Dreamy Photoshoot Inspired by Van Gogh’s Almond Blossoms Paintings | Art & Design
Who doesn’t love almond blossoms? One of the first flowers to appear after a long winter, the delicate white blossoms are a welcome sight after many months of cold and endless dreary days. Almond blossoms have inspired artists since the beginning of time and they continue to until today. From Van Gogh’s incredible almond blossom series of paintings to our photoshoot based off their dreamy wonder, the almond blossom is an inspiration for everyone.
Almond Blossoms – Symbol of Spring, Hope, and Beauty
There is hardly a culture in the world (that was graced with the almond blossom’s beauty) that did not revere its uniqueness and appreciate its wonder. Almond blossoms are symbolic of so many positive things; spring, new life, hope, and beauty. Usually, the very first flowers to appear after a long winter, they are always a welcome sight. Is there anyone who is not excited to catch a glimpse of the season’s first blossoms?
Almond trees, which originated in the Middle East and have since spread to similar climates around the world, have made their way and shown their importance in countless cultures and religions. In Greek mythology, they are considered a symbol of pure, eternal love. In Judaism, they represent hope and renewal and are usually used in the Tu Bishvat celebrations.
Van Gogh’s “Almond Blossoms”
One of the world’s most famous representations of the lovely almond blossom was painted by Vincent Van Gogh in the late 1880s. A stunning depiction of the beauty of spring, this painting has always inspired us with its simple beauty. Although Van Gogh had a whole series of almond blossom paintings (and blossoming trees in general) “Almond Blossoms” is his most famous. The pinkish-white blossoms against the blue sky provide a dreamy, impressionist image of the flowers that inspired us to recreate their delicate grace in a real-life photoshoot.
Handmade Almond Blossom Dresses
Israel’s rainy season was coming to an end. The spring was in sight. We were beyond excited. Wildflower season in Israel is something, unlike anything I have seen in the world. A partially desert climate, the country has a few months of “rainy season”. The more rain we get, the better the wildflowers will be. It’s incredible to watch the desert turn into a green, flowering oasis. But, there is a risk. The summer heat comes quickly (Israel hardly has spring), and with the heat, comes the dryness. The flowers have a life span of just a few weeks. Only a few short weeks to appreciate their beauty. The almond blossoms were the first to bloom. We were going to be ready. Pink beautiful dresses to compliment the delicate blossoms. It was time to create.
The Design
Deciding to use some of the fabrics from our collection, we rummaged through the piles of textures and prints until we found this stunning pink satin-like material. Given to us from an estate sale at least three years ago, it seemed like this fabric’s time would finally come. We had yards and yards of a dark pink satin and a few yards of a baby pink textured fabric. We decided to use both of the fabrics to exemplify the nuances of the pinks and white in the actual blossoms themselves.
The Creation
Satin always brings back memories of the stunning gowns of the 1930s. The evening dresses were simply unmatched in their graceful and flattering lines. Searching for some inspiration online, I finally found a few dresses that would make a good prototype or inspiration for the first dress- a combination of a slip dress and an evening gown. We designed it to be floor length, with unique, twisted straps that extend into trailing ribbons of material at the back.
Brooke’s dress proved to be a bit more of a challenge. We picked a pattern, cut it out, and sewed it all together only to find that it was a stiff and horrible choice. The fabric was not the best quality and far too rigid for the look we were aspiring to. We tried to come up with solutions to alter it somehow to make it wearable but to no avail. We realized the best thing to do was just to start over. Using the leftover fabric from my dress, we created a simple and chic slip dress to replace the original. Together, they were perfect.
The Photoshoot
Remember how I mentioned that there is only a very short time frame to catch the almond blossoms in their full glory? Well…we almost missed it. By the time we finished the dresses and found a day to go out to do a photoshoot, the season was almost over. Driving to multiple different areas, we were devastated to see that all the stunning locations had already shed most of their beautiful blossoms. Only after about an hour of driving around and searching did we come across this beautiful orchard that was still remarkably in bloom.
Where to Find the Best Almond Blossoms in Israel
1. Latrun – This is where we went! There were beautiful fields ad very lush and beautiful! The biggest downside is that it is also one of the most popular locations and it can get quite busy. Although we arrived early in the morning, there were so many people picnicking and taking photos by the time we left in the afternoon.
2. Midrach Oz – If you’re visiting the north of Israel, this place is remarkable! Seemingly endless beautiful fields and not usually that crowded!
3. Lachish – Specifically in Yaar Hamelachim there are many beautiful trees.
4. Park Canada – If you’re looking for more of a rustic, in the nature type scene, this is the place for you!
5. Tal Shahar -Another beautiful location to scout some beautiful blossoms
For more specifics on locations, check out this link (in Hebrew but can be translated to English).
Fun Facts About Almond Blossoms
- They are EDIBLE! Did you know that you can actually eat almond blossoms?? I can’t vouch for their taste, having only learned about this recently!
- Sweet, gentle scent. Not only are the blossoms themselves delicate and beautiful, but so is their smell. They are not overwhelming at all, you probably won’t even smell them if you’re just walking through the orchard. However, if you hold one close, you’ll smell a bit of heaven
- In Hebrew the word for Almond is shaked which is also a very common baby name in Israel
- The edible part of the almond that we all call a “nut” is actually a seed
Stay tuned for many more posts about the wildflowers in Israel!
Lots of Love,
Danielle and Brooke, Colorful Sisters
60 Comments
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Chameli B
April 6, 2021 at 4:02 pmAs a huge admirer of Van Gogh’s work, this was pure delight to look at!
Colorful Sisters
April 6, 2021 at 4:22 pmThank you so much! So happy that you enjoyed 🙂
Asya Givelberg
April 6, 2021 at 4:27 pmSo beautiful
vaniheart
April 6, 2021 at 6:53 pmGosh!!!! ❤❤❤
365dniwobiektywielg
April 6, 2021 at 7:47 pmWOW!
assemblagecollective
April 6, 2021 at 8:00 pmThis is such a lovely post! Thank you for sharing x
Colorful Sisters
July 7, 2021 at 3:32 pmThank you so very much! (sorry for the late response!)
Markgtr
April 6, 2021 at 8:06 pmBeautiful colors!
charlesfwh
April 6, 2021 at 9:58 pmAmazing images of the environment. I love the idea of doing something like this based on the seasons, such a great post 🙂
Colorful Sisters
July 7, 2021 at 3:32 pmYesss it is really so much fun!! Now onto the summer pictures!
Courtnee
April 6, 2021 at 10:34 pmI never knew almond blossoms were so beautiful! Thank you for sharing ♥️
Colorful Sisters
July 7, 2021 at 3:31 pmSome of my favorite blossoms indeed!
Happy Side of The Island
April 6, 2021 at 10:57 pmThank you for bringing the beauty of Israel alive for us 💕
Colorful Sisters
July 7, 2021 at 3:31 pmSo happy that you are enjoying!!
jbcowgill
April 6, 2021 at 11:06 pmYou two know how to blossom.
terrifiedamateur
April 7, 2021 at 1:22 amBeautiful imagery, all around!
I know just what you mean, about having such a brief opportunity to photograph the blossoms before they’re gone. It’s the same way around here with plum trees. Oh well, at least we get a glorious week or so, before a stout wind scatters the treasure for another year.
Oh, fascinating fact about the blossoms being edible No doubt the blossoms taste just like amaretto. Sure they do..
Colorful Sisters
July 7, 2021 at 3:31 pmSo interesting indeed! So sorry for the super late response.. Would love to see pictures of those plum trees!
terrifiedamateur
July 7, 2021 at 10:34 pmThank you! Next spring, definitely, when Nature finds its palette again after a winter of greys and browns.
Colorful Sisters
July 8, 2021 at 1:08 pmLooking forward to it!
Milena Alien
April 7, 2021 at 3:00 amThat’s cool, thanks for sharing
peanutbuttersandwiches_
April 7, 2021 at 4:16 amOoooh, cool!! Didn’t know they were edible. GORGEOUS photos!!
Colorful Sisters
July 7, 2021 at 3:30 pmI know!! So interesting to learn for me as well….(sorry for the late response!)
singlikewildflowers
April 7, 2021 at 5:11 amBeautiful!! Thanks for sharing.
Simon
April 7, 2021 at 12:23 pmBeautiful pictures – so much creativity in one post!
Colorful Sisters
July 7, 2021 at 3:30 pmThank you so very much! (sorry for the late response!)
Simon
July 19, 2021 at 11:40 amAlways (that’s ok)
Leo
April 7, 2021 at 1:01 pmMooie foto`s…mooie jurken….dus…een heel mooie shoot……Jammer dat jullie zo ver weg wonen….
odylicious (Val)
April 7, 2021 at 4:24 pmSuch an enjoyable post! Love the Van Gogh flair and so much creativity. I now have spring fever. .
Colorful Sisters
July 7, 2021 at 3:30 pmI hope you enjoyed your spring to the fullest!! Such a lovely season!
viewfromoverthehill
April 7, 2021 at 4:45 pmLove this post. You are so creative and talented.
Colorful Sisters
July 7, 2021 at 3:30 pmThank you so very much! (sorry for the late response!)
roylcam3
April 7, 2021 at 6:06 pmVery, very good work. Impressive. Hecate was the goddess/image I used when I used to post at CGJungPage.org. A real tribute, that name, to the relationship of the Unconscious and the Underworld to that thin layer of reality, of the ego and the apparent physical world, which we inhabit.
My blog, right now, will be concentrated on scientific overreach. I will get around to Hecate and other aspects of the Divine Feminine in the not-too-distant future.
Thank you for following me, too. I really appreciate it.
roylcam3
April 7, 2021 at 9:17 pmComment Number 2…almost forgot.
Almonds have a history with humans. A great example of something we humans helped evolve. The almond was originally (apparently!) an extremely bitter and poisonous fruit. Some attempt to eat the seeds, maybe before the full cyanide (?) load had developed, led to the seeds being cast aside. At some point, through mutation, less poisonous versions of the almond began to appear and some wise, crafty human (probably a medicine woman, (a la “Iza”, in Clan of the Cave Bear), figured out that the almond could now be consumed.
Information regarding its evolution I probably read in “Guns, Germs, and Steel”. Eurasia, having a great land mass with less North-to-South climate difference, was a great place for East-West transfer of knowledge, for metallurgy to agriculture.
You two are real representatives of the Goddess. Yes. Photos of the flowers and photos of the nicely-dressed woman. Representative of the Goddess Incarnate.
And, to pick Israel! A place of such history regarding our psychological and religious evolution. !!
Colorful Sisters
July 7, 2021 at 3:29 pmSounds so interesting! The book “Gun, Germs, and Steel,” is so informative! Love the history!
Roy Cameron
July 7, 2021 at 5:16 pmYes. A bit academic, though. A great hypothesis. Have you read The Clan of the Cave Bear? Did you know that Neanderthals and Cro-Magnon lived side-by-side, in apparent peace, in what is now Israel for something like 90,000 years?
Colorful Sisters
July 8, 2021 at 1:08 pmYes but very interesting. I haven’t heard of the other book but I’ll have to check it out. Sounds interesting!
Veliki
April 8, 2021 at 9:14 amLove this post. Great writing and pictures!
roylcam3
April 8, 2021 at 3:00 pmOne more point. (Forgive me!) Turns out re your comments re the 1930s, that 1939 was the year of the woman in Hollywood. More films oriented toward women’s taste and interest. The rise of the women stars such as Betty Davis. Those gowns reflected that “woman-coming-into-her-own”, as it were. Or, at least, that is my opinion to which my wife concurs. 🙂
Roy Cameron
May 14, 2021 at 9:21 pmI hope the present conflict has not and will not impact the two of you adversely. Blessings.
Colorful Sisters
July 7, 2021 at 3:39 pmThanks so much for checking in! We fortunately passed the rough times and things seem to be on the upswing!
marlagro
April 8, 2021 at 3:57 pmWow, thank you God for such beauty, the flowers and these ladies!
TRUTH TODAY
April 10, 2021 at 12:11 amBeautiful Ladies
annmary0723
April 10, 2021 at 1:24 pmI don’t know why, but I got such a big deja vu from your post, like I already saw it 🤔 great photos 😍
Ramak Namak
April 12, 2021 at 2:17 pmAbsolutely gorgeous!
Anna
April 12, 2021 at 8:11 pmLovely pictures. I have that Van Gogh as my Kindle cover actually!
jacspoets
April 18, 2021 at 7:55 amSo amazing ❤️
Ros
April 20, 2021 at 12:20 pmBeautiful photos, congratulations
Roy Cameron
May 4, 2021 at 3:22 pmMy comment re Hecate was a mistake from having too many tabs open in my browser. Sorry! Meant to get back here to say this sooner. 🙂
Roy Cameron
May 4, 2021 at 3:24 pmOh! And, thank you for reading my blog. Any questions? I would appreciate the feedback. I will be posting more in next few days.
Roy Cameron
October 15, 2021 at 9:21 pmHey! What happened to your Tel Aviv coffee shop blog post?
Albatz Travel Adventures
May 15, 2021 at 5:21 pmBeautiful portrayal of almond blossom season in every way – the dresses are a perfect compliment the blur blossoms in the air. Kudos!
Colorful Sisters
July 7, 2021 at 3:38 pmThank you so very much!!
butcheringsaint
May 21, 2021 at 2:37 amVery cool! I dig the insight provided! A thing of splendor awaits!
marlagro
July 6, 2021 at 3:04 pmAre you still blogging? I haven’t seen a post since this one in April. I miss your adventures!
Colorful Sisters
July 7, 2021 at 3:33 pmHiii! We are still blogging!! Just have been so caught up with so many things in life lately that we haven’t had much time. Stay tuned for more posts and adventures soon though!! Thanks for checking it 🙂
marlagro
July 7, 2021 at 4:00 pmOk, making sure you are safe! Love love love your adventures! I even wrote a gratefulness to my WordPress friends blog 2 weeks ago and mentioned you! Not by name for privacy sake. 🙂
Colorful Sisters
July 8, 2021 at 1:08 pmOh wow that is so very sweet!! We will go check it out for sure 🙂 Lovely day ahead to you!
5 Best Places to See Spectacular Wildflowers & Fields of Flowers in Israel
July 11, 2021 at 4:20 pm[…] Check out the full post: DREAMY PHOTOSHOOT INSPIRED BY VAN GOGH’S ALMOND BLOSSOMS PAINTINGS | ART & DESIGN […]
ThingsHelenLoves
July 20, 2021 at 9:09 amI love blossom exactly because it is fleeting. You just enjoy it for the short time it blooms then wait for the next season.
Colorful Sisters
July 20, 2021 at 2:51 pmExactly!! Something so very special about that and it enables us to truly appreciate them 🙂