STORY BEHIND THE ART OF CHRISTINE BATTLE

15th Annual International

American Society of Botanical Artists at

The Horticultural Society of New York

Common Holly

Ilex aquifolium

Can you describe the artwork?

It is Common Holly (Ilex aquifolium), which grows profusely in the woods around our house near Bath in South West England

Why did you choose this subject to portray?

I chose the Holly because I was looking for a leafy subject, having completed a big flowery painting, and have always been fascinated by the wonderful variety of angles presented by its prickles as they shoot off in all directions, eager to catch the unwary passer-by, whether human or animal. 

Did you face any unique challenges as you worked on this piece?

The challenge was to get the shine just right, not just on the surface of the leaves but also on the angles of the prickles.

What would you hope people would notice or appreciate when viewing this work?

I hope that people will notice how I have portrayed the edges of the leaves, which in this species of Holly have an interesting and clear 'rim' to them, which I love.

How does this work relate to your body of work?

This is a simple 'plant portrait' rather than a strictly botanical illustration, because I haven't reproduced the various flowering parts. My work falls into two main categories - depending on where it will end up. For an illustration in a botanical magazine or for the Chelsea Physic Garden Florilegium, the subject has to be treated more scientifically, but for my own pleasure I like to paint a portrait of the plant and try to show the one totally distinguishing feature of that plant, the unique feature which says 'I am a piece of holly and can't be mistaken for anything else'. Here my idea was just to reveal (and revel in) the innate prickliness of the subject, and hopefully elicit a happy feeling of recognition and familiarity in the viewer. 

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