STORY BEHIND THE ART OF HEEYOUNG KIM
16th Annual International
American Society of Botanical Artists and the Horticultural Society of New York
Prairie Crabapple
Malus ioensis
A tree wrapped with luscious flowers makes its beholders feel delighted, especially after the long and cold winter in Chicago land. A crabapple tree is undoubtedly one of the most common flowering trees in early spring.
Malus ioensis, the native Crabapple in Illlinois, had been on my painting list for about two years. My inspiration was the three trees which were saved in my friend’s backyard thanks to a landscape designer who was very knowledgeable about local indigenous plants. I could have just painted them, but I wanted to see some in a natural habitat, as I am aware that plants can look slightly different when they grow in a man-made surrounding. With help from my ‘plant scout’, I found a site where two almost dead looking Malus ioensis were caged with a wire fence to protect them from deer browsing, among many dead trunks of the same species. I was sad, but very joyful at the same time when I saw that the caged ones were pushing all their energy to grow new twigs. They even had several blossoms! This could only have happened with the years long restoration efforts of a plant lover, who happens to be my plant scout.
My regular visits to the resurrected trees started. I did sketches and color notes of the flowers and leaves at different stages, but it took awhile to get the composition. I spent quite a long time drawing, or just sitting next to them sipping coffee, or pulling out Garlic Mustards, or helping cutting Buckthorns. Finally I felt like I could understand my specimen, its physical shape and its fate. Then the composition came to me by itself. A dead trunk would be the star in my painting! It would tell people how the species are dying in the woods.
Since I have been observing this native Crabapple, I have got a new habit: looking out of the window wherever I drive in spring, to see if there is any Malus ioensis in anybody’s yard or street sides. I found just one in the north suburbs of Chicago in over two years! And that one is struggling among dense Buckthorns which the homeowner is using as privacy hedges.
Next Story
Back to List
Read more about this artist's work: 15th Annual