 03.028 Indian paintbrush |
Here in the high, dry regions of the Rocky Mountains, we have a brief but glorious summer. I spend much of it in the mountains, on my belly, in the grass, making watercolor habit studies of wildflowers. I also paint the blooms from my own perennial gardens. My botanical studies are always made from live plants. Working from photographs just doesn’t provide enough information. |
 01.046 Sego lily |
 01.041 Columbine |
I have always wanted to be an
artist but when I went
to Indiana University I decided to major in botany.
I thought botanical illustration would be a great career. Larry Burns, my Biology teacher at Shortridge High School in Indianapolis,
was a genius and an inspiration. He
challenged me and encouraged my interest in science while putting up with the
fact that much of my class work was more fully-illustrated than well-researched. By my sophomore year at IU I had switched to the art
department but remain compelled by things that grow, especially if they flower. |
 01.043 Columbine |
 01.025 Wild iris |
Until recently, I did most of the botanical habit
studies on hot pressed (smooth) paper. In
2001 I made a few on skin parchment (the actual skin of sheep, goats or calves)
and was thrilled with the amount of detail afforded by the
surface of the skin. |
 01.038 Glacier lilies |
