STORY BEHIND THE ART OF LUCY MARTIN

Botanical Art Worldwide: America's Flora

Blue Oak Branch with Lichens

Quercus douglasii ,Ramalina menziesii, Flavopunctelia flaventior, Telochistes flavicans, Evernia prunastri, Xanthoria sp., Flavoparmelia caperata, Telochistes chrysophthalmus, Chrysothrix xanthina

I have long focused in my work on the marvels of the kingdom of fungi. Recently I have become more and more drawn to lichens. When you are crawling about on your hands and knees on the forest floor, you come across all sorts of interesting things!

A lichen is a composite organism, made up of a fungus and a partner, which is either a green alga or cyanobacteria. The fungus provides the structure, and protection in various ways, while the partner provides nourishment via photosynthesis. So clearly lichens are not plants—but they, along with fungi, are generously welcomed under the umbrella of botanical art.

One of the goals of Botanical Art Worldwide is to link people to plants via botanical art. I believe my painting 'Blue Oak Branch with Lichens' can point to two ways of moving us toward this goal.

It turns out that lichens have a vital role in the health of our environment.

Lichens grow almost everywhere, and they are among the most sensitive organisms to changes in their environment such as air pollution. In many places they are used to monitor nitrogen-based pollutants. This is important because nitrogen pollution causes reduced water quality, toxic effects on freshwater organisms, disruption in plant communities and increased soil emissions of greenhouse gases. Observing lichens is one of the ways scientists can monitor these effects. Some lichens are sensitive to pollution, and their presence indicates clean air; others love nitrogen and their presence may indicate higher levels of pollution.

My painting represents for me an even more profound way in which people need to be connected to plants and to the natural world.

I believe that the human race will not save the world from environmental destruction only for practical reasons. We will save nature by paying attention to it —by loving it. I believe that it is love for the natural world that will make us willing to make the changes necessary. This love arises and blossoms when we really see the natural world: when we take time to find the beauty that is all around us.

In my painting 'Blue Oak Branch with Lichens' the twisting oak branch seems to contain a whole world. As you look closer, you see more and more—the forms and colors of the lichens are marvelous. You can’t help but be drawn into this little world, and rejoice in the amazing creativity of nature.

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Read more about this artist’s work: Out of the Woods