Botanical series
Based on the photographic work of Karl Blossfeldt
Based on the photographic work of Karl Blossfeldt
Working in charcoal and pastel on Rives BFK printmaking paper–exploring the beauty and symmetry of isolated parts of plants. Charcoal, as my main medium, is fascinating to me for its variety of blacks and its range of marks: from soft, heavy, thick, dense to hard, sharp, thin, light–and endlessly malleable.
Karl Blossfeldt (1865-1932) used the camera to record a vast study of the details of plants, framing individual specimens in extreme close-up against a neutral background. His photographs reduce nature's immensity to elements of symmetry, geometry and abstract shapes. I have borrowed his full-frontal details of stems, buds and seed capsules, and tried to give these singular plant forms a vibrancy, as if still alive.
Karl Blossfeldt (1865-1932) used the camera to record a vast study of the details of plants, framing individual specimens in extreme close-up against a neutral background. His photographs reduce nature's immensity to elements of symmetry, geometry and abstract shapes. I have borrowed his full-frontal details of stems, buds and seed capsules, and tried to give these singular plant forms a vibrancy, as if still alive.
#1 Chicory Charcoal & pastel on RIVES BFK , 22x30, 2011 ©LOU ANN REINEKE
#2 Columbine flower Charcoal & pastel on RIVES BFK , 22x30, 2011 ©LOU ANN REINEKE
#3 Faded flowers Charcoal & pastel on RIVES BFK , 22x30, 2011 ©LOU ANN REINEKE
#4 Navel Wort, flower cluster Charcoal & pastel on RIVES BFK , 22x30, 2011 ©LOU ANN REINEKE
#5 Celphalaria, shoot Charcoal & pastel on RIVES BFK , 22x30, 2011 ©LOU ANN REINEKE
#6 Winter Aconite Charcoal & pastel on RIVES BFK , 22x30, 2011 ©LOU ANN REINEKE
#7 Two flowers Charcoal & pastel on RIVES BFK , 22x30, 2011 ©LOU ANN REINEKE
#8 Salsify flower bud Charcoal & pastel on RIVES BFK , 22x30, 2011 ©LOU ANN REINEKE
#9 Magnolia Charcoal & pastel on RIVES BFK , 22x30, 2011 ©LOU ANN REINEKE
#10 Aztec plant stem Charcoal & pastel on RIVES BFK , 22x30, 2011 ©LOU ANN REINEKE
