Malus domestica - Three Apples
These three apples, a Golden Delicious, a Red Delicious and a Granny Smith apple, were purchased at our local grocery store. To capture the pale, mid-tone, and dark values I used a variety of graphite pencils; Caran D’Ache grafwoods (4H to F) and Faber-Castell Pitt Graphite Matt pencils (HB to 10B). Graphite work requires an unhurried, relaxed approach - it's meditative!
Graphite on paper
5 ¾" H x 7 ¾" W
Available
Ocimum basilicum - Three Basils
I grew these three basils, Amazel, Dark Opal and Genovese. I loved the various textures and the range of values that this mix offered visually. This piece was completed on Strathmore Bristol vellum using Caran D’Ache grafwoods (4H to 8B) and Blackwing pencils. My drawing and graphite work, prior to becoming involved in botanical art, relied solely on the typical HB pencil used in school.
Graphite on paper
13 ¼" H x 10 ½" W
Private Collection
Petunia x hybrida - 'Waves of Colour'
Planted in our front garden for a pop of colour, these wave petunias, deep velvety purple, pale creamy white and bright hot pink, did not disappoint! While their colours certainly popped, in this piece my goal was to focus on the contrast in values. Also, I wanted to capture the beautiful textures created by the ripples and folds in the petals. Working in graphite allowed me to do just that.
Graphite on paper
9 ¾" H x 8" W
Private collection
Anthurium andraeanum - Enduring Love
I deliberately did not use masking fluid to capture the waxy appearance of these shiny red Anthuriums. Instead, I chose to work very carefully around all of the patterns created by reflected light. Red Anthuriums, with their showy heart-shaped spathes symbolize deep love, strength and courage. This painting gently reminds me that when you love deeply, nothing can destroy that love. Love endures!
Watercolour on paper
15" H x 11 ¼" W
Private Collection
Narcissus ‘Juanita’ - Hello Spring!
These eye catching Juanita Daffodils grow in my gardens. They add a real pop of colour, with their large blooms beginning in early to mid-spring, and flower for several weeks. Their golden yellow petals and vivid tangerine-orange trumpets shout, 'hello spring!'. They are naturalizing and add instant sunshine to my garden borders.
Watercolour on paper
10 ¾" H x 9" W
Private Collection
Iris germanica - 'The Last Hurrah!'
This tall bearded Iris can be counted on to give a wonderful show in my garden! The delicate pink standards and deep raspberry coloured falls with their gold markings and undertones, 'dance' when the sun hits them. In this composition I show the various stages of growth ~ bud, opening bloom, full bloom and spent flowers. This painting captures the last of their summer show, the last hurrah!
Watercolour on paper
15" H x 11 ¼" W
Private Collection
Solanum melongena - Baby Eggplant
These cute baby eggplants caught my eye in a local grocery store. I loved depicting their smooth, shinny, reflective surfaces with varying hues of lavender and deep purple-blue! This was achieved by layering and blending. The calyx by contrast is rough in texture. It was fun to show the tender, cream coloured flesh found inside this versatile vegetable too!
Watercolour on paper
8 ½" H x 6 ½" W
Available
Hydrangea macrophylla - Blue Big Leaf Hydrangea
The colours, blue to violet with touches of chartreuse here and there, were fun to create using both multiple layers and various blends of watercolour pigments. I decided to focus on only one showy ‘mophead’ rather than multiple clusters or flower heads. My composition also includes different views of individual single florets, the smaller components that together create the whole cluster.
Watercolour on paper
9 ½" H x 8 ¾" W
Private collection
Lilium orientalis - ''Look Up Stargazer!
We planted several Stargazer Lilies in our front flowerbed. Their abundant blooms and fragrance are enjoyed throughout the mid to late summer season! This painting was completed on Arches HP paper using multiple layers of transparent watercolours. Quinacridone pigments boldly brought the rich colours to life, from rosy pinks and reds to deep magentas!
Watercolour on paper
10 ½” H x 9” W
Private collection
Caladium x hortulanum - 'White Wonder’
What a stunning plant! This 'White Wonder' was gifted to me and I was immediately captivated by its beautifully patterned leaves and strong 'reddish' stems. A perfect specimen to depict using both Faber-Castell Polychromos and Caran D'Ache Luminance coloured pencils!
Coloured Pencil on paper
16" H x 14" W
Private collection
Viola x wittrockiana - Pansy
When gifted pots of pansies, I immediately decided that this would be the perfect specimen for watercolour and graphite! Compositionally, I wanted to emphasize the pansy’s ‘happy face’, delicate bud and unfolding bloom. So, these components were completed in watercolour along with a leaf in the foreground. I transitioned into full graphite use elsewhere.
Watercolour and graphite on paper
8 ½" H x 6" W
Private collection
Solanum lycopersicum - Heirloom Tomato
Heirloom tomatoes, passed down through the generations, boast of hardiness, colour and flavour. This multi-coloured, wild and wacky shaped specimen caught my eye in the grocery store. I loved how the smooth outer skin of the irregular segments reflected the light. To capture the essence of this fruit I chose to work in layered coloured pencil and to finish my piece with glazes of watercolour.
Coloured pencil and watercolour on paper
6 ½" H x 7 ¾" W
Available
Epipremnum aureum - Pearls and Jade Pothos
This piece was completed for the 'Celebrating Pearl 30th Anniversary' of the American Society of Botanical Artists. Native to the tropics, this low-maintenance, houseplant has small, waxy, heart-shaped, variegated leaves with splotches of different greens, creams and white. I enjoyed depicting a few of the trailing stems of this pothos with its nubby aerial roots.
Watercolour and graphite on paper
10" H x 7 ½" W
Private collection
Solanum dulcamara - Bittersweet
Commonly considered a toxic weed, this perennial vine has a fascinating defense mechanism against attacking pests; it entraps them with a sticky substance. So, they end up nourishing the plant, helping it to thrive! The colours in bittersweet are striking and were fun to depict in this graphite and watercolour piece.
Coloured pencil and watercolour on paper
8 ¼" H x 7" W
Available