STORY BEHIND THE ART OF JANE FISHER

19th Annual International

American Society of Botanical Artists & The Horticultural Society of New York

 Jacaranda Seedpods

Jacaranda mimosifolia

In the spring of 2015 with my drawing inspiration at a low ebb, I decided to take a class at the Minnesota School of Botanical Art. The class was titled “Collections”, which of course could mean any number of things. Initially I gathered up an assortment of things from my stash of dried treasures but couldn’t come up with a composition that I was satisfied with. Eventually I decided that a collection could also be multiples of the same object. In my cabinet of curiosities (I know we all have them) I found some Jacaranda seedpods that a fellow ASBA member sent to me when she heard me lamenting that I had not brought some home from the ASBA conference in Pasadena. I have always loved seedpods and these have an especially strong sculptural quality, as well as incredible surface texture that was probably enhanced by the many years of sitting in a box! They almost look like old, withered turtle shells. 

The composition of the drawing is very simple but hopefully interesting enough to draw the viewer in for a closer look. Because the shape of the pods is also very simple, I felt like the only way to make the drawing interesting was to include as much detail as I possibly could. I tried to show the cracks and crevices as well as the weathered, leathery surface. These pods seem remarkably tough - well equipped to handle anything nature might throw at them. Interestingly, I worked on this drawing just after I had finished a drawing of silver dollar seedpods. In stark contrast to the Jacaranda pods, the seedpods were delicate, paper-thin, and translucent. Trying to convey these differences was challenging, especially since their size and outline shape were about the same. 

From my very first drawing class I have loved detail and texture - hopefully this drawing shows that. I’m also aware that there is always a level of detail that is just beyond my ability to capture. I guess that’s what keeps me coming back! 

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