Image: Proteas
· PORTFOLIO ·
Drawing has always been Susan’s favoured form of expression with coloured pencils providing the palette for capturing the varied, rich and tonal spectrum of her botanical subjects.
The ability of coloured pencils to create subtle tonal depths as well as vibrant translucence remains a constant fascination and challenge. She mainly works on Bristol board with non-water soluble pencils used dry (unless otherwise stated.)
Despite the variety of colours available, there is never quite the exact shade, so blending and layering are essential techniques to achieve the accuracy that the discipline of botanical art requires.
Image: Modern Varieties of the Florists’ Flowers
Image: Dark Velvet Beauties: Anemones(using Derwent Inktense pencils)
Image: August Abundance
Image: Giant Poppy Seed Heads
Image: Exotic Fruit Fall
Image: Aubergine Assortment
Preferring to draw from life, Susan finds abundant inspiration in the wild local countryside as well as more cultivated subjects in her own garden, whilst more exotic subjects are often serendipitous ‘finds’ or gifts.
Image: Autumn Archive: the Blues
Image: August Bloom
Image: Autumn Archive: Fiery Finale
Image: Rose Garden Gone to Seed
Image: Colourful Conclusion
Image: Spring Scents
Image: Early Summer Delights: Three Species Roses
Her work has become known for detail as well as the inclusion of cast shadows, which she feels are important to describe the weight and volume of subjects – particularly fruits and vegetables and especially where the subjects appear to be placed on the paper surface as found in the ‘scatterings’ and ‘confetti’ compositions, inspired by the floral illumination in Books of Hours.
Image: Tulips with Wallflowers
Image: The Edible Garden: Summer Fruits
Image: Summer Velvet: Hemerocallis (variety unknown)
Larger compositions may often include a number of subjects - either different varieties of a particular subject or as mixed subjects that may combine fruits, vegetables, flowers and seeds.
The placement and arrangement of these subjects is carefully considered to create rhythm and movement as well as to balance and draw similar colours through the composition.
Image: Painted Faces
Image: Potager Scattering: August No. 2
Image: Nature’s Super Structures: Seedpod Curios
· FURTHER INFORMATION ·
PRINTS & GREETINGS CARDS
A selection of artworks are available as high quality Giclée Prints and Greetings Cards, please visit the Online Shop for more information.
ORIGINALS
If you are interested in the learning more about a specific original piece, please get in touch with Susan using the Contact button, although original artworks are not for sale online at present.