Pitcher Plant Blossoms
2009, Oil on Masonite
From a conversation I had at one of my previous art openings, I was reintroduced to these extraordinary plants. At that moment, I knew that I wanted to paint this series. As with all the plants I use as my subjects, I became interested not only in the plants themselves, but also the habitat where they grow: swamps, bog lands, and lowland forests. These areas are often overlooked for their ecological value and the impact of their loss.
For example, in Virginia, one of our greatest treasures, the Great Dismal Swamp, has been systematically drained, channeled, cut and burned significantly since the founding of this country. The Nature Conservancy of Virginia is just one of the organizations involved in the preservation and restoration processes of the Great Dismal Swamp.
This series was painted in April 2009 while attending an artist's residency at the Vermont Studio Center in Johnson, VT.