones and contrasting them with vibrant jewel hues. This blend of natural softness and festive brightness gave the abstract florals a distinctive touch, perfectly capturing the holiday spirit.

Bold flowers abstract painting in acrylic paints on canvas

Material Choices: Acrylic Paints and Textures

Choosing the right materials is crucial to any art project, especially when working with abstract forms. For this series of floral paintings, I opted for acrylic paints due to their versatility, fast drying time, and ability to layer colors and textures. Acrylics are perfect for the abstract style because they allow me to build depth and experiment with a range of techniques, from bold, impasto strokes to delicate washes of color.

Here’s a breakdown of the materials I used:

Acrylic Paints: I used high-quality acrylic paints with rich pigmentation. I prefer acrylics because they dry quickly, which allows me to work in layers without long wait times. The fast-drying nature also means I can add spontaneous details without worrying about smudging the underlayers.
Canvas: For this project, I worked on 8x8-inch canvases. The small size forced me to focus on the essentials, distilling the abstract forms and colors down to their core elements. It also made the pieces feel more intimate and accessible—perfect for a holiday setting at the Botanical Gardens.
Texture Mediums: To create depth and tactile interest, I incorporated texture mediums, such as modeling paste and gel medium, into the acrylic paints. These materials allow me to build up areas of the painting, creating raised surfaces that catch the light and invite viewers to not just see the art but to almost feel it through their eyes.
Palette Knives and Brushes: While I used brushes for some finer details, palette knives were essential for the broad strokes and textured areas. They gave me the freedom to layer the paint thickly and create abstract shapes that would be difficult to achieve with a brush alone.

Developing My Style: Bold, Abstract, and Emotional

Over time, I’ve developed a style that blends bold abstraction with a deep connection to nature. While the pieces in this series are clearly inspired by flowers, they don’t adhere to traditional botanical representation. Instead, I focus on capturing the essence of nature through color, form, and texture.

Emphasis on Texture: One of the hallmarks of my style is my use of texture to create depth and dimension. By building up layers of paint and using texture mediums, I invite viewers to engage with the artwork in a tactile way—almost as if the paintings themselves are living, breathing entities.
Bold Use of Color: I love working with bold, saturated colors that evoke strong emotions. For this series, I leaned into vibrant reds, oranges, and greens, but I also incorporated softer shades and metallics to create balance.
Organic Abstraction: While my work is abstract, it retains an organic quality. The forms I paint are inspired by the natural world, but they are simplified and deconstructed into their most basic shapes and movements. This allows me to play with composition, color, and emotion in ways that realistic painting wouldn’t.

A snap shot of most of the paintings done , all floral abstracts in acrylic paints

Final Thoughts: Looking Ahead to the Holiday Show

As I put the final touches on these abstract florals, I’m filled with excitement for the upcoming holiday show at Toronto’s Botanical Gardens. This series has been a labor of love, blending nature, abstraction, and a festive spirit into compact, powerful 8x8-inch canvases.

I hope these paintings invite viewers to see nature in a new light, finding beauty not only in what is seen but in what is felt. Each piece is a reflection of the joy and wonder I find in the natural world—and I can’t wait to share them with the audience on December 15th.

December brings uplifting blooms