While the garden is sleeping...January.
In my studio...
Beginnings are hard.
A blinking cursor on a fresh blank page can be intimidating for even seasoned writers but I am going to start in this new year of 2024! I’d like to create a community of botanical artists or enthusiasts here, to share techniques to capture those elusive plants, offer art material ideas to die for, recommend mind-blowing botanical art shows to get involved in and compare inspiring pods to listen to. Stuff that I want to know about other painters in the botanical art world, which can be quite a closed book at times.
What is happening in my garden:
My Iris subulata “Walter Butts” Chelsea Physic Garden Archives
My south-facing London garden is looking pretty still right now but it continues to inspire me. Most of the plants in it have been grown to paint and have a story behind them.
There is the winter flowering pale purple Iris unguicularis (above) that I painted for the Chelsea Physic Garden Archives in London in 2022.
I have a fine crop of kale but I haven’t dared to paint their complicated leaves yet, they just go in my breakfast smoothie for now.
I have many snowdrop bulbs planted ready to paint in late January, they fox me every year. I have a commission for this plant which I will be painting on calfskin vellum to show up those delicate papery white petals. I look forward to the amazing annual displays late January at Chelsea Physic Garden.
I have planted a Veratrum nigrum, seeds carefully collected from Chelsea Physic Garden which I hope to paint next Summer for their Archives. Funny old thing but I am growing fond of it.
I am waiting on a vibrant pink climber Phlox subulata “Pink Flame” to bloom, which I will paint for a London group show with Amicus Botanicus next Autumn.
I have dug up my precious dahlia rhizomes, away from the cold winter to replant in the Spring. The dahlias will be grown for the second summer to provide sitters for my plant portraits. Four of these paintings will be presented to the Royal Horticultural Society Judging Panel in the Autumn.
I have planted a greengage tree which I hope will fruit in the summer so I can paint it for the Botanical Art Worldwide Exhibition in 2025. That is if I manage not to kill it. I’m not the most experienced of gardeners…
Favourite painting materials this month:
Loving my handmade watercolours from A.Gallo Assisi, Italy adding to my ever growing collection (bottomless pit). I have added some subtle shades for those hard to mix areas. Their raw pigments are mixed with gum arabic, local honey and rosemary essential oils milled by hand on a glass slab; they do feel very smooth and luxurious to paint with.
My New Year’s resolution is to get familiar with calfskin vellum. I have some lovely samples from New York tannery Pergamena, also some Kelmscott supplied by L.Cornelissen & Son to paint the snowdrops on. I will show you the results in my February musings.
Favourite podcast this month, while I paint:
“As the Season Turns; January” by Lia Leendertz.
“The Chelsea Physic Garden Pod”
“Gardening with The RHS”
2024 Shows I am in:
“Holly”, The Magic of Leaves online show, Dec-May 2024 The Association of Botanical Artists.
“Sweetpea”, Works on Paper, Jan 15th-Feb 8th 2024 Green & Stone Gallery
Need to select three paintings for Ellas Illustran Real Jardin Botanico, February.
Need to select a piece for The Society of Botanical Artists Annual Show, May.
“Moss phlox: Crimson Flame“, Floral Fireworks, September 16-21st,
If you are looking for inspiration to join in botanical shows around the world check out: www.botanicalartandartists.com
Spread the word about this new community and happy painting plants this month!
Lovely post. I look forward to reading more !