STORY BEHIND THE ART OF PATRICIA LUPPINO
19th Annual International
American Society of Botanical Artists & The Horticultural Society of New York
French Lavender
Lavandula dentata
While recovering from sudden illness in 2014, I was introduced to aromatherapy and its healing properties. I thought I would honor those fragrances that hastened my recovery by creating a series of plant portraits inspired by aromatherapy. Lavender is my favorite herbal scent. Countless perfumes are based on the lavender note. Lavender is prized not only for its aroma, which is known to be calming, but lavender oil also has many other therapeutic and antiseptic benefits. I also love the serrated edges and softness of the leaves of French Lavender.
For this portrait, I focus on the flower head – the buds when dried are the source of most essential oils; although the leaves and stems are also quite fragrant. The flower head in the center is magnified x3 and completed in watercolor to highlight the delicacy of the open flowers. At the bottom of the head, they’re beginning to darken and wilt, while at the top, new blossoms emerge. The background is completed in colored pencil and shows the plant at its actual size. To make the background plant recede and seem almost like a watermark, I used a very light touch first with a light gray pencil, then adding small touches of color on top.
By enlarging the flower head, I hope that viewers will appreciate the delicacy of each tiny blossom, normally so difficult to visualize with the naked eye. The enlargement was a challenge for me as I had to work rapidly with magnification because the flowers faded so quickly. I initially did a life-size sketch of the entire plant – the portion shown in colored pencil on the final work. Then focusing on one of the flower heads, I sketched in as much detail as I reasonably could without using magnification. I took this line drawing, scanned it, digitally enlarged it x3, and printed it. Using my enlargement and a magnifying glass, I drew in the rest of the detail on the enlarged drawing. The enlarged line drawing then became my template for the final flower head painted in watercolor.
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Read more about this artist’s work: 17th Annual International