Welcome to Quillscapes...
When I was young, I would walk through the northern Vermont woods on the way to the school bus stop, and observe everything around me. From the little babbling brook I had to jump across, to the towering pines I walked under, the walk was a form of therapy. Each little pine sprig, every broad fern branch has a story. And I made them up. Tiny stories, yes, but it helped me forget about what I was doing, and focus on them even for a moment.
How was their day going so far? What happened that morning before I walked by? What would happen to them while I was in school?
Each little pine sprig, every broad fern branch has a story.
My mind took quick photographs, and kept them in my "plant file" until I needed them later, years later, in a sketch. If I close eyes even now, I can be right back on that sweet path down the Sugarbush mountain.
This site is where I share my interpretations of what I see in Nature. I don't care to draw houses, people or machinery. (If you saw the last homebuilt airplane I drew, then you would understand. yikes.) But I adore drawing little glimpses of plant life.
In fact, weeds have the best stories of all.
Plant Whisperer? Sometimes yes, but only when they feel like socializing.
I specialize in sketches using pen and ink, and from the actual plant or from a photograph of it. The more surroundings I see either in person or on the photo, the better sense I receive of what is going on with them.
I like to capture the 'back story' of a garden, interpret gardens into art pieces, or even provide a glimpse of a favorite flower. If you are interested in these sketches, completed or yet to be done, I would be honored to connect with you.
Thanks for visiting!
Erica L. Berdan
Naturalist, Pen& Ink Artist, Science Buff