"Amaryllis" by Emma Steinkraus

Emma Steinkraus (2019 BMC resident) is a visual artist who has donated Amaryllis. Pastel on paper, 6x9.5in, 2021. Below is a description of this work: 

The amaryllis in this work on paper lives in my studio. I made two studies of it from life last winter while it was in bloom. I liked the way the two flowers looked like a mirror image from this angle; it's like a botanical Janus. This piece was one of the first I made in pastel, which is now a medium I use often. It was exciting to play around with their dense saturation and velvety texture. This drawing was also informed by a series I've been working on about historical women artist-naturalists (a project I worked on at BMC!). You can see that series on my website and learn more about the research behind it here. 

Emma Steinkraus makes research-based paintings and installations that explore ecology, gender, and the history of science. She lives and teaches in rural Virginia.
 

Image Description: photo of a pastel drawing of an amaryllis. There are two red flowers in profile against a bright yellow background. 

• Name : Emma Steinkraus