Botanical Habit Studies
See archives of past botanicals on page 1, page 2 and flowers currently for sale
if a particular flower interests you, let me know. I can make one for you on commission.
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Here in the high, dry regions of the Rocky Mountains, we have a brief but glorious summer. I have spent much of it in the mountains, on my belly, in the grass, making watercolor and oil paint 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. |
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| 03.028 Indian paintbrush | 01.046 Sego lily | |
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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. |  |
| 01.041 Columbine |
01.043 Columbine |
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| 99.043 Raspberries |
For many years, 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.
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| 01.038 Glacier lilies |
98.005 Crab apple |
00.019 Wild rose |
01.025 Wild iris |
See archives of past botanicals on page 1, page 2
Currently available botanicals can be seen at work available for sale.
