ABBEY SKOPELIANOS "Missing You, Always"

40 x 30 inches

Oil on canvas

2025

“Bittersweet Memories” (2025) features a flower arrangement of green orchids, white hydrangeas, purple asters, orange rose, and white roses in a clear vase. It sits upon a faded blanket, reminiscent of my bedroom duvet. Despite the flower’s vibrancy, it appears to be lacklustre with its mismatched colours: light-green and sunset orange, yellow and white, purple and white. The deep-green foliage blends into the background, barely noticeable. In some instances, the bright colours match with the faded blanket, representing the two-dimensional fabric of memories which have since faded with time. However, the mismatched yet colourful arrangement seemingly reignites these memories, offering new possibilities despite bitter memories. 

Artist Biography 

Abbey Skopelianos is a 23-year-old artist from Kingston, ON. In 2024, she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) at Queen’s University, specializing in portraiture and still-life of flowers and glass objects. Currently, she is a second-year Master of Art History at Queen’s University, researching 17th c. Italian artworks of women artists.

In the last few years, Abbey participated in her class’s graduating exhibition, Without these Walls (2024), and has exhibited her paintings at Union Gallery’s Side-by-Side (2025).

Artist Statement 

Often, flower arrangements are placed in completely different spaces: funeral halls, wedding parties, graduation ceremonies, and dining rooms. It can be given to another person as a sweet gesture, an apology, an expression of condolence, a heartfelt congratulations, or a gentle reminder of love. Its vibrant nature reflects the giver’s feelings or intentions, whether sympathetic or romantic. In turn, the recipient’s thoughts are revealed through their chosen presentations, picking out the best glassware to house these bouquets. 

When I begin the process of painting my still-life, I think about the story behind each one. Did these flowers serve as an apology? Was it romantic, pre-date flowers? Does the glassware impact the emotional intentions behind it? These questions inform my painting process, influencing my choices in colours, texture, and glassware.