Botanic Specimens
When you move to a new country or go travelling everyday features of your life become similar yet strangely different. Landscapes, architecture, postboxes, light, flora & fauna. Like early explorers, botanists or specimen collectors, you look at things with new yet old eyes. Collating the similarities and comparing the differences. Inspired by the graphic and modernist photographic plant studies by Karl Blossfeldt, I started my own collection. Going on walks locally in Titirangi, I sought out new inspiration and ‘gathered specimens’ that intrigued me. Back in my studio, I photographed my finds in colour and then digitally started to transform them into the other-worldly discoveries that I saw. Digitally layering the images with wet-plate textures, grains and manipulating the contrast to recreate the dramatic yet ethereal tones of Victorian wet-plate portraits. The ‘Specimens’, structure, oddities and beautiful curves revealed themselves.
It’s beautiful to have and take the time to really look at the natural beauty surrounding us. Mindful walks gave me renewed insight into appreciating the beauty that I was passing by every day. Not since my twins had been very young had, I strolled so slowly through my neighbourhood. As toddlers, they picked at every leaf, gasped at every bug and wonder they saw. It didn’t make for a quick walk but was an insight into the beauty surrounding us.
Modern life may not present this as the most practical way to get around. Still, I’ll forego practical for wonderful every time.
If you are looking for inspiration for some NZ wall art, please check out my online gallery at sherylburson.com
This prints below are available to buy on my online gallery at
Parrot Tulip -Botanic Specimen 1.
Celebrating the curves and beautiful structure of this amazing flower. A limited-edition of 10, A4 prints on 270g archival quality, 100% cotton art paper with a smooth matte surface.
$120.00 (includes delivery)
Protea Bloom - Botanic Specimen 3.
Protea, part flower part bird. A limited-edition of 10, A4 prints on 270g archival quality, 100% cotton art paper with a smooth matte surface.
$120.00
Price includes delivery.
Pohutukawa Buds - Botanic Specimens 2.
Native to New Zealand these amazing buds burst into life every summer in time to give a burst of red for the holiday season. A limited-edition of only 10 A4 prints on 270g archival quality, 100% cotton art paper with a smooth matte surface.
$120.00
Price includes delivery.
More florals from the gallery
Floral Orb Pink
An original piece of New Zealand wall art by artist and photographer Sheryl Burson. This softly graphic print using archival quality inks in ethereal soft pink tones is of the amazing bloom of an onion.
A3 $100.00
A2 $165.00
Price includes delivery.
Moody Peony 2.
A dramatic and moody study of a soft pink Peony in a vase by New Zealand Artist and photographer Sheryl Burson. Printed using archival quality inks.
A3 $100.00
A2 $165.00
Price includes delivery
