STORY BEHIND THE ART OF HEATHER GROSS
24th Annual International
American Society of Botanical Artists and Marin Art and Garden Center
Red Onions
Allium cepa
Oh, the humble onion…it can bring you to tears! One of my most cherished childhood memories is the smell of home cooking wafting to lovingly greet me at the end of my school day. Cooked or eaten raw, onions were a staple in my mom’s kitchen. Inexpensive, readily available, easily stored, flavorful and packed full of nutrition; most suppers included them. They were sliced, diced, chopped, minced, sauteed, sweated, caramelized, fried, dried, roasted & pickled!
As an artist, I see and share the extraordinary in the ordinary. While I don’t usually choose vegetables as my subject matter, I was drawn to these red onions by their beautiful, vibrant colors, their cracked and flaking outer layer and their dried, ‘crispy’ tassels. They were purchased at our one and only small local grocery store during a ‘stay at home order’ while in Covid lockdown. Easily accessible! Ordinary, yet at the same time extraordinary! Perfect!
Botanical art entices you to intimately know your subject. I enjoy exploring the botany, history and nuances of my subjects. Thus, my onion research began.
Did you know that this underground edible bulb has a tunic? It is the fibrous outer layer on the onion bulb. Onions have concentric, succulent fleshy leaves under their tunics; these are sometimes referred to as bulb scales. There are many onion varieties. Onions are classified according to their bulb color, size, shape, use and origin. Onions are photoperiod sensitive! Therefore, based on their need of sunlight for bulb initiation and development, they are also classified as long-day, short-day or day-neutral.
This vegetable, thought by many to be of Asian origin, has been cultivated since 6,000 B.C.E. Onions are mentioned on ancient tablets, in the writings of India and several times in the Bible. They were worshipped in Egypt, as their concentric rings were thought to represent the universe and eternity. In Greece, Hippocrates recorded medicinal uses of the onion. When the Romans conquered Greece, the onion was spread to Europe and from there it was brought to the Americas by explorers who planted them as a food source and for medicinal use. Onions are now cultivated throughout the world.
The red onion is known for its extraordinarily beautiful color. As a subject, my red onions encouraged me to explore the vibrant quinacridone hues. Beginning with an underpainting to capture light and shadow, I then applied several light washes to capture the range and depth of color I observed. I chose not to use any masking fluid, but instead conscientiously retained the highlights. Using a damp brush, I further defined the colors and textures seen in my subject. I enjoyed capturing the delicate translucent appearance of the bit of flaked tunic which had broken away. The cracked tunics and dried tassels lent yet another dimension to my composition.
The simple onion is indeed a pantry workhorse; a food staple for centuries that boasts of flavor, nutrition and various medicinal properties. My painting pays homage to the humble onion and my mom’s wonderful home cooking that was lovingly prepared!
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Read more about this artist's work: 23rd Annual