Fine art still life colour palette inspiration for nature inspired brands

I find inspiration for the colour palettes for the brands I design and photograph for in many places -nature of course, but also in art. Some of my favourite paintings often influence the way I see and understand colour and how I can then learn from these master artists in my own work to produce captivating colour schemes for my brand identity clients that stand out from the rest.

Colour has been an obsession of mine since I was tiny –  family lore recounts my Grandfather (a talented carpenter) making me a wheeled cart with differently coloured blocks in it to push around as I learned to walk. I am told I threw all but the blue blocks out every time I played with it. Preferring the deep navy hue that he had painted to the brighter bolder shades of red and yellow and green.

So I this new series, once a month I’ll be taking a painting or artwork I love and exploring themes, narratives and a colour palette that could work for creative brands. And if you particularly love any that I create, do get in touch, we could build your brand together.

Grape Vines and Fruit, with Three Wagtails by Artist Bartolomeo Cavarozzi

Date: ca. 1615–18 | Medium: Oil on canvas

Cavarozzi’s keen observation marries art and natural sciences exquisitely. He was masterful Italian Caravaggisti painter from the Baroque era, whose brilliance has gained newfound admiration in recent decades.

As a brand identity strategist and designer, I draw inspiration from Cavarozzi's unique approach. I admire the seamless fusion of still life and religious subjects, with a focus on the luscious fruits and captivating birds found in Roman gardens.

Intriguingly, Cavarozzi's choice of subject resonates with an episode in Pliny the Elder's Natural History, where the Greek painter Zeuxis painted grapes so convincingly that birds descended to peck at them. It's a tale that echoes the power of truly ‘seeing’ and attention to detail—qualities that truly resonate with me as I seek to create unique and powerful identities for the brands I work with in my photography as well as my branding work with Laura.