Introducing the 50 State Flowers Project of Artist Arlissa Vaughn

Painter Arlissa Vaughn from Murphy, North Carolina has a unique idea for a project to paint each of the 50 officially-designated state flowers of the United States. On November 1, she started a Kickstarter campaign to support the creative project.

Arlissa's Kickstarter also gives art enthusiasts a limited-time opportunity to become a patron and pre-purchase a state flower painting, sketch, or limited-edition signed print. At lower funding levels, donors receive other great premiums like original art posters and calendars. Below is an example of Arlissa's work, depicting the white pine cone and tassle, which interestingly is the state flower of Maine even though it's not a flower at all!

To help get the word out about her project, Arlissa is also sponsoring a contest: anyone who "likes" or "shares" the innovative project on Facebook or signs up to receive exciting email updates will be entered in a free drawing for a chance to win a limited-edition signed art print.

Funding will help Arlissa travel to paint live flower specimens at sites including the North Carolina Arboretum and the New York Botanical Gardens. So far she has located sites for 44 of the flowers and is still on the hunt for the other six, most of which don't grow in the Southeast.

Arlissa is an internationally-recognized acrylic painter, known for her calming atmospheric effects and unusual use of texture. She paints in a contemporary style with vivid color reminiscent of the Expressionist era, and is available for live events and custom portrait painting. Her work has been exhibited across the USA and as far away as Taiwan, and can be found in both corporate and private collections. She holds a BFA degree from East Carolina University's School of Art & Design and has been a professional working artist since 2005.