Sne Khumalo
Ink and watercolour on paper · Contemporary Natural History Illustration
I chose the Flora Collection artwork by Shannon Quarmby because the surrealistic element behind the frog-butterfly hybrid reminded me of my favourite music artist, Melanie Martinez’s 'Toady Trinket', which has a frog-like head and a bird-like body. The symbolism behind the artwork depicts a balance between what is deemed as pretty and what is deemed as ugly, highlighting the beauty standards held by our current society. The most difficult part was recreating the details and blending the watercolour, especially on the frog. I’m proud of my detailed outlines, but next time I’d improve my colour blending.