Story behind the art of Patricia Luppino

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

Mixed Baby Greens

Lactuca sativa (Black Seeded Simpson, Red Sails, Deer's Tongue, Rouge D'Hiver)

For "Mixed Baby Greens," I attempted to capture the luscious beauty of heirloom lettuce varieties. This piece, created using pastel and colored pencil on drafting film, was an innovative approach for me.

The journey began in a corner of my studio, where an Aerogarden, previously collecting dust, found new purpose. Using this In-Home Garden System, I meticulously selected heirloom vegetable seeds and grew them hydroponically. I carefully monitored their growth to ensure the perfect arrangement of color and shape. When the leaves reached maturity, they produced a remarkable bounty, ready to be transformed into art.

My process involved photographing the mature leaves and arranging them into a visually pleasing composition using Photoshop. To cover the extensive surface area of the piece, I employed pan-format soft pastels as an underpainting. This was a new technique for me, and despite initial uncertainty about its effectiveness on drafting film, it gave excellent coverage and significantly expedited the process. The drafting film's unique properties, which limit the number of colored pencil layers it can hold, made the pastel underpainting an essential foundation.

The artwork features a delightful array of heirloom lettuce leaves. Each variety brings its unique color and texture to the composition. The use of pastel and colored pencil on film gives the piece a rich, textured appearance, with the delicate interplay of light and shadow adding depth and dimension.

My every glance at "Mixed Baby Greens" evokes a sense of freshness and abundance. I hope the carefully balanced colors and shapes invite viewers to imagine the crisp textures and flavors of the greens, almost prompting them to reach for some oil and balsamic vinegar to prepare a feast!

This piece brings together my passion for gardening and art. Growing these heirloom lettuces hydroponically and then translating their beauty onto drafting film was a rewarding challenge. The process taught me a lot about balancing different mediums and the importance of a solid underpainting. Every time I look at “Mixed Baby Greens,” it reminds me of the bounty of nature and the joy of creating.

Sorcery (Chicory)

Cichorium intybus

"Sorcery" showcases the enchanting beauty of the chicory plant. This piece is a recreation of my earlier watercolor painting that captured the essence of chicory with its intricate details and rich colors. The transformation from watercolor on white paper to colored pencil on black paper brings a striking new balance and depth to the composition.

The artwork depicts the chicory plant in all its glory, featuring its deep roots, delicate periwinkle flowers, and lush green leaves. The dark green leaf, which I felt previously dominated the composition, is now harmoniously integrated into the overall balance, thanks to the contrast provided by the black paper.

The chicory plant, adored for its delicate blue flowers that adorn the roadsides of Long Island, serves as a symbol of the last burst of summer color. My love for chicory extends beyond its visual appeal, as it also holds a special place in my kitchen as a key ingredient in my daily herbal coffee.

Creating "Sorcery" on black paper presented a unique challenge. I began with a grayscale underpainting, using lighter hued colored pencils to establish the foundational tones. I used pale French grey or cream for the warmer areas, sky blue or cool grey for the cooler tones, and white for the highlights. After finishing the final layers of colored pencil, I added touches of white ink to the flowers to enhance the delicate beauty of the blue and white stamens.

The piece is named "Sorcery," as I imbue the root with a mystical quality, as if casting a spell over the entire plant. The choice of black paper amplifies the magical and witchy ambiance, creating an artwork that I felt was both visually appealing and deeply evocative.

This piece holds a special place in my heart. The chicory plant, with its resilience and beauty, has always fascinated me. Recreating it on black paper allowed me to explore new dimensions and bring out the enchanting essence of this wonderful plant.

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Read more about this artist's work: Curious Allies