MF Cardamone

" Throughout time man has always contemplated and illustrated plants to help sustain and gain a deeper understanding of himself and the natural world. "

Shortly after completing the Barnes Foundation Arboretum School Program in 2005 and during the planning of my own native plant garden i became inspired to start this project. The mission of this work is to record and document what's become of the plants in our modern culture by contrasting their past and present life histories . I wanted to do this in a way that's entertaining , educational, unusual and unexpected.
I like to think of my work as contemporary natural history specimens that are influenced by the traditions of specimen mounting and botanical illustration . I combine images with words and create visual narratives that reveal the science, history, and beauty of my subjects. I'm interested in many aspects of the parts of a plant; from the relationship that people have with them to the their ecology,mythology, and medicinal uses.
Original pieces are produced in small editions on 100% watercolor paper. I uses a variety of media including: collage, digital imaging, gouache, acrylics, and pen and ink.Some of my inspiration are: Medieval Herbals and manuscripts, Traditional Chinese Medicine( i study it), Pop Art and Surrealism.

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