Living with Flowers

by Nico De Swert, Wendell T. Webber, Kathleen Hackett

Book Overview

Nico De Swert's fantastic floral arrangements are anything but traditional bouquets. They are more likely to resemble the bustle of an haute couture evening gown, an art installation, or an abstract explosion of colors and textures. Shunning traditional romantic floral design and instead striving for gorgeous artifice, De Swert challenges the viewer to see flowers and plants in a new light: as a medium, much like fabric or paint, for creating art...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0810958953
• ISBN13: 9780810958951
• Release Date: May 2005
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 10.4" x 10.3"
• Age Range: 13 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 8 to Postsecondary

Customer Reviews

Flowers as Art by Artist Nico De Swert

For sheer beauty this book of floral designs is one of the finest on the market. Published by Harry N Abrams in that publishing house's usual flair for quality of paper and color reproduction, LIVING WITH FLOWERS is a stunning volume that not only allows the viewer to see creative floral sculptures but also reveals resources not usually accompanying volumes such as this. Floral designer Nico De Swert shuns the usual minimalist approach or the traditional look of flower arrangement and instead goes for masses of interesting forms and volumes of flowers and greens and plants, color keyed in unusual ways. The book is divided into sections that deal with color: oranges, yellows, blues, whites, reds - all sections are filled with seemingly endless ideas novel to this floral genius' mind. But an equal part of the success of this book goes to photographer Wendell T. Webber whose skill as a still life photographer and whose sensitivity to lighting and focus make these creations by De Swert sing. This is a book for indulgence of the visual senses, yet it is also a stimulus for gardeners to look at the explosions of colors in the natural state in a new way. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, September 06

Truly gorgeous.

Along with Madderlake's "Flowers Rediscovered", this is one of my favourite book of floral art. The photography is gorgeous and many of the designs are eminently do-able. I wish the vase suppliers were acknowledged individually...........I'm desparate to find the multi-opening vase on page 14.

A MASTERPIECE

I was truly amazed when I first saw this book, one of the most beautiful books on floral design I have ever seen. The work in this volume is that of an artist. A must have for those who love art and floral design. Congratulations Nico De Swert!

Lovely book

This is a lovely book...very well produced...best of the best. You will not be disappointed if you are looking for an elegant, yet fresh, approach to arranging flowers in your own home or for a special event. I'm glad I got this.

exquisite piece of work

I was very impressed with Nico Deswerts artist view of flowers. The book makes a great gift for both those you appricate flowers and those who love art.