by Christiane Fashek
coloured pencil and watercolour
h: 67 w: 52 d: 1 (cms).
Candelariella vitellina, Physcia aipolia, Ramalina americana, Ramalina complanate, Ramalina sinensis, Teloschistes chrysophthalmus, Teloschistes exilis, Quercus fusiformis This cluster of intertwined lichens spirals around a live oak twig enlarged 16 times. It features several common lichens of Texas Hill Country, notably the orange apothecia of the golden-eye lichen, bottom left, and the slender orange bush lichen, near the top of the cluster. Spiraling around the midground are three Ramalina species differentiated by fruiting bodies, textures, and thallus breaks. I found this specimen on the ground after a storm, upside-down from its natural growth pattern, like a tiny bouquet. The enlargement allowed me to showcase all the fantastic intricacies and peculiar characteristics of these curious organisms. It is rendered in its dry, healthy state to showcase the glaucous palette against the radiant oranges.
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by Christiane Fashek
coloured pencil and watercolour
h: 54 w: 60 d: 1 (cms).
Ramalina celastri, Physcia aipolia, Punctelia rudecta, Teloschistes exilis, Xanthomendoza weberi, Quercus fusiformis The languid straps of this adult Ramalina celastri specimen were painted in a nearly dry state. Several broken straps indicate it had weathered some storms and dry spells. The fully grown fruiting bodies, appearing as white discs, contort with the curvature of the straps, evoking the suckers on octopus’ arms. Connected at a central point by holdfasts to a live oak twig, the fall of the straps also reminds me of Louise Bourgeois’ Maman arachnid sculpture. The juvenile straps at the tip of the twig become the spider’s fangs. I perched the specimen on an upside-down jam jar to draw it at actual size, and so the title came to be. The enlargement brings the bright, tiny tangles of Teloschistes and the bare-bottom sunburst lichen wrapped around the twig into focus.
Please Note: If you are overseas and interested in a purchase there will be additional costs for postage and packaging added to this price. Feel free to enquire about this using the button below. If no price is shown, the work is not for sale.