STORY BEHIND THE ART OF LIZ SHIPPAM

22nd Annual International

American Society of Botanical Artists at Marin Art & Garden Center

Patriot Blueberries

Vaccinium corymbosum 'Patriot'

Some botanical artists choose something new and seasonal for every painting but this is the third time I have exhibited blueberries with the ASBA, so I am definitely not one of those artists. There are so many plants I’d like to paint but blueberries hold a special fascination for me and I always want to paint them just once more!

This painting came about after a day spent at Royal Horticultural Society garden Wisley, which has a wonderful fruit collection. The blueberries there are in cages to protect them and I spotted these but they were right in the middle of the cage so I had to let myself in and spend the morning sitting there, hoping I wouldn’t get told off (I didn’t, luckily!). I chose them because the fruit was at different stages of ripening, from soft silvery green to fully dark blue black and with the leaves behind them they looked very striking. I also liked the large sepals on this cultivar, especially as on the unripe green berries these were a beautiful pink.

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Read more about this artist’s work: 21st Annual