Monterey SHP: Botanical Art Exhibit/Reception with Claudia Stevens

Park: Monterey SHP

Reception Location: Cooper-Molera Museum Store, corner of Polk and Alvarado Streets.

Time: 1:00-3:00 p.m.

Cost: Free

Artist Claudia Stevens works in watercolor and gouache with silverpoint. Using a dry brush technique on hot press paper, she works with translucent layering and glazing. Her technique begins by gathering plant specimens directly from the natural environment. "I am fascinated with the architecture and complexity of plant structure and inspired with the beauty of plant life. I hope to raise visibility of our native plants, some growing for thousands of years, many of which are now rare and endangered." In the art of traditional botanical painting, each flower is painted from real life specimens with the purpose of documenting exotics, natives, endangered and medicinal plant species, and increasing public awareness of the importance of respecting and saving our biotic resources.

She is the recipient of a grant from the Creative Work Fund to complete four traveling exhibits. During the past two years, Claudia has worked together with the UCSC Arboretum and author, Kat Anderson, is the ethnobotanist on the team, to provide each painting with text describing cultural information of the plant. Claudia's work is currently on display at the Diaz Adobe Sala, located at the Cooper-Molera Adobe, corner of Polk and Alvarado Streets in Old Town Monterey. During the reception you will have an opportunity to meet the artist, learn about her creative process, and purchase signed works. Ms. Stevens’ work has also appeared in Sunset Magazine, Bantam Books, Academic Press, Harcourt Brace & Co., Rodale Press, University Press.

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