Botanical Art Show at Lan Su Garden

After many months of preparation, the botanical art show at Lan Su Garden, an urban classical Chinese garden in Portland, Oregon, has opened. About ten months ago, artists from Oregon Botanical Artists, Pacific Northwest Botanical Artists and Oregon Guild of Natural Science Illustrators were invited to submit work for this juried exhibition. The theme of the show would be “Lan Su in Bloom” and would feature species growing in the garden, most of which are endemic to China.

In the ensuing months I visited the garden many times, sketchbook in hand. Closely observing the garden change over the summer into autumn was a pleasure. While there was something different to see each time I went, I found myself drawn to certain plants over and over.

I was drawn to the Tiger Lilies and the dwarf pomegranate in the entry courtyard. Lilium lancifolium var. splendens and Pumica granatum ‘Nana’

Both plants that I finally settled on seemed rather exotic and flamboyant to an artist that usually focuses on demure native plants, but I relished the challenge. I started with the most ephemeral of the two, the Tiger Lily. As the flowers bobbed in the breeze, they reminded me of dancing girls dressed in silks.  I especially liked the sense of movement in some of the blossoms whose petals had partly unfurled, nearing the end of their peak bloom period. One in particular reminded me of a dancer running from the stage after her act. Her sisters have already dropped their petals.

Tiger Lily

After working out the composition, I under-painted to establish highlights and shadows, Manganese Blue hue for the leaves and Gamboge for the petals.

I used warm oranges and yellows for the translucent areas of the petals, and cool oranges and reds for the areas in shadow.    Transparent, single-pigment colors (not pre-mixed ones) helped keep the petal color fresh looking. A final wash of Quinacridone Coral brightened the blossom considerably.  Quinacridone Violet and Perylene Violet worked well for the spots and anthers. The painting is on Moulin du Roy watercolor paper, HP 300lb (640 gsm). More info about Moulin du Roy paper and the results of my paper tests here.

Dwarf Pomegranate

I did several sketches at the garden of the buds, flowers and strange fruit of the dwarf pomegranate, then used those to develop my composition. I bought a ‘regular’ pomegranate (non-dwarf) at the grocery store so I could study the texture and color of the ripe fruit up close. The dwarf fruits retain the long sepals of the flower, which are quite ornamental but not what we see at the market.  My palette was much the same for this painting, except leaning towards the reds.

Some of the artwork in the exhibition, and a view of the garden.

I hope you can visit the garden and enjoy the artwork this spring; the botanical art show extends through May 31st. If you go, I highly recommend stopping by the tea house for a cup of delicious chrysanthemum tea and visiting the gift shop for botanically themed cards, scarves and other items.