contained

For Illustration Friday - 'contained'. Seed pods: pen and ink drawing in sepia. The containers of new life.

seed pods

Seed pods collected from Edinburgh Gardens. See more here. Inspired by Yellow Monday's gorgeous seaside collection.

fruiting habits and the like

It's funny the kinds of anatomical names for plants that they use in botany. This is part of one of my drawings and according to the botanical information I had on hand it's technically a 'fruiting habit'. Strange looking thing but I'm quite fond of the quirky shapes. Almost pod-like, and I'm a sucker for the cuteness of pods.

And speaking of illustrations and quirky, lovely things, the new Pikaland August Project is up and live. You can also find out about the magical wonder of Pikaland by clicking on that gorgeous little bird holding the sack on the top right hand side of my blog. Amy from Pikaland coordinates the most original international illustration project I've ever come across. Check out the work of all the amazing illustration artists participating in the August Project. You'll even see some of my work there :)

new: botanical musings

I've been really inspired by botanical matters this week and have produced some drawings which I've made into new giclee prints. These two will both be in the shop by tomorrow. The three pods print (here with pale blue-grey background) is already there. The other print, two stems, (with a very pale green background) will be in the shop by tomorrow. Both are also available in just black and white (without coloured backgrounds) if you prefer. Just let me know....

what fires bring

We've had a long, hot firey, summer here in Victoria. Bush fires burned for something like 6 weeks (possibly longer?) in many of the national parks and it was a smokey, scary time even for those of us who live in the city. The wonderful thing about fire in the bush is that it generates life and does so remarkably quickly. Banksia seed pods like the ones in this print of mine (seed pod in black) burst open and drop their seeds to the ground due to the intense heat that fire brings, and so the process of life can continue. Two Canadian friends have just been cycling in the Alpine National Park area (northern Victoria) and say it is starting to spring back to life now. The beautiful green of new growth pushing through, almost phosphoresecent in colour, glows against the charred black ground and trees surrounding it.