BOTANICALS
Statement
Plants are fascinating as much for their survival and reproductive mechanisms as for their strange, ephemeral beauty. In these cyanotypes, I collect and use plant specimens from the locations in which I print. While traveling, I also collect vintage French botanicals, pressed in lost portfolios, and bring them to life again as inspiration and material. Living in California, I see the effects of seasonal changes and drought conditions on the sometimes delicate botanical world. Ultimately, the complex relationship plants have with sunlight, rain, and other weather conditions is reflected in the cyanotype process itself, which parallels botanical life in its dependence on both sunlight and water.
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/02-Holsberry_10-2023_Sml.jpg)
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Holsberry_2020_SecretGarden1-4_LumenPrint_8x10_web.jpg)
Secret Garden 1 - 4 / Unique lumen prints, 10 x 8 in. each, 2023
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/04-Holsberry_10-2023_sml.jpg)
Secret Garden / Embroidery and pigment on canvas, 36 x 104 in., 2023
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/06-Holsberry_4-2024_sml.jpg)
Forest Floor / Paint and mixed media on canvas, 12 x 12 in., 2024
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Roses-1-and-2_Sml.jpg)
Roses 1 and 2 / Paint and encaustic on panel, 6.5 in dia., 2024
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ann_holsberry_palms_and_radiolaoians.jpg)
Palms and Radiolarians Diptych / Ink and embroidery on paper, 26 x 40 in., 2024
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Holsberry_2015_LostBouquet5and6_CyanotypeEmbroideryPaper_17x12each_web_small.jpg)
Lost Bouquet 5 and 6 / Cyanotype and embroidery on paper on panel, 12 x 12 in. each, 2023
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Holsberry_2020_SecretGarden5-6_LumenPrint_8x10_web.jpg)
Secret Garden 5 & 6 / Unique lumen prints, 10 x 8 in. each, 2023
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/04detail-Holsberry_10-2023_sml.jpg)
Secret Garden Detail / Embroidery and pigment on canvas, 36 x 104 in, 2023
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Holsberry_2015_LostBouquet3and4_CyanotypeCrochetPaper_15x11each_web_small.jpg)
Lost Bouquet 3 and 4 / Cyanotype and crochet on paper on panel, 10.5 x 10.5 in. each, 2023
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Holsberry_2015_SilkBotanical1_CyanotypeOnSilk_64x30_web_small.jpg)
Silk Botanical 1 / Cyanotype and embroidery on silk, 64 x 30 in., 2023
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Holsberry_2021_NightBloom_CyanotypeInkPanel_11x28_web.jpg)
Night Bloom, diptych / Cyanotype and ink on panel, 11 x 28 in., 2021
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/03detail-B-Holsberry_10-2023_sml.jpg)
Work in the studio
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/01-Holsberry_4-2024_sml.jpg)
Chanterelles / Paint on paper on canvas, 11 x 11 in., 2024
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Holsberry_2020_TodosSantos_CyanotypeInkEmbroideryPaper_37.5x45_web2.jpg)
Todos Santos / Cyanotype, ink, and embroidery with vintage botanical book pages and parchment, 37.5 x 45 in., 2021
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Holsberry_2017_PoetsGarden_CyanotypePaperVintageSilkScroll_63x18.5_web_small.jpg)
Poets Garden / Cyanotype on paper on vintage silk scroll, 63 x 18.5 in., 2017
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Holsberry_2017_LostBouquet15_CyanotypeEmbroideryPaper_16x16_web_small.jpg)
Lost Bouquet 15 / Cyanotype and embroidery on paper, 16 x 16 in., 2019
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Holsberry_2017_SecretLives_CyanotypePaintOnPaper_11x15_web_small.jpg)
Secret Lives / Cyanotype and paint on paper, 11 x 15 in., 2017
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Holsberry_2017_VinesAndShadowsDiptych_CyanotypeWaxSilkPanel_14x11each_web_small.jpg)
Vine Shadows 1 and 2 / Cyanotype and encaustic on silk on panel, 14 x 11 in. each, 2017
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Holsberry_2017_LostBouquet14_CyanotypeEmbroideryPaper_16.25x19.25_web_small.jpg)
Lost Bouquet 14 / Cyanotype and embroidery on paper, 16.25 x 19.25 in., 2017
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Holsberry_2017_Emergence_CyanotypeEmbroideryPaper_17.5x18_web_small.jpg)
Emergence / Cyanotype and embroidery on paper, 17.5 x 18 in., 2017
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Holsberry_2017_AfterglowTryptich_CyanotypePaintEmbroideryOnPaper_15x11.25each_web_small.jpg)
Afterglow / Cyanotype, paint, and embroidery on paper, 15 x 11.25 in. each, 2017
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Holsberry_2015_Unwound_CyanotypePaperFabric_23.375x11.75_web1024.jpg)
Unwound / Cyanotype on paper on fabric, 23.375 x 11.75 in., 2019
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Holsberry_2015_LostBouquetBlueMoonTriptych_CyanotypePaintEmbroideryPaper_17x12_web_small.jpg)
Lost Bouquet Blue Moon / Cyanotype, paint, and embroidery on paper, 17 x 12 in. each, 2015
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Holsberry_2015_LostBouquet7_CyanotypeEmbroideryPaper_16x11_web_small.jpg)
Lost Bouquet 7 / Cyanotype and embroidery on paper, 16 x 11 in., 2015
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/16-Holsberry_4-2024_sml.jpg)
Floating World 3 / Cyanotype, embroidery, ink on paper, 20 x 12 in, 2024
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Holsberry_2015_LostBouquet1_CyanotypeEmbroideryPaper_14x11_web_small.jpg)
Lost Bouquet 1 / Cyanotype and embroidery on paper, 14 x 11 in., 2015
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Holsberry_2015_HistoryOfFlowers_CyanotypeInkEmbroideryVintageBotanicalBookPagesPaper_37x44_web_small.jpg)
History Of Flowers / Cyanotype, ink, and embroidery with vintage botanical book pages on paper, 37 x 44 in., 2015
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Holsberry_2015_HangingGarden_InkEmbroideryMulberryPaper_63x18_web1024.jpg)
Hanging Garden / Ink and embroidery on mulberry paper, 63 x 18 in., 2018
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Holsberry_2013_FloatingWorld_InkEncausticMulberry_33x26in_web1024.jpg)