This botanical illustration shows the ivy (Hedera helix) in three stages: bud, flower and fruit, accompanied by its specialised pollinator - the ivy bee (Colletes hederae).
The plant is shown in the distinctive Herbarium Lux style, in which botanical precision and artistic tranquillity reinforce each other. The soft yellow inflorescences and dark green leaves come to life against a deep, matte background.
Colletes hederae is faithfully rendered with its reddish fur, black striped abdomen and narrow build. The species flies exclusively in late summer, when the ivy flowers, and is an essential part of the pollination cycle in autumn.
The work combines phenological coherence and aesthetic stillness - an ode to the interplay of late-flowering plants and their specialised pollinators.
Created by Bert Quaedvlieg with support from AI.
And then you have a sizeable photo archive after many decades of photographing, but yes what do you do with it? I edit the images in photoshop into digital paintings. I have a lot of fun doing that and exhibit them here, so maybe I can do.. Read more…