Variations on Nasturtiums by Cynthia Mayville

Cynthia Mayville is showing three of her delicately rendered botanical illustrations created with watercolour, ink and pencil on archival paper, from September 11 to November 6.

Artist’s Statement

Line and colour found in nature is my inspiration for these three images along with my appreciation of the art of the botanical illustration. Historically “Botanical illustration is the art of depicting the form, color and details of plant species, frequently in watercolor paintings” and was meant to be scientific. Not having a need to record Nasturtiums accurately for posterity (as you can find as many images as you like on the internet), I chose to work from real life for the simple pleasure of playing with the mediums of watercolour and drawing.

Three pieces, in various styles, yet all pleasing to the eye and provide the viewer with a glimpse into the calm world of the natural. My desire is to capture a sense of the whimsical, the freshness of summer which can be kept year-round.

Biography

Cynthia Tremills was born in Montreal and grew up in Nova Scotia, where she took every opportunity possible to draw.   She came to Ottawa in 1978, having been chosen as one of the first women pages for the House of Commons. Ms. Tremills was also studying at Carleton University.

Cynthia’s paintings are a combination of impressionist backgrounds and realistic subjects. She enjoys working in all the mediums: oil, acrylic, watercolour and mixed media. “I love to play with colours, mixing them and watching what evolves through a mixture of natural talent, artistic experience and exploration. Each result is unique and exciting.”

Cynthia graduated from the Ottawa School of Art with her Diploma, Fine Arts in June of 2006. She chose to show large-format, original art prints of her backbone drawings that had then been digitally manipulated.

Cynthia is currently pursuing her artistic career part-time.

She can be reached at: Tremills_art@gmail.com.