YEAR

2023

CLIENT

Kimberly Moss

Media

Gouache  |  Adobe Photoshop

DESCRIPTION

This project documents the anatomy and morphology of Sanguinaria canadensis, a spring ephemeral of the Papaveraceae family. Attention was given to diagnostic features including the palmately lobed leaves with reticulate venation, the solitary 8-petaled white flower with numerous stamens and a two-lobed stigma, the loculicidal seed capsule, and the distinctive red-orange rhizome that produces the bloodlike latex for which the species is named.

The illustration was developed through a combination of herbarium study, field observation, and iterative sketching. Beginning with specimen reviews at the Ada Hayden Herbarium, the project expanded to multiple field sites across Iowa, where I documented variations in growth stages, pollinator interactions, and habitat conditions. Rough sketches were refined then transferred to toned multimedia paper. Watercolor and gouache utilized to paint the plant’s portrait, while line diagrams of the ovary, stamens, and seed capsule were completed digitally.

The final deliverable is a 9” x 12” digital botanical plate integrating the illustration, descriptive text, and detailed line work.