Story behind the art of Melissa Toberer

29th Annual International

American Society of Botanical Artists and the Society of Illustrators

Siberian Crabapple

Malus baccata

Lauritzen Gardens is close to my home in Omaha, Nebraska. My walks there are a time for contemplation and for finding subjects to draw. Siberian crabapple trees line the entrance, and I found this branch on the ground beneath them during a time of personal loss. I noticed a small heart-shaped leaf clinging to the base of the stem. To me, the branch was a composition, and I brought it back to the studio.

The branch is oriented vertically with a slight curve, casting a soft shadow across the white background. Most leaves show their pale undersides; a few turn to reveal the darker front surface, highlighting the decay and curl of each individual leaf. I worked in graphite throughout, using carbon pencil for the deepest darks and harder graphite pencils layered gradually for the smooth, quiet tones of the undersides. The shadow required the lightest grades of graphite, allowing its soft edges to be gradually built up while preserving the subtle fade into the white background.

Every subject presents its own small challenges. This one asked for patience, both in the drawing and in the processing of grief.

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