Botanical artists from countries around the world will join together to curate simultaneous exhibitions of botanical art to raise awareness of the rejuvenation of this art form and bring attention to plants and their importance to humanity.
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| Banksia sessilis - parrot bush © Vicki Lee Johnston |
The second Botanical Art Worldwide Project will focus on and celebrate biodiversity in the crops that have been closely associated with the human species over thousands of years.
We have chosen to focus on botanical art pieces showcasing the beauty and cultural significance of native plant species that are Bush Foods, Medicinal and Utilitarian Plants.The Botanical Art Society of Australia has focused on First Nations' uses of plants. 'Bountiful Botanicals'.
My chosen subjects include the Banksia sessilis - parrot bush. This extraordinary shrub is indigenous to Western Australia and we have quite a few outcrops in the hills of Perth where I live. It was never a favourite of mine due to the painfully prickly leaves - I would never have chosen to study, draw and paint it as we would complain about it when walking in the native bushland. After having spent quite some time researching its history and integral uses as an indigenous food source, I drew (pardon the pun) to really love this very important native plant.
I really took my time with observation, drawing, especially colour studies to ensure I was able to capture light, shadow, form and contrast - I usually paint subjects with colourful flowers - in this case the shrub itself is quite insignificant looking in the wild but I wanted to show how incredibly beautiful a plant could be when you look closer and see the many elements.
I am working in a new studio and it took some time to get used to the light and space.
Working carefully to portray this plant in a pleasing way to ensure the subtle shades and tones of green, cream and yellow found a way to create contrast and depth.
I tried my usual method of converting a photo of the artwork to neutral tones to ensure there was a satisfactory amount of contrast for interest, detail and wall appeal.
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| Banksia sessilis - parrot bush - © Vicki Lee Johnston |
I completed and scanned the finished watercolour paintings and submitted for jury consideration to be included in the Australian exhibition, 'Bountiful Botanicals'.
I was extremely grateful to learn this artwork and another painting of Santalum acuminatum - quandong - had been accepted and were to be hung in Canberra at the national exhibition. My quandong painting was also chosen to be exhibited virtually at the worldwide galleries on Worldwide Day of Botanical Art.
Sneak peak of the Worldwide Video series of chosen artworks
A little footnote to this blog post ... the opportunity to observe, study, create and complete a watercolour botanical artwork is extremely finite and time consuming. For most botanical artists it truly is a labour of love - a love of nature, science and a love of art.
For me, it has been especially poignant as since I completed these paintings I have not been able to draw, paint or use my hands for much at all for many months due to both wrists being fractured after a fall and limiting most functional abilities. I am finally getting movement back in my hands and wrists and although I may need future surgery - I am very excited to think it may be possible to draw and paint again! I'm not sure the art will be as detailed or finite as these for a while - maybe it's time to try more loose work to get my hands working again. If you've managed to read this far - thank you - I often wonder if this blog is being read but it doesn't really matter as it was and always has been a visual diary for me to reflect on my art journey over the past years. I hope it has been able to show how it's possible to try anything at any age as long as you have curiosity and wonder in this unique world.
Thank you!
Vicki Lee Johnston
