Story behind the art of Akiko Enokido
26th Annual International
American Society of Botanical Artists and Marin Art and Garden Center
Camellia japonica 'Hana-no-sato'
Camellia japonica 'Hana-no-sato'
I have painted camellias every year since presenting a series of classic Japanese camellias at the 2016 Royal Horticultural Society Botanical Art Show in London, for which I received a Gold Medal. It was an encounter with vellum that led me to paint camellias. Camellias are evergreen even in winter, and their green leaf surfaces are waxy, resistant to drying, and shiny, reflecting light. Vellum is ideal to depict the texture and luster of camellia leaves, because its smooth surface allows the paint to develop on the surface and express colors with depth.
It is said that there are more than 2,000 camellia varieties registered in Japan, most of which spread from natural hybrids or were grafted from accidental deformities. This variety, Camellia japonica 'Hana-no-sato' was registered in 1975, and literature states that it spread from a 200-year-old tree in Shimane Prefecture. It is characterized by red spots on the wavy petals, and there are also variegated flowers like this one.
I am lucky enough to have a friend who occasionally donates flowers to me from his property, but this time I came across this flower at the botanical gardens in Osaka. Since I could not observe it in the studio, I wanted to create a lively look by referring to a photo taken in natural light. This was the first time I painted on Kelmscott vellum. To express the mottled white on the red petals, I added white paint (Chinese white) instead of diluting the red gradation from red to white. White should be applied in small quantities, as too much white will cause the paint to lose its transparency.
Some of the classic camellias have gradually decreased their reproduction and disappeared from nurseries and gardens. We must give thanks for the horticultural varieties that satisfy human interest and the quest for beautiful flowers. It is important that we botanical artists properly appreciate, record, and faithfully depict their appearance.
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Read more about this artist’s work: 25th Annual