Over the years, I’ve built an extensive reference library composed of primary photographs I’ve taken and secondary images and research material I’ve collected. This particular artwork was inspired by a selection of these photographs. I had spotted a bush full of sloe berries, their branches heavy with fat, oval-shaped berries. The rich indigo-blue of the frosted berries, contrasted with the bright green, waxy leaves and pale coffee-colored branches, immediately caught my eye, and I knew they would make a beautiful subject for a design. The idea of capturing them in watercolor felt especially appealing.
I also had some interesting photographs of lungwort, a spotted plant with delicate, curling foliage. The combination of the two plants—the vibrant, frosted sloe berries and the softer, patterned lungwort—seemed to complement each other perfectly. Together, they created a balanced and visually engaging composition, which I first captured in a detailed pencil drawing.
After completing the drawing, I painted the plants in watercolor, focusing on the color contrasts and textures that made each species unique. Once the painting was finished, I scanned it into Photoshop to experiment with digital manipulation and different layouts and patterns. By cutting out the design and playing with various painted backgrounds and color schemes, I was able to create an interesting and modern design that still retained the overall period feel. This blend of hand-drawn, traditional painting and digital editing allowed me to show the plants at their best and create a design that felt both contemporary, whilst still drawing upon the visual style of the Arts and Crafts movement.
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