Nasturtium leaves are one of my favorites to use in my artwork. They are so easy to grow and so versatile- did you know that both the flowers and leaves are edible? I chuckle because I used to think of them as kind of common and ordinary. They would pop up here and there and somehow that made them seem less special. But once I started using them in my art- wow, these beautiful leaves are anything but ordinary or plain. It's a reminder to always look at things with new eyes, even the things that seem common or ones we take for granted. I love that my art work has me looking so intensely at every leaf- the delicate textures and intricate veining, their incredible growth and life cycle - they are each truly such a miracle and deserve to be celebrated.
We often stop to admire flowers, but the next time you are on a walk or in a garden, make a point to take a close look at the beauty of different leaves. Nature is an amazing artist and each leaf is as unique as a fingerprint or snowflake.
Here I press different nasturtium leaves into clay and paint them with ceramic stains. I love to watch the colors flow into each leaf- it's almost like they are springing back to life.
After painting the ceramic, I glaze the ceramic dish and fire the piece in my electric kiln. The high temperatures melt the glaze into a thin layer of glass. Real gold adds a sparkle to each leaf and to the edge of the dish. #vuvuceramics