Review Detail

The Souls of Flowers is a book I am so glad I discovered. In this collection of 21 beautiful botanical paintings, talented artist Pavlina Kourkova shares her knowledge and love of flowers with us through her artwork. I loved that this compendium also dives into the history of flowers, detailing their medicinal uses, and my personal favorite, explaining each flower's unique meaning in the language of flowers. On each page, Pavlina also includes a paragraph or two reflecting on each of her paintings, sharing her process, thoughts, and challenges. Not only do these musings give us insight into her creative process, but they also help us to gain a greater appreciation of both the subject and the artist.

I have always loved botany, especially floriculture, and I was excited to learn more about the topic. I found my knowledge of flowers much expanded after reading this book, and now I can’t help but stop to appreciate each flower I see for its uniqueness and its distinctive beauty.

I hope that Pavlina will consider writing another book like this in the future. I would love to see this expanded into a collection eventually, perhaps with more delightful flower paintings or even herbs.

I would recommend THE SOULS OF FLOWERS to anyone interested in learning more about the often-overlooked blooms around us, particularly children, teens, and families. It would also be a perfect encyclopedia for artists to gain inspiration and study new techniques. I enjoyed this book so much, and I hope to see more from Pavlina Kourkova.