Botanical Interests: Tell us a little about yourself.

Donna Clement: I was born in Staten Island, but was raised in New Jersey. I’m proud to be a Jersey Girl, however I prefer the west; it is more laid back and casual as well as the people being more open-minded. I earned my BFA at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. My art has been shown in galleries and shows across the country since the ‘70s. I worked 18 years as a set designer/scenic artist. I also had a successful small business as a muralist. Unfortunately, my health got in the way of climbing ladders, so I was forced to adapt. I accomplished this by recently finishing my MA in visual arts with a specialization in art education from the University of Northern Colorado, with a thesis titled: “Teaching Adult Students Who Are Apprehensive About Making Art.” I now continue to do freelance illustration work and teach art to adults in Longmont  & Loveland.

In the studio, works in progress

BI: What are some of your current artistic and creative endeavors?

DC: My personal art at this time is silk painting. I paint on stretched white silk with silk dyes. The finished paintings are steamed to set the colors and then stitched onto driftwood with hemp cord. I like people to walk around my paintings so that the air currents make the silk move. I was tired of flat oil paintings, my silk paintings do not hang flat, they form to the shape of the twisted driftwood. I also love doing nature photography, I’ve always used my own photos for subject matter in my artwork – I’m now taking it to the next level. Another interest I have is drumming; I am a member of the 15-piece Djembe Orchestra or DJO. I play djembe and djun djuns. Drumming is healing and meditative music while creating art – so, what a great combination for me!

Painting on silk

BI: How did you become interested in botanical illustration?

DC: I became interested in botanical illustration after Curtis approached me in 1994 at the very start of Botanical Interests. I took six months off from my set design job because of burnout; at this point I pursued becoming a master gardener. Soon after, Curtis and I met and we hit it off quickly (we are both Trekkies!) We discussed the idea for his business using artwork on seed packages, and I thought it was a fabulous idea for selling seeds and for employing artists. I discovered that I really enjoyed drawing and painting plants; I found it a perfect counterpoint to painting 20 X 40 ft backdrops. I am amazed at the synchronicity that had to happen for me to enjoy this employment opportunity. If I wasn’t burned-out from theater work, I might never have had this opportunity! I am very lucky to have been with Botanical Interests since the beginning.

BI: What is your favorite illustration you have done for Botanical Interests?

DC: My favorite illustrations for Botanical interests have been the gourds. I did quit a few varieties.

There is that saying, be careful what you get good at, because then you’ll have to keep doing it… This happened to me; I was the only artist in the beginning that could see the nuances of the color green in each plant, especially lettuces. I wanted to paint the colorful flowers, but since I was good at greens I received all the lettuces to paint. I was so tired of painting green. I was ecstatic when I was given a red lettuce or even speckled lettuce just so I didn’t have to paint green one more time!

Click here to purchase this limited edition, signed print of Cinderella Pumpkin online.