Not a wallflower
In 2018 I was commissioned to paint a public-facing wall of a private property in Greenwich, south London. As the building is owned by a family with strong links to India, the mural features mandala patterns intermingled with detailed studies of the rhododendron, a plant native to Asia but now widespread and familiar to us all in the UK.
“You have brought the street to life.”
— Greenwich resident
This was my first ever outdoors mural. It felt important to paint in such a way that the artwork became part of the brick surface, to work with that texture rather than trying to pretend it wasn’t there, and to not worry too much about hiding the artist’s hand. This meant that brush strokes and paint drips were all incorporated into the final work; I wanted it to feel human. I applied the acrylics in thin translucent layers, gradually building punchy colours where needed. It was a time consuming technique but it helped to create a sense of the fragility of the plant, allowing the changing day light to reveal new details, such as petal folds and veins.
BEHIND-THE-SCENES FILMS:
Community reflections & behind-the-scenes films by Ellie Mackay of the making of Not a Wallflower.
Visit the mural
Woodland Grove, Greenwich, London
Don’t forget to tag @bryonyandbloom if you’re sharing photos!