Lauren Ottaway
Lauren Ottaway
Neighbourhood blossom in vase
Japanese pigment on cold-pressed paper
41.5 x 29.5cm
SOLD
Botanical forms are at the center of my work, and the art of seeing is tightly bound to my
art practice. As a collective, I feel we are too disconnected from nature, from each other and
ourselves. I believe the beginning of the journey back to ourselves is through seeing and
appreciating small aspects of nature. For example, the simple form of a leaf – when truly
seeing it – can take us out of ourselves and remind us of the incredible beauty and life that
surrounds us.
I currently use synthetic Japanese pigments to create botanical art. The meditative process
of creating paint is part of my practice: I must prepare it before I paint (it is not simply
squeezed from a tube) by crushing the pigment by hand, and mixing it with warmed glue
and water. The colours are applied in layers on silk boards and cold-pressed paper.
I rarely mix more than two pigments because these colours have been created to imitate
pigments from the earth and are perfect as they are. This also ensures the representation
of the subject does not appear overworked. Through the layering of pigments I can also
achieve unique textures found in nature. I am fascinated by this medium’s delicate
aesthetic, which lends itself beautifully and humbly to botanical forms.
The aesthetic of my work pivoted after studying in Japan, and negative space now plays a
powerful role in every piece. It is carefully considered because I want the botanical subject
of each painting to have enough space to breathe so the viewer can focus on the simple
beauty that is in front of them. I hope that the viewer slows down to absorb the moment of
“my seeing” captured in my work and this inspires them to notice and “see” what is around them.
During my one-hour walks in lockdown, it has been such a treat watching my suburbs bloom. This shows the transience of nature and that this current horrible situation is just a moment in time.