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/2020/03/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/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_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_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_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_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/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/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_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)