Hello, I’m Jessie

For as long as I can remember, I knew I had an affinity for making art, but I felt rudderless. I had not yet come across experiences that would change the way I see the world. 

I didn’t discover flowers until later in life. 

When I did, it was after experiencing two deaths just a year prior - my grandmother’s and my beloved aunt’s. Both times, I had to prioritize my job over my grief. Like a switch, something changed in me. I was overwhelmed by the realization of the fragility of life. In truth, up until then, the cycle of life and death was not something I was particularly familiar with.

About a year later, my body prepared itself to welcome a child into the world. As the months went by, and I could feel the child stirring inside me, I gained a much deeper appreciation for the giving of life. The idea that I could grow something from seed and hold it in my hands filled me with awe. I began to pay more attention to the flowers and plants in my father’s garden. I celebrated living in the moment. I gave myself more grace. I began growing flowers of my own. 

“If you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it’s your world for a moment.”

– Georgia O’Keefe.

The discovery of flowers has shifted the direction of my life.

Now, the change in seasons carries more meaning for me. Spring now means the arrival of budding tulips, daffodils, and muscari instead of rain. Summer roses remind me to tell my husband I love him. Glorious peonies, wth their short blooming season, urge me to spend more time outside with my children. As dahlias bloom, I’m reminded of the passing of the summer and the approach of cooler days. When my hellebores begin budding, I know another year has begun.

Flowers of all kinds are like friends to me, each with their own unique personality. I hope that through my art, I can fully express their inner spirit in colour and light.

Born in Hong Kong and raised in Canada, Jessie Chui has an Honours Bachelors of Art degree in Psychology and a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School. She had a family law practice for seven years before embarking on a lifelong artistic journey exploring the life cycle of flowers.

Jessie teaches her art and signature aesthetic to thousands of students through her education website, Crafted to Bloom. She is the author of a best-selling book, Paper Flower Art: Create Beautifully Realistic Floral Arrangements (hardback) (GMC Publications, 2019) also called Paper Flowers (in paperback) (GMC Publications, 2022). She co-hosts a podcast, Paper Talk, with Quynh Nguyen of Pink and Posey.

Jessie resides in Mississauga, Ontario with her husband and two young sons.