Drawing study for the flower, leaves, and fruit.

More detailed drawing of individual flowers.

Both flower drawings were combined in Photoshop, then printed out and transferred to a scratchboard to produce the final image. Scratchboard allows for very fine, detailed lines.

I drew the fruit separately, transferred to scratchboard, and produced the final image.

The scratchboard drawings were scanned, reversed in Photoshop for a black image on white background, then combined into one image.

I printed the final image onto a transparency and exposed the solarplate. The plate was printed using the intaglio inking process on an etching press.

Now it's time to color the print with watercolor. Testing out colors for the flowers and leaves.

Trying out different color mixes for the flowers, leaves and fruit.

Testing out colors for the leaves to reflect seasonal changes. Several semi-transparent color layers create luminosity.

This is a test print trying out the watercolor.

I tried out a river landscape in the background with watercolor--I like it!

I decided to make a new plate and add the river landscape. I made this scratchboard of the landscape.

I repeated the process of scanning the scratchboard landscape and adding it to my image. I also changed the layout of the fruit.

Final solarplate exposed in my UV lightbox with a transparency printed from my final image in Photoshop.

Proof print using my final plate. Now I need to print a few more doing a cleaner wipe of the background. Then apply the watercolor!

This is the final print with the addition of watercolor.