| UNFOLDING | A Watercolor Fern Collection

UNFOLDING

“Only spread a fern-frond over a man's head and worldly cares are cast out, and freedom and beauty and peace come in.”
~John Muir

In literature, ferns symbolize eternal youth. In some indigenous tribes, ferns represent new life and new beginnings, which is directly related to the fern’s debut in the spring where all things are fresh and new. In Japanese culture, the fern symbolizes family and the hope for future generations. According to Victorians, the fern symbolizes humility and sincerity. So many meanings the fern beholds, but to me it is their unfurling or “unfolding” that is most interesting. It takes great energy for these plants to root and grow, eventually becoming lush green feathery plants.

They first appeared 360 million years ago according to fossil records. These ancient plants reproduce via spores without seeds and flowers. They are classified as vascular plants starting out as coiled fiddle heads that unfurl their complex fronds in early spring.

This series of watercolor paintings shows how captivated I am by their organic shapes, woodsy scents and varying shades of greens and yellows. I wanted to capture their energy and light through loose brushwork with the addition of graphite and neocolor II water-soluble wax pastel.

This series is created on a variety of 100% cotton, high-quality archival watercolor surfaces. The sizes range from 7”x10” to 9”x12” and ship unframed.