Story behind the art of Hyojung Kim

27th Annual International

American Society of Botanical Artists and the Society of Illustrators

Hollyhock

Alcea rosea

On a hot early summer day in June, hollyhocks, flaunting their brilliant colors under the scorching sun, peeked over an apartment fence. These blossoms are often found in the countryside, so it was a pleasant surprise to encounter them in the middle of Seoul. Their vivid colors were irresistibly enchanting, drawing me in with their beauty.

Grown in temperate regions around the world, hollyhocks are called “dish flowers” in Korea as they resemble the shape of a dish. They come in various colors such as red, light pink, yellow, and white.

I focused on capturing the hollyhocks growing as they do in nature, in clusters, with their tall, straight stems and large palm-shaped leaves, and the vibrant tones of their round blooms.

I used watercolor for the base layers and elaborated the flowers with colored pencils, portraying the magenta hollyhock, the focus of my work, more vividly. The white hollyhocks in the background were depicted in softer tones to create depth.

Hollyhocks are not poisonous when ingested but are listed as toxic plants in California, because touching the stems and leaves can cause skin irritation. Despite this, I hope you are fascinated by the beauty and richness of the hollyhock, a plant imbued over centuries with the symbolic meanings of fertility and abundance.

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