Seed Pods & Botanical Hybrid Creatures
In 2008, I read Michael Pollan's book, Botany of Desire, and Dr. Vandana Shiva’s book, Stolen Harvest. Both authors address earth’s fragile eco systems and the vital Bio-Diversity Model. I discovered that humans have built huge, high-tech seed banks to store and preserve vast quantities of diverse seed crops. This we do while simultaneously abusing the earth’s natural abundance and it’s inherent and necessary natural proclivity towards bio-diversity.
I wondered what if, in order to survive, plants and insects joined forces, evolving themselves into new hybrid species? Perched at my drawing table, I began… creating imagined seed pods….
The images begin as sketches, in a small 5x 8” Moleskin Sketch Book. The first of these sketchbooks, entitled Botanical Hybrids, was accepted to the permanent collection of The Sketch Book Project and is housed at the Brooklyn Art Library, in NYC.
Sizes: From 6x6” to 30x22” or larger.
Materials: Arches watercolor paper or prepared Clay Board; graphite pencil; and mixed media- including: watercolor paint, chalk pastel, ink, charcoal, acrylic glazes, and paper collage.
This virtual gallery holds a small sampling. To see more, or for more information and price points, please contact the artist.
Blue Beetle 2
Winged Seed Pod
Papillionoidea Nymphalidae Karpos
Ocean Hybrid
Moth
Moth Orchid
Luna Moth
Cicada
Higgs-Boson Particle
Calathea Euphoria Anthos
Evolution
The first seed pods were drawn on recycled paper (4”x5”), using graphite and watercolor pencils. For reference, I looked at photographs of real seed pods and was amazed. Working on them, became a meditation.
After months of drawing and editing, I had created 108 imaginary seed-pod drawings. By coincidence, I realized this is the same number of prayer beads on a Buddhist Mala.
I mounted all 108 Seed Pods onto a standing triptych, made of three hinged doors, which I had covered in a deep-sea turquoise, silken, rice paper. That was just the beginning.
On walks I noticed so many details in nature; sometimes gathering samples to bring back to the studio, I thus incorporation drawing from observation with imagination. I learned that there are incredible records / books from early botanical artists. One of my favorite artists is Maria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717).
The largest “seed pod” to date, is the Higgs Boson Particle. A 2012 scientific discovery, form the realm of Quantum Physics. It was tagged, “the glue of the universe”.
(at 75” on heavy watercolor paper, in mixed media)
Fragile Earth
Living by the sea, I am so influenced by the seasonal rhythms of nature, the ocean tides, and the layers of time. I am thinking about the vast cyclical animal migrations across the globe - of whales, monarch butterflies, and birds. I am aware of my own circadian clock, the rotations of star constellations, and phases of the moon.
I feel all of this living matter; this symphony, this dense soup of life. Like a shaken snow-globe, it swirls beautifully. It is a dance, ever fluctuating. If we sit and watch and listen, we can notice the miracles ~ between the briefest of moments ~ in the balancing pauses, they are happening! Right now, and everywhere. Then, as the earth's breathing shifts, the snow globe tips to begin swirling once again.