Karen Larson
My Inspiration
I’m attracted to the natural elegance of a flower’s form and drawn to bold and contrasting colors in one complex package. I follow the seasonal plants in my neighborhood Paris parks. I also seek out and travel to botanical gardens worldwide. The historical narrative, folklore, emotion and symbolism associated with a species are important elements that influence my work. I admire the compositions of traditional Japanese nihonga paintings as well as the accuracy and skill of classical botanical illustration. I enjoy the meditative process of creating a good “flower likeness” but also adding special effects with the nihonga techniques that require a mixture of control and chance. watercolor, 30 x 30 cm
My Design Strategy
This fuchsia is from a friend’s garden on Fox Island, Washington, United States. I wanted to create a dramatic close-up portrait that would showcase the deep scarlet and purple dropping blooms. The fuchsia was discovered in the late 17th century and is said to be a symbol of elegance and trust. They are also sometimes called flower fairies or ladies eardrops. I wanted to paint one blooming cluster bending off a branch front and center. I chose to illuminate the background with oxidized gold leaf to create a dramatic backlit that was not worldly but more like a religious icon.
My Working Process
I use my iphone to photograph the gardens I visit. After research I decide what kind of background would best serve the flower’s character. I then work on a compositional drawing. Washi, a special Japanese paper, is then prepared to accept the pigments and gold leaf using a solution of animal glue and alum. I used real leaves to oxidize shapes in the background of Fuchsia. After marouflage on a wooded panel I applied ground mineral and earth pigments. I created the colors I needed by mixing pigments with glue and water. I am able to buy many traditional Japanese materials for nihonga in Paris art stores but I also order special colors and brushes directly from Japan.
Finalist
Contact Details
Email: serafiavictoria@gmail.com
Website: www.serafiavictoria.com