I completed my certificate in botanical illustration from the Denver Botanic Gardens' School of Botanical Art and Illustration in 2006. Their program is one of the best in the world and continues to improve.
For graduation, I had to present a portfolio of five finished plates. All of these are collection of the artist.
Lapidaria margaretae, watercolor, 3 x 3 inches, 2005
Cheiridopsis candidissima, watercolor and graphite, 4 x 10 inches, 2006
Mahonia aquifolium 'Compacta', pen and ink, 5 x 5 inches, 2006
Kalanchoe sp., gouache over graphite, 7 x 7 inches, 2006. During my final critique, an instructor asked if I'd taped the edges, as is usually done with water media to keep the edges sharp. "No, I didn't." Response: "Wow!"
Physalis alkekengi, color pencil, 6 x 6 inches, 2005
Lavandula sp., graphite, 19 x 27 inches framed, 2005. The custom-made steel frame is by the best framing shop in Boulder, Colorado: Mercury Framing.