David Leaser’s large-scale, in-your-face blossoms owe as much to botanical illustration and 17^th-century Dutch still life as they do to Andy Warhol and to new-found possibilities with digital imaging. Leaser talks to us about how an early interest in botanical gardens evolved into adventures on the Amazon and a series of books. And he explains a technique he’s developed to achieve the level of detail that was once the province only of painters.

Leaser has built a thriving career in unusual ways, showing first at the Architectural Digest home show and working with interior designers, whose interest can lead to an involvement with galleries. He has some unusual tips for “not getting lost in the noise” and advice for using social media and public-relations sites to get the word out about your work—no matter what medium you pursue.