Thea Proctor

Proctor’s watercolour floral arrangement exudes her flair for decorative design. Enclosed in a dotted oval frame, the composition consists of several features which allude to Proctor’s interest in interior design and her role as a tastemaker. These include the blue striped wallpaper in the background, the floral design painted on the vase, the lace doily and the blue ribbon on the table. The wallpaper also suggests a nod to the Art Deco trends of the 1920s and 1930s. Besides a thin wash of paint casting the shadow of the vase, little attention has been paid to creating a sense of depth. The strong outlines of the leaves, petals and vase further flatten the image. However, Proctor’s bold and opaque use of colour creates a strong visual impact, such that the flowers appear to jump out of the frame. The repeated use of blue develops compositional harmony and the straight geometry of the background pattern is contrasted with the organic crumples of the ribbon. The red flowers and table serve as a complementary colour to the green leaves, further enhancing the vibrancy of the image.