STORY BEHIND THE ART OF JANE HANCOCK

23rd Annual International

American Society of Botanical Artists at Wave Hill

Porcelain Berry

Ampelopsis brevipedunculata

I began thinking about the challenges of painting a vine a few years before tackling this project. On one hand, I wanted to suggest the profusion of overlapping stems that fill one’s field of vision. On the other hand, I wanted to show clearly the structure and forms of the plant. The composition would require careful planning.

I found a porcelain berry vine growing over a neighbor’s fence and became a frequent visitor, photographing and snipping samples to sketch over several seasons. Assembling various drawings into a satisfying whole was a painstaking process.

After refining my sketches into careful drawings of complete stems, I traced each one individually onto tracing paper. I tried various arrangements of overlapping tracings, seeking to balance complexity with clarity. With the overall composition decided, I made many further adjustments to specific leaves, berries, and tendrils, while constantly referring back to my original sketches and dozens of photos. Finally, I traced the entire taped-up image onto a single sheet of tracing paper, which became the source for my transfer onto watercolor paper.

Porcelain berry is a vine in the Vitaceae or grape family that was introduced from Asia to the U.S. in the 1870’s. It is not well known in Minnesota, where I live, but it is widespread and invasive in the eastern U.S. and parts of the Midwest. Its sale and propagation are prohibited in many states. In spite of its problem status, it makes an intriguing subject. The leaves have several forms: heart-shaped, three-lobed, and five-lobed. The striking, speckled berries turn from green to shades of cream, pink, purple, and blue as they mature, and berries of various colors are sometimes found within single panicles.

Next Story

Back to List

Read more about this artist’s work: 19th Annual