Story behind the art of Hyunjin Cho

Botanical Art Worldwide 2025-A More Abundant Future:

Diversity in Garden, Farm, and Field

American Society of Botanical Artists at the Foundry Art Centre, St. Charles, MO

Stippled Savoy Cabbage

Brassica oleracea var. sabauda

I am captivated by the complex, glossy, wrinkled leaves. Also, I am impressed by the way a cabbage’s layers of leaves resemble a precious treasure being embraced. Another reason I chose to draw a cabbage is that, beyond its ordinary purpose as an edible plant, it has beneficial health properties. The ancient Greeks and Egyptians used it as an herb to treat various ailments. Some contemporary studies have suggested that Brassica vegetables like cabbage may contribute to a reduced risk of cancer, such as colon cancer.

When I was taking botanical art courses, I learned how to use various mediums: pencil, watercolor, colored pencil, pen and ink, and so on. At first, I studied my cabbage subject using these mediums. Suddenly I had this thought: art is creating something from nothing. So, I wanted to create a work of maximum value with minimum materials and minimum units. This was attractive to me. I chose white paper and used a Sakura Pigma Micron pen in size 003 and a rOtring Rapidograph 0.1 mm technical drawing pen. I drew a huge picture by stippling tiny ink dots.

I feel that when I draw with pen and ink, my drawing has elements of both softness and hardness. These charms are the reason why I use a pen these days.

Opting for black ink, I aimed to emphasize form over color, using stippling to build texture and depth. Maintaining an orderly pattern within the subject’s complexity proved challenging yet rewarding. Despite the time-consuming process, it brought me a sense of peace and tranquility. My hope is that viewers will appreciate the magnificence of these plants while finding comfort in the artwork's serene portrayal.

Sunflower

Helianthus annuus

The reason I decided to depict Helianthus annuus was not only because of its vibrant beauty but also because of its remarkably diverse benefits to humanity and wildlife. Various parts of the sunflower plant have important ethnobotanical, agricultural, medicinal, horticultural, and industrial uses. The seeds have value as food and contain high-quality fatty acids, suitable for cooking oil. As a result, various excellent cultivars have been bred and are grown worldwide.

Sunflowers are often placed on our living room table. They bring a warm glow and a sense of happiness to our family. They also give us a glorious picture of the wondrous process of a flower going from a small bud to full bloom.

I compare the sunflower to a human being who is born, grows, and experiences the ups and downs of life. When you look inside the bud, it reminds you of a fetus, snug in a womb. This is almost astonishingly like the life of a person. I very much wanted to express this point. 

When I was designing my composition, I considered the stability and decorative aspects of the piece to be important. After some inquiry, I placed the anatomical items at the bottom, symmetrically in a U-shape, and the whole flowers in the center.

In the cross-sectional details, I depicted the change in pistil and stamens in the process of the bud’s blooming. The reason I made this effort is that people can only see the outside appearance of flowers. So, in my drawing, I allow the viewer to see not only the flowers in full bloom, showing off extravagant colors, but also the inside of the flower, from the bud to the bloom, and how this is also beautiful and majestic.

As I drew this piece, I felt that the cycle was very similar to my life. Therefore, every moment of painting this piece was precious and moving to me. I hope this feeling is conveyed to everyone who views my work.

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