STORY BEHIND THE ART OF LIZ SHIPPAM 

18th Annual International

American Society of Botanical Artists at The Horticultural Society of New York

Opal Plums

Prunus domestica ‘Opal’

I first noticed Opal plums at a ‘pick your own’ orchard. The fruit was covering the branches and also lying beneath the trees like a carpet of the most incredible colours. Each plum was covered in a powdery bloom which softened the vibrant hues beneath, more beautiful than any precious gemstone. I knew I wanted to paint them and found a tree in a wonderful garden close to where I live in the south of England, grown as a fan against the wall in a quiet spot - perfect. The composition I chose - a cropped, close up section of the branch - was due in part to the fan shape of the tree but also my wish to show the abundance and beauty of the fruit. The plums were a joy to work on, the wonderful translucent quality of watercolour paint perfect for capturing the colours and bloom.

I worked with a fairly limited palette, building up layers of colour and keeping a fairly dry brush. For the bloom I mixed a little Payne’s Grey with my French Ultramarine as I like the flatter finish it gives. The final stage was using much thicker paint for adding the details and little patches where the bloom had rubbed off, revealing the rich colours below.

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