STORY BEHIND THE ART OF DENISE HEYWOOD

19th Annual International

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

Honeysuckle

Lonicera periclymenum ‘Serotina’

Nearly everything I paint either grows in my garden in Shropshire, UK, or the surrounding countryside. This honeysuckle has grown against the wall of my old farmhouse for many years. It has the most fragrant scent which intensifies during the evening. I was attracted to the elegant way in which it twines around itself as it grows upwards, and the way in which all parts of the flowering plant are evident at the same time. From the tightly furled deep pink bud, to the pale, creamy yellow flower of the full bloom; from the small, hard, green immature berries to the jewel like beauty of the mature fruit; I enjoyed painting these contrasting shapes, textures and colors. I felt that it was important to represent the character of the plant by depicting all these stages of growth. 

I used watercolor - permanent rose and naples yellow for the flowers, with permanent rose and permanent alizarin crimson for the buds. The mature berries were rendered using quinacridone coral and perylene maroon. I put a very subtle background wash behind the honeysuckle to complement the plant. I felt that the background needed a little more tonal variety as the paper was not quite as pale as was needed in certain parts to give the plant the best possible contrast. 

I completed this painting over several weeks; fortunately, as the actual honeysuckle was close to hand, I had a constant source of fresh flowers as the blooms soon wilted. This painting was rendered completely from life, without recourse to photographs or sketches. My aim was to capture the essence of the honeysuckle as it appeared to me, I only wish that I could include the intoxicating scent of the plant!

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