STORY BEHIND THE ART OF CATHERINE WATTERS

Wildly Exquisite: Florida’s Native Plants

Soapwort Gentian

Gentiana saponaria

I first saw gentians growing in central France as a child, and was fascinated by their amazing color. Years later, I noticed the delicate Gentiana saponaria, commonly known as Harvest bells or soapwort gentian, on the East coast and had the opportunity to finally paint it. I chose it because I was attracted by its rich cobalt and violet colors and its delicate structure. I painted it on calfskin vellum to enhance the flower’s glow. As well, I wanted to capture the flower’s delicate beauty by showing various stages of growth.

Gentiana saponaria is found throughout Florida as well as in several other eastern and southern states. Bumble bees are an important pollinator and small beetles feed on the pollen.

American Persimmon

Diospyrus virginiana

I love painting fruit and decided to paint the American Persimmon because it is a beautiful tree. I especially like the rich colors of the autumn leaves, and then when they fall off, the fruits glow like bright orange ornaments.

Diospyros virginiana is considered to be an evolutionary anachronism - a living species that is best explained as a result of having been favorably selected in the past due to coevolution with other biological species that have since become extinct. It was consumed by the American Mastodon, which roamed the North American continent until 10,000 years ago. It has also been cultivated by native Americans since prehistoric times for its nourishing fruit and its wood. The fruit is eaten by many animals, including birds, raccoons, skunks, deer, hogs, flying squirrels, opossums, gray foxes, and black bears.

The tree grows in the wild in Florida and all along the east coast up to Connecticut.

In planning the composition, I wanted the branch to come down into the page as if you were looking up at the tree in the fall. There are three glowing persimmons with bloom on them and a couple of weathered leaves.  On the right branch there is a dried calyx still hanging on the tree from the previous year, which I found particularly interesting.  

I love painting on vellum because of the richness of color and luminous quality that you can achieve. I also enjoy collecting and painting the afterlife of a plant - seed pods, dried leaves, etc. My studio is filled with things I pick up when I go on walks!

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Read more about this artist’s work: 21st Annual