Water Plants

Maybe because it's now Summer that I'm getting more excited about water plants. The botanical theme has been lasting awhile and it's slowly evolving into a more concentrated interest. I took these photos of water lilies in Shanghai and Suzhou. The leaves and flowers of these plants are so thick and juicy they seem to be made of rubber. And look at those wonderful veiny lines on the underside of the leaves. Aren't those wonderful? I'll have to try playing around with those types of lines.

Fine Garden Details Drawings

Growing Synapses, technical pen on paper, copyright Nina Leung, 2014

The drawing above is what I imagine an underlying cell structure of a plant might be. It's like a fake, microscopic botanical drawing. It also makes me think of a nervous system in some strange creature.

Leaf Dreams, pen and ink on bristol, copyright Nina Leung, 2014

This one was inspired by Hugo Guinness. I love the stark black and white contrast. It's loosely based on a botanical drawing I found in the Encyclopedia of Illustration. 

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. 

Project: Sponge Paint Gardens

Eamon's (2 y.o) Garden

This is a fun, easy project for any age. All kids love using sponges and fingers to paint. Young kids especially can benefit from the tactile nature of this project. The results are quite nice, even with the younger artists.

Flower Gardens at Hampton Court

Hampton Court is a Tudor castle on the outskirts of London has gorgeous gardens. A large part of the park is open to the public which is pretty cool. The flowers are not too showy with subtle colors and whimsical shapes like the allium pictured above. I'm still feeling very inspired by these gardens and flowers.