“I must have flowers, always, and always.”
Claude Monet
Some days I like to imagine what Monet felt like when he was painting his water lilies in his garden at Giverny. Did he feel at peace amidst the rustling of the leaves and the sound of the water? Or did these sounds help him focus more? Perhaps these beautiful flowers became his release and catharsis to a life lived between moments of happiness and creativity, as well as tragedy and despair.
“My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece.”
Claude Monet
We often see flowers as symbols of love and beauty. But they too have a complexity in their meanings. While our first thoughts usually go towards two sweethearts exchanging roses as tokens of love, large floral arrangements are also given during moments of grief.
These little bits of nature can become our companions during our brightest and darkest days. They can enhance an experience of feeling alive and exuberant while also being able to comfort our pain. But what if you could keep one with you always? A flower that would never wilt or turn brown.
“I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers.”
Claude Monet
Would you ever consider getting a flower tattoo? Not just any flower, but also a design that captured the soothing and soft sensation of seeing a garden in full bloom, one that showed natured as it is: strong yet delicate.
Pis Saro is a tattoo artist from Russia who creates gorgeous floral and nature-based designs that give the illusion of a flower, leaf, or branch being pressed on to the skin. Through bright pastels and vibrant greens, she creates ink works that not look like they were drawn but rather absorbed by the body.
Her technique is so precise yet so seamless that it creates the illusion of being an actual flower caught on the person’s skin. If you love flowers but dislike having to throw them away after a few days, a nature tattoo might be the perfect thing. You'll have the comfort and beauty of a piece of greenery that will accompany you during your highs and lows.
“The richness I achieve comes from nature, the source of my inspiration.”
Claude Monet
A carnation tracing the spine, a fern leaf placed on your ribs, or even a vine of raspberries on your upper arm. All of these could provide their own meaning and symbolism to your own life story. Do they make you feel free? Will they remind you of rebirth and starting over like nature in spring? Or will they become a testament to the complex combination of the different aspects of life?
We cannot choose our fate. We, like the flowers, are only here for a finite moment in time. However, we can be in constant change and renewal to continue turning the landscape of our existence into a beautiful garden of life and vibrant moments and hopes.
You can check out more of Pis Saro’s work on her Instagram.