John Pastoriza Pinol, 2023

Botanical Artist in Residence 2023

Based in Melbourne, Australia, John considers himself a contemporary visual artist whose practice sits within the genre of botanical art yet rebels against its continued traditional representations and tropes. He has exhibited nationally and internationally, in solo and group exhibitions for the last 22 years in private and public galleries exploring these tensions along with the complex and dynamic interrelationships of man and nature/science and art. This has evolved into a commitment to painting as both a method and as a form of deeper inspection which continues to draw upon the power of close observation. Using rich luminous hues in gorgeously exotic and rare botanical specimens epitomise his work, however these are more than representational flower paintings. Closer inspection unearths a certain ambiguity of form and intent towards a dark and complex narrative which is born of the association between eye and hand, and sense and thought.

Beverly Allen, 2023

Botanical Artist in Residence 2023

Corymbia ficifolia, watercolor on paper, 49 x 40 cm, 2018 - Beverly Allen

Beverly worked as a graphic designer and illustrator, before moving to botanical art practice. She has shown annually at the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney ‘Botanica’ Exhibition since 1999, and exhibits internationally.

Her work is held in private collections including the Shirley Sherwood Collection, the Peter Crossing Collection and the Isaac Sutton Collection as well as at the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation USA, the Royal Botanic Gardens Herbarium Library at Kew Gardens, the Royal Horticultural Society Lindley Library, the Highgrove Florilegium for the Prince of Wales’ Charitable Trust, The Transylvania Florilegium for the Prince of Wales’s Foundation Romania and The Florilegium, Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney.

Carol Woodin, 2023

Botanical Artist in Residence 2023

Carol took a circuitous route to botanical art. A one-time draftsman, surveyor’s cartographer, and tractor-trailer driver all were steps along the trail that contribute to her work in the field and studio.

A freelancer for over 30 years, Carol's main obsession has always been orchids, but rare wildflowers, heirloom fruits and other interesting plants are fair game. Living in the Hudson Valley provides perfect opportunities for exploring plant diversity. Her artwork has been exhibited and collected around the world. Among recent venues are Jonathan Cooper Gallery, London; Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC; Shirley Sherwood Gallery, Kew, UK: UBS Galleries and Newhouse Galleries in New York; Museum de Zwarte Tulp, Lisse, the Netherlands; and the Marciana Library, Venice, Italy. Her work is in the collections of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the Smithsonian Institution, the Hunt Institute, and numerous private and corporate collections throughout the Americas and Europe. She recently was invited to contribute to the Grootbos Florilegium, a project to document and raise awareness of the Cape Floral Kingdom in South Africa. A book has been published documenting the project.

Carol is Exhibitions Director of the American Society of Botanical Artists,, curating and coordinating exhibitions throughout the US. She teaches workshops around the country and internationally in person and online devoted to techniques of watercolor painting on vellum.

Jean Emmons, 2023

Botanical Artist in Residence 2023

Emmons has won many awards including two Gold Medals and a “Best Painting in Show” from the Royal Horticultural Society, London. Also, the prestigious Diane Bouchier Founders Award for Excellence in Botanical Art given by the American Society of Botanical Artists.

She has exhibited at the Smithsonian; the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; the Royal Horticultural Society Lindley Library; the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation; the Brooklyn Botanic Garden; the New York Botanical Garden; Wave Hill, the United States Botanic Garden and the Horticultural Society of New York.

Recent awards include the Jurors’ Award at the 20th Botanical Art Exhibition at Filoli and “Best in Show” at the American Society of Botanical Artists 21st International Exhibition, Wave Hill.

Her work is included in numerous collections including the Shirley Sherwood Collection, Kew; the Royal Horticultural Society’s Lindley Library; the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation; and the Alisa and Isaac M. Sutton Collection.

When not painting, Emmons spends her days gardening and walking the trails of Vashon Island, Washington State.  She volunteers at Vashon Island Pet Protectors.

Elaine Searle, 2022

Dark Hellebore by Elaine Searle.

Botanical Artist in Residence, 2022

Elaine Searle is botanical artist based in Norfolk, UK. She is internationally recognized for her watercolor paintings of plants, fruit and vegetables. To view her work, visit her website.

Irina Neacsu, 2022

She Made Her Choice by Irina Neacsu.

Botanical Artist in Residence, 2022

Irina Neacșu is a designer and a botanical artist, member of the American Society of Botanical Artists and founder of the Romanian Society of Botaical Artists. Her projects cover a wide range of creative fields, from painting and graphics to art teaching, applied arts and interior design. 

Fátima Zagonel, 2022

‘Pleiochiton ebracteatum’ by Fátima Zagonel

Botanical Artist in Residence, 2022

Fátima Zagonel is a Brazilian artist who worked as a graphic designer for about 20 years before becoming a botanical illustrator. Her current work primarily consists of scientific illustrations of native Brazilian plants, but without forgetting commercial artwork. In 1999, she won the Margaret Mee Foundation Fellowship and was instructed by Christabel King at the Royal Botanic Gardens for six months. She is the Founder Associate of the Botanical Illustration Center of Paraná – CIBP and is a botanical illustration teacher for beginners.  Learn more about her at www.fatimazagonel.com.br.

Maria Alice Rezende, 2022

‘Monstera deliciosa’ by Maria Alice Rezende

Botanical Artist in Residence, 2022

 Maria Alice Rezende is currently based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where she works as an art teacher as well as an illustrator on projects with researchers at the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden. Her main creative practice is her  personal work of illustration of native species of Brazilian flora. Her awards include receiving the  "Margaret Mee Foundation Award" at the Royal Botanic Gardens in 2004.  She is currently working on an illustration project on the biodiversity of the South Atlantic Islands.

Keiko Nibu Tarver, 2022

‘Somei Yoshino Cherry’ by  Keiko Nibu Tarver

Botanical Artist in Residence, 2020

Keiko Nibu Tarver was born in Japan and is currently based in Philadelphia, PA. Her artistic interests includes plants native to the United States and Japan, especially plants of the Aesculus genus.  She is a member and board director of both the American Society of Botanical Artists and the Philadelphia Society of Botanical Illustrators. Her awards include receiving Best Student Painting at the Friends Hospital Grounds: A Living Legacy exhibition in 2012. Her work has been exhibited throughout the US. 

Olivia Mendoza, 2021

“Orange Branch” by Olivia Mendoza

Botanical Artist in Residence, 2021

Olivia is an illustrator and designer based in Michigan. She specializes in realism and natural subject matter, and is “interested in the intricacy and beauty in the details of natural things.” Learn more about her at https://www.oliviamendozaillustration.com/.

Charlotte Ricker, 2021

“Magnolia” by Charlotte Ricker

Botanical Artist in Residence, 2021

Charlotte is a scientific illustrator and avid outdoorswoman “interested in studying the interconnectedness of all living things.” She has spent many years as an architect and city planner, and translates that methodical, analytical approach to her science illustrations. Learn more about her at https://www.rickerstudio.com.

Kandis Phillips, 2020

‘Marsh Wren Nest 1’ by Kandis Phillips

Botanical Artist in Residence, 2020

Alumni Artist in Residence, 2020

Kandis Phillips is a natural science illustrator currently based in Maryland. While she typically draws from museum specimens to document them for scientific research purposes, her personal work relates to what she observes in nature, and is inspired and influenced by poetry (specifically, the work of Emily Dickinson) and history, including metalpoint, a renaissance era drawing technique.  She is interested in the relationship between birds and plants, and while at OSGF, she observed and documented grassland birds and the flora in their habitats.

“Being able to go out and walk with no time constraints on me whatsoever to explore this new environment and to really think about these Meadow birds and their interactions with plants was truly a gift,” said Kandis of her time at Oak Spring. 

 You can learn more about Kandis at https://kvermeerphillips.com. 

To see Kandis’s work, visit our Shelter Art Exhibit and read this Q&A blogpost about her time at Oak Spring.