We recently connected with Linda Ruel Flynn and have shared our conversation below.

Linda, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

The most meaningful project I’ve work on was creating a gallery wall of custom botanical collages and wedding photographs.

My initial work with the client was to create a pressed flowers botanical collage on the client’s wedding guest book, create pressed flower botanical collage table numbers for the reception as well preserve the client’s bouquet to create a custom botanical collage piece of art to display in their home.

I started out going on to their extensive property to pick and press flowers, greens and grasses to use in their guest book and table numbers.

From the flowers remaining from that piece of the project combined with the flowers from the client’s bouquet we began to dream about the creative possibilities beyond one piece of art. We brought in the client’s interior designer to assist with the possibility of creating a gallery wall of images. The client had a 20-foot-long wall to receive this artwork. The interior designer, the client and I worked together to choose images for printing, create the pressed flower collages–all 9 of them–we chose frames, and then laid out the design of the wall.

The client was ecstatic! She spoke extensively of the meaning of having all these important pieces from their wedding together in one place. The creation of this installation of artwork has led the clients to move about their home differently so as to experience it as often as possible throughout the day.

Linda, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’ve had a long career in the arts; teaching, management, creating and exhibiting. But I came to the artform of flower preservation through my mother. She had a business of creating pressed flower designs around wedding invitations for gifts, greeting cards and some artwork. She had extensive gardens and pressed her own flowers. When she became ill and could not continue in her business, I assisted her existing clients with artwork that I created – she had taught me how to press flowers and create pictures. I found I really liked the art form and working with clients.

Upon her passing, I was faced with the decision to close the business or take it over and make it my own. Twelve years later I’m glad I chose to carry on her legacy. All that she taught me is put to work every day. I’m extremely thankful.

From the beginning of working with pressed flowers, I have viewed any design I create with the eyes of a painter. I went to art school for fine art and painting, and can’t help but be influenced by training and interests. I wanted to create with pressed flowers what hadn’t been created before. It’s also important to approach my work with clients as that of a collaborative commission. Every piece I create is custom and one of a kind, there are no pre-constructed sizes, colors, frames etc. Every piece I create starts from scratch. Because every client, wedding and garden are different, it’s imperative that each commission is solely for that person. I approach my work similar to an interior designer. Nothing is created in a vacuum, it’s always most fruitful when clients trust me and are involved and excited about the process of working with me.

It is so important that every botanical collage I make is created and finished in an archival manner. All the materials are museum grade and pieces are finished with museum glass. I’m creating the best possible environment for botanicals to be enjoyed for years to come.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

There are a couple of aspects that are most rewarding to me. The first is the license to be creative, the second is to have people respond, and appreciate the outcome of that licensure. As my present work is custom to each client, people come to me because of my skill and creativity. The ultimate reward is the joy this work brings to the people who commission it. Whether I’m working with wedding flowers or botanicals from private gardens, this work begins with something beloved. I’m entrusted to bring that something to a new place of permanent enjoyment. When my work brings tears to the recipient, my heart is full. A truly beautiful reward.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

That nearly everything in my life is viewed through a lens of creativity and possibility. Everything is fodder for the next project. Every color, sound, image, leaf, branch, quote, poem, movie, conversation etc. Everything gets distilled through a filter of examination and wonder. This is both abundant and exhausting. If I lost this facet of my brain, I wouldn’t be who I am or be as creative.x      

Contact Info:

• Website: www.flora-ly.com
• Instagram: @floralylinda
• Youtube: @flora-ly866

Image Credits
All photos by Sandra Costello Photography.