Natural Beauty: Olivia's Georgia Flowers

"Zinnias"Photo byOriginal painting by Olivia Thomason

Stone Mountain, Ga- Eric Legee, the celebrated, cerebral folk artist who lives and paints in Rabun Gap, Georgia, observed that “[t]he artist who paints flowers spreads beauty and happiness. Each brushstroke captures the delicate petals and vibrant hues of blossoms, bringing joy and inspiration to those who view the artwork.” Olivia Thomason, a renowned Georgia folk artist who paints from her studio in this historic village just east of Atlanta, has for many years been painting her interpretaions of roses, lilies, magnolias, zinnias and local wildflowers. Many of her florals adorn the walls of homes here and throughout the country. They confirm her ability to convey the essence of nature's beauty onto canvas.

"Basket of Beauty." Original painting by Olivia Thomason. (2024)Photo byDown South Today

Georgia MagnoliaPhoto byOriginal painting by Olivia Thomason

Neal Arrington, a retired Charlotte, N.C. educator and avid art collector owns several of Thomason’s paintings. During an interview he told me that “the flowers depicted in [Olivia’s] paintings serve as a reminder of the fleeting beauty of life and the importance of finding joy in the simple things.” He added that through paintings of flowers, “viewers are transported to a place of serenity and peace, where worries fade away.”

"Queen Anne's Lace"Photo byOriginal painting by Olivia Thomason

A native of Hendersonville, a gentle city in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, Ms. Thomason’s professional career has been largely in the Atlanta area where for two decades her gallery, The Primitive Eye, was a launch pad for self-taught artists and also showcased works by established greats like Rev. Howard Finster, Lorenzo Scott, R.A. Miller and Missionary Mary Proctor. Along the way, it garnered honors as “Gallery of the Year” and Thomason as “Artist of the Year,”

"Pot of Joy"Photo byOriginal painting by Olivia Thomason

Although her paintings cover a wide range of southern culture and folkways ranging from the Atlanta Braves to backyard barbecues, church revivals and creek baptisms, Olivia Thomason admits that she is drawn to flowers. “Blooming flowers symbolize growth, renewal, and the cycle of life, encouraging everyone to embrace beauty and enjoy the happiness of each day.”

"Daisies"Photo byOriginal painting by Olivia Thomason