Blog: Illustrating Science, and what happened along the way
-Krista AnandakuttanOf fish and finches
My studio this week: In which fish, the moon, and a finch or three appear (as I scrape, sand and paint) all-at-the-same-time. This focus and frenzy is the result of having been away from my work, with images and ideas percolating. Out with them! The photo happened...
Ink Day
Painting in ink has been on my mind, and I knew my next piece would begin as a puddly playground. Painting an area with clean water, placing a brush loaded with undiluted black and letting it bleed in beautifully, no forms. Yet. And then pulling shapes out, finding...
Little studies: rose hips
Rose hips in January Sketchbook; graphite, watercolor I couldn't decide which one to draw--
Magnified in blue and red
Vessel Elements Mineral pigments, India ink, and beeswax on dry plaster and burlap 4ft x 2ft Recent work: a microscopic view painted large on a fresco panel. Many may recognize that this painting is based on microscope slides. The cross-section of a dicot stem,...
Stem, magnified
Stem, Magnified India ink on plaster and burlap 20" x 18" A cross-section slice of stem viewed under a microscope reveals the cellular 'vessel elements.' Like a bundle of straws... forming a botanical mandala. See this in my Saatchi Online portfolio
More (precious little) Jungle
Continuing to explore jungles in my studio. (precious little) Jungle No.2 -detail Inspired by tangled wilderness, exploring its strength and fragility. Mixed media fresco: acrylic on plaster and burlap Currently on exhibit at Petaluma Arts Center, through Jan 4, 2014:...
death valley, springtime
Caterpillar of White-lined Sphinx Moth, Springtime in Death Valley CA In spring, when the tenacious wildflowers briefly sprout and bloom... huge caterpillars devour them. This scene has been in my head since I saw it myself, a joy to paint. It currently hangs in the...
(precious little) Jungle
Exploring the strength and fragility of jungles-- (precious little) Jungle Mineral pigments on plaster and burlap, 5 x 5" see the full piece here on my Saatchi Online page I am inspired by little pockets of tangled jungle that are reserved for snakes to inhabit, in...
Little studies: in the sand
Coralline algae (Calliarthron tuberculosum) graphite, watercolor, colored pencil Sonoma Coast, CA These fragile, lavender-mauve colored coralline algae were strewn about the beach, some still attached to red Sea Tongue algae. As beautiful as the coast is (sky, waves,...
The zinnias made me do it
Skipper moth, Common checkered skipper, California hairstreak butterfly, Cabbage white; Zinnias, Lavendar Watercolor, colored pencil and graphite The pollinators are right, I have been walking past these intense colors for too long. My brightest colored pencils and...
Little studies
What the sunflower dropped-- August Sketchbook; graphite, watercolor, colored pencil These little study sketches are my favorite way to learn about something: find it, marvel, draw, marvel... repeat: The pomegranate blossoms fell-- August Sketchbook; graphite,...
A closer look
Lichen, magnified (detail) Watercolor on paper This painting has just been featured by Saatchi Online Gallery, in a curated collection called "Last Days of Summer" It's one of those discovery paintings, fun from start to finish. I picked up a twig from underfoot and...