Mary Crabtree

It is an amazing exhibition!! You’ll love it!!

So embarrassed by the disgusting behavior of Trump and Vance today. This is not how Americans behave. President Zelenskyy, we apologize!!

Beautiful!

Slowly, slowly, I’m beginning to work my way through this puzzle of a milkweed inflorescence. Asclepias speciosa, common milkweed, watercolor on vellum. #botanicalart

Thank you’

One of my favorites of hers!

New one on the easel… Asclepias speciosa, showy milkweed. 14 x 17” Kelmscott vellum..soon to be in watercolor. The drawing for this was done a year ago but it needed quite a few changes when I got it out recently to start work on it. Funny how time allows you to see things differently. #botanicalart

Thank you! Yes, I also hope the botanical art community will grow here.

Thanks!

Finished for now..Asclepias incarnata, swamp milkweed with monarch butterfly, watercolor on vellum. #botanicalart

Lovely!

US Fish and Wildlife just proposed to list monarch butterflies as #threatened species. It’s sad to see this coming, but I hope we can find ways to protect precious #wildlife including monarch. I painted a monarch butterfly sitting on a common milkweed flower. I placed two pretty feathers indicating fragile destiny of the monarch butterfly

US Fish & Wildlife has just announced their proposal to list the monarch as Threatened! I hope we can find ways to protect precious wildlife such as the monarch butterfly. It is one of my favorites to paint. #wildlife

Marvelously detailed and clear illustrations Deborah!

At last..the leaves are no longer disembodied! 🤣 I love connecting things with the stems..the plant comes to life. Still much to do though…next, the smaller stem with follicles…must paint faster. Asclepias incarnata, swamp milkweed, watercolor on Kelmscott vellum. #botanicalart #watercolor #wip

Wonderful Audrey!

Beautifully done!!

Love the reproduction mechanism of Asclepias species!! So cool!

I always start with the actual plants, observed, sketched, color matched, trial paintings all done while I have the live plant. And lots of photos for later reference since the plant doesn’t last as long as the painting takes. This is watercolor on vellum.

Progress..slow but steady. Lots and lots of leaves, each a different angle and form. Asclepias incarnata, swamp milkweed, watercolor on vellum. #botanicalart #botanicalwatercolor #botanicalwatercolour #vellum #watercolorpainting #milkweed #wip

Wow! This is coming along so beautifully! Did you draw the grid right on the final paper? Looks like you’re doing it by squares..to keep track of where you are? Just fabulous!

Yes, I agree. I personally lean toward the less-celebrated plants. Hopefully Botanical Art Worldwide 2025 will serve to fill the gap, offering illustrations from around the globe on crop diversity/sustainability.

True. But I think we paint what inspires us so perhaps it is related to their level of ‘attractiveness’. And if one wants to sell, food plants may be less marketable subjects. I find the grasses beautiful and fascinating subjects but less so other food plants.

Thank you. Your hellebore painting is lovely.

Thanks very much!

Ooh..that’s looking wonderful Sarah!

Thank you!

Thanks!

Love this one Emma!

Hello Bluesky community. I’m here to connect with others who love botanical art and illustration - artists and art lovers.
Here’s an example of my work. This nodding thistle flower (‘Carduus nutans’) was painted in colored pencil on paper.