With a background in Engineering and Landscape Architecture, José Pedro found in floral art a natural extension of a path long connected to landscape and botany.
Drawing on Eastern influences, modernism, tropicalism and a close relationship with place, he has developed a distinctive language where emotion, spontaneity and pragmatism coexist - always leaving room for surprise.
“I seek new ways to express the beauty and mystery of plants.” — Azuma Makoto
Q: How did your creative journey begin, and what led you to work with flowers and decoration?
A: I think it all began by chance, through a lot of trial and error. As part of my work as a landscape architect and farmer, clients began asking me to create floral arrangements. What initially started as an additional service gradually became something more serious.
Then came my sister's wedding, where I had complete freedom to create something different: a bouquet made from sun-weathered wood, green fruits and autumn flowers.
Q: Is there any training or experience that has particularly shaped your practice and your approach to floral design?
A: My background in Engineering and Landscape Architecture was fundamental in developing an aesthetic that combines emotion and seasonal materials with a touch of pragmatism and rationality.
The rest is refined through a great deal of work and practice. Sometimes working under pressure also helps a lot - it makes us resilient and focused.
Q: What are your main sources of inspiration - nature, art, fashion, architecture?
A: As I mentioned before, there are the influences from the East, my fascination with Arab culture, the sea and the landscape of the Ria de Aveiro.
Then there is architecture, the modernist movements and tropicalism, where I find an exoticism that is essential to my work. Roberto Burle Marx, Luis Barragán and our own Gonçalo Ribeiro Telles are some of my references - key figures in shaping a tropical, native and pared-back aesthetic.
“Less is more” is my new daily mantra.
Q: Is there any technique, visual language or trend that you are particularly excited to explore in the near future?
A: Beyond Japanese minimalism, I find a great sense of practicality in Nordic approaches - I am a fan of Belgian and Dutch designers - and I am fascinated by the art created by the German modernist movements.
And then there is the exuberance of Latin America. How could you not love the colours of Mexico, the aromas of Venezuelan cuisine or the flora of the Amazon?
The antipodes are the new trend of this decade…
Q: What does the Miguel Bombarda neighbourhood mean to you? Do you remember the first time you visited it?
A: I have been coming to Bombarda since 1995. That is 30 years of experiencing and discovering a vibrant neighbourhood full of hilarious stories.
For me, Bombarda's success rests on three fundamental pillars.
First, Bombarda is feminine. Women are the heart of the neighbourhood.
They are the ones who keep things moving forward; their determination and strength of will are fundamental to helping this project grow and bear fruit. People talk a lot about female empowerment, but in Bombarda there has always been - and always will be - a distinctly feminine kind of grit.
“I think Bombarda is the Trojan horse of the city of Porto."
Second, Bombarda is like a three-Michelin-star restaurant where omelettes - the most delicious and delicate ones - are made without eggs.
Everything here is achieved through hard work and dedication, without major support, but with everyone's help. It is a very close-knit neighbourhood, and no one is forgotten.
And finally, I think Bombarda is the Trojan horse of the city of Porto. Bombarda exists to provoke. In Lisbon, Bombarda is associated with a psychiatric hospital; in Porto, we have a group of “mad people” who are constantly making things happen in the city.
I have always had the idea that Lisbon's cultural elite envied and aspired to Porto's Bombarda. And it is no coincidence that when we welcome clients from Lisbon - wonderful, much-loved clients - into our space, they always ask why there isn't a shop like this in the capital.
Portfolio
The practice of Violetas Creative Studio takes botany as a starting point, creating compositions in which flowers, foliage, fruits, textures and other natural elements become creative material.
Across floral design, decoration and events, each project seeks to establish a close relationship with the place, the moment and the people involved, privileging seasonality, sensitivity and the unique character of the materials.
Wedding and Social Event Decoration
Floral arrangements and styling for weddings and social events, including decoration, floral design, drawing and illustration.
Floral Decoration with Ceramic Pieces
Floral arrangement and decorative piece — Violetas Creative Studio. (Interior decoration featuring dried flowers and artistic ceramics.)
Handcrafted Lighting
Handcrafted lamp created at Violetas Creative Studio. (A handmade piece focusing on texture, light and atmosphere.)
Custom Floral Arrangements
Handcrafted bouquets and arrangements created by Violetas Creative Studio. (Handmade floral compositions tailored to each client’s style and occasion.)
How to Collaborate
Violetas Creative Studio is a space dedicated to art, botany, sensations and emotions.
It currently develops complete projects for social events and weddings, including decoration, floral design, drawing and illustration, with proposals tailored to each individual context.
To discover the work of Violetas Creative Studio, propose a collaboration or request a bespoke project, simply contact the studio directly.
Contacts
Instagram: @violetas_creativestudio
Email: violetascolab@gmail.com
Phone: +351 912 250 599