How I Came to Paint Flowers and Garden
Hi, I’m Ayumi Sato, an artist who paints flowers and gardens.
I was born and raised in Yokosuka, Japan, and studied painting at Tohoku University of Art and Design. After graduating, I worked at a flower shop in Tokyo, where I spent my days surrounded by flowers and created countless bouquets—each one made for an important moment in someone’s life.
The bouquets I created most often were those made for the end of a person’s life. Flowers placed in a coffin and bouquets laid gently upon the person’s chest remained close to them, bringing colour to their final farewell. They also became part of the memories held by those who said goodbye.
A bouquet always carries someone’s feelings within it. Wanting those feelings—and the flowers themselves—to live on for a little longer, I began painting flowers more often.
I later left my job and spent a year living in New Zealand. Surrounded by its vast natural landscapes and many beautiful gardens, I began to paint not only flowers, but gardens as well.
Today, I create digital and acrylic artworks inspired by flowers and gardens. My work has included pieces for restaurants and offices, as well as floral pattern designs for corporate clients.
The “Inner Garden” Within Us
I believe that each of us carries a special “garden” within.
It is a precious inner space filled with the landscapes, greenery, and flowers we have encountered throughout our lives.
A garden visited in childhood, a magnificent natural landscape discovered while travelling, or a small flower that brought comfort in everyday life—all of these remain alive within us, continuing to enrich and colour our inner world.
Whether we are conscious of it or not, we all live alongside nature, connect with it, and receive its gifts. With every new encounter with the natural world, the landscape within us becomes richer, deeper, and more intricately coloured.
The flowers I paint are those that bloom in my own “inner garden”—flowers that have coloured my life and become a source of inspiration for my work. In each piece, I layer together the feelings I experienced when I encountered them, memories of the surrounding landscape, and the colours that remained with me.
I hope my work invites you to look into your own “inner garden” and remember the flowers and landscapes you have encountered throughout your life.
You can view my floral artwork on my portfolio website, Ayumi Flowers.