Story behind the art of Antoaneta Denkin

27th Annual International

American Society of Botanical Artists and the Society of Illustrators

Magnolia Seedpod

Magnolia grandiflora

I have always been fascinated by magnolias. I searched for a long time for the perfect seedpod or flower to fit my ideas about composition and color.

Finally, one rainy day, walking along a Philadelphia street, I came across a seedpod that attracted me. I then kept it for a while until I felt it was ready to be painted.

To me, it was most important to portray all the seedpod’s intricate details that show how time changes colors, textures, and size. I love the stillness of my subject. I find more beauty in the dried pod than in any young, fresh seedpods.

I chose to render the seedpod in watercolor on paper. I wanted to illustrate the details, so I depicted my subject three times larger than actual size. I used the drybrush technique with many layers to achieve depth and show which parts come forward and which are behind. The red, wrinkled, shiny seeds provide contrast to the pod. The seeds are beginning to pop out but don’t fall. Tiny, almost invisible strings attach them to the pod. As the seeds try to escape, in contrast to the pod’s stillness, they seem to dance around.

I enjoyed painting my magnolia seedpod very much. It was a labyrinth of forms and textures that created an amalgamation of wonders.

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Read more about this artist's work: 26th Annual