Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Grace O’brien. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Grace, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

My biggest and most meaningful project I’ve been working on is my tree series. This endeavor has enabled me to combine my passion for painting with my curiosity for plant taxonomy. In my tree series, I create scientifically accurate botanical studies depicting the features, including leaves, fruits, flowers, seeds, and overall structure, of a tree that I’m fond of. I’ve only just begun this project, and my hope is to continue connecting biology and art through this work for the rest of my career. So far, I’ve painted Sequoiadendron giganteum, the giant sequoia; Quercus rubra, the red oak; and Cornus florida, the flowering dogwood.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a self-taught watercolorist and botanist based in Philadelphia. Currently I am a full time PhD student studying plant biology at the University of Pennsylvania. Outside of my research, I like to spend time identifying trees and plants, exploring the woods, and painting. I began painting with watercolors when I was 16 and over time, slowly developed my focus on botanicals and naturescapes.

I would place my artistic style right at the intersection of biology and watercolor realism, just where I like it. As a passionate plant biologist and artist, I try capture both the beauty and scientific accuracy of my natural subjects. I am most interested in creating classical botanical studies that illustrate the various anatomical features of a specimen, much like the depictions you see in a field guide. I also enjoy painting nature scenes that are of personal significance to me.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

When I start a painting, I am intimidated by the idea of how much time and energy it will take to complete a piece, and often I am overwhelmed and don’t know where to start. But once I begin and I see my progress, I quickly become obsessed with my subject and completely lose all track of time; I am fully immersed in my painting and I love it. For me, that is the most rewarding aspect of being an artist. Seeing my work come to life in a way better than I had imagined.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

As a painter, I think societies can best support creatives by providing opportunities to showcase their work, such as art shows, festivals, and open galleries. Small-business artists need to get their name out there and become popular amongst the public to make a living, so as a community member, showing up to such events to view and collect artwork means the world to us creators.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://graceobrienart.com
• Instagram: @graceobrienart
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/graceobrien4/

Image Credits

N/A; all my images