I used to be underwhelmed by flowers, pictures of flowers, floral design, or anything to do with flowers. They were pretty, yes, but did not pierce my heart. My perspective changed after painting a few. When I took time to scrutinise a flower—to notice the details: the stamen, the colour variation, the petal patterns, and most of all the elements altered and shadows cast by the flower in its setting, that’s when awe struck.