Akron Reporter

Akron Art Museum issued the following announcement on Oct 5.

For this illustration I chose to depict in watercolor and ink the Golden Valerian plant (Patrinia scabiosifolia).This is another species of pollinator plant that can be found in the Akron Art Museum’s garden from about June to September. It grows around 1-1.5 ft tall, and has yellow-orange mounded flowers with miniscule petals.

When creating my watercolor pieces, I often find inspiration in traditional botanical prints. In the early 17th century, artists were hired to create illustrations of collections of flowers in the gardens of wealthy Europeans, often using watercolor and gouache to capture the delicacy and intricity of the plants. Then in the 18th century this process became the art and science of documenting plants to provide a consistent system of classification for horticulturalists. It was used as a reference guide for botanists and gardeners. New printmaking techniques that developed around this time (such as mezzotint, stipple, and aquatint) allowed for faithful reproductions of the original pieces with a wide variety of tones and values. 

Referencing the techniques that were involved in traditional botanical illustrations helps me to create artwork that combines realistic imagery with surreal situations. I learn to look for details in the subjects matter, and use naturalistic hues that reflect the real environment. 

@muhase72

#goldenvalerian #pollinatorplants #botanical #illustration #drawing #watercolor #mariauhase #akronartmuseum

Original source can be found here.