Sheldrake Environmental Center is pleased to present “Drawn by Nature” an exhibit of cyanotype artwork by Diane Elliott

Artist Diane Elliott had studied botanical art and illustration for many years at the New York Botanical Garden and elsewhere, before accidentally discovering the 19th century art of the cyanotype. 

The cyanotype is a process whereby an object leaves its impression on light-sensitive paper when exposed to the sun’s rays. The cyanotype, or sun-print, is one of the earliest forms of photography (1842), but in many ways it is more closely related to the art of drawing. It involves no camera, no lens, no computer or printer, and each image is a unique original. In the 19th century, botanical artists used the cyanotype to render accurate “drawings” of scientific specimens such as flowers. Nature itself, instead of the artist’s hand, seemed to trace the drawing.  The cyanotype is, quite literally, “Drawn by Nature”.

Diane is fascinated by the entire cyanotype process, because it lures the artist (and hopefully the viewer) into startling and unexpected ways of perceiving common natural objects.  Her Prussian-blue images of subjects such as ferns, petals, feathers, and even seaweed, have been described by critics as having a Zen-like quality.

Diane's works have been in several juried and non-juried shows, and are in private collections both here and abroad.  She is the recipient of numerous awards, most recently the First Prize at the by-invitation-only all-Westchester Beaux Arts Finale in Katonah, NY (July, 2010). Diane Elliott is a member of the American Society of Botanical Artists and the Nature Printing Society.  

The exhibition and sale of Diane’s work at Sheldrake Environmental Center, 685 Weaver Street in Larchmont, is free and open to the public Monday through Friday, February 17 to April 13, 2011 (except holidays), 9:30 am to 5:00 pm.