Links: Fine Garden Details

Going with the theme of botanical illustrations and the fine details of plants and flowers, I've found some fun resources and inspirations that totally relate.

These prints make me happy.

A gorgeous botanical artist and an amazing woman.

This pretty dress works perfectly.

This looks like a great summer read.

Contemporary botanical artists.

And shoes.

A botanical daily reminder.

Experience what it may have been like to discover new places.

A transporting film.

Fine Garden Paintings/ Drawings

Crawling Rosemary, watercolor, copyright Nina Leung, 2014

Growing Lily Pads, graphite on paper, copyright Nina Leung, 2014

This is just the beginning of some ideas I have brewing. I've been enjoying my research books and finding many fun things to play with. One of my biggest struggles as an artist is figuring out how much detail to add. The process of detail can be obsessive and fun, but it also narrows my mind too much. At least, that's what I think is happening. I don't know if it should bother me since I enjoy it, but I fear it doesn't allow me to think broadly in the same way that larger, more abstract work does.

Research: The Fine Details, Garden

After looking at and studying so many gardens, now I want to focus on the finer details, a more close up look at individual plants and flowers. I've always loved botanical illustrations for their minute details and the careful use of pen and ink. Two of the books above, The Complete Encyclopedia of Illustration and Cabinet of Natural Curiosities are perfect fodder for that. The Victorians and their love and discovery of the natural sciences has always been of particular interest. A.S Byatt's two novellas, Angels and Insects illustrates that time so well and in such a creepy, wicked way. Her gorgeously written prose is full of great imagery. Naked: Flowers Exposed is a beautiful photography book full of black and white close ups of flowers. 

I have so much to study and research while I create drawings and paintings and maybe even add a little printmaking.