Botanicals: Leaves and Light

A collection inspired by the color, light and feeling of being surrounded by plants. Close-up views where leaves become shapes and ordinary greens become something a little more unexpected.

Why I like painting botanicals

I’ve always loved wandering through conservatories. There’s something about stepping into that warm, humid air and suddenly being surrounded by green...leaves overlapping, light filtering through them, colors and shapes everywhere you look.

That’s the feeling I’m trying to get at with these paintings. I’m less interested in painting the whole plant than getting right up close, where the leaves start to become shapes and the light changes their color.

I want them to feel a little immersive. Like standing somewhere lush and warm for a minute longer than you need to, just because it feels good to be there.

Six paintings that stayed together

One of my first groups of botanical paintings began as an experiment. I had six pieces spread across my table and kept moving between them, letting the color and marks in one influence the next.

Later, I showed five of them together at a pop-up. A couple saw them and wanted the whole group for a long hallway in their home. They asked if there were any more, so we met at my studio the next day to see the sixth. They bought that one too.

I loved that they stayed together. I had painted them side by side, and somehow they ended up leaving the studio the same way.