Botanicals, pollinators give artist a buzz

EVER since she was a child, Leanne Martin has had a love for drawing and a fascination for nature – in particular, Australian flora.

It was only natural when the time came for the Ballarat artist to finally hold her first solo exhibition, that it would combine both her passions.

Martin, who specialises in botanical illustrations and their pollinators, is showcasing Botanical Inspirations at Art Space Ballarat until mid-April.

It’s been a long time in the making. Martin, who trained at the Melbourne Botanic Gardens and is a member of the Botanical Arts Society of Australia, said the exhibition comprised 90 per cent watercolour paintings alongside a mix of pastel, graphite and ink drawings.

“I’ve always had a fascination for Australian flora, things like waratahs, Sturt desert peas, banksias – just the beautiful, unique floras we have in Australia,” she said.

“I’ve always had a love for drawing. But it wasn’t until about 2009 I started going to the Botanical Gardens in Melbourne to expand on it.

“I needed to do something other than work. I’d pretty much be there at seven o’clock in the morning and I’d be there at nine o’clock at night.

“I needed to do something for me, so it was about developing a passion outside of work.”

No pun intended, Martin, whose works include a popular collection of bee drawings, said her first exhibition had given her “a real buzz.”

“(Last week) I was opening up the doors after setting everything up, but to see it all framed and set up in an exhibition setting, it was pretty exciting,” she said.

“It was a pretty monumental moment as it was 14 months in the making.

“It was a nice moment just to sit and reflect. Even now, standing in the room and seeing what I’ve done is pretty special to me.”

Martin has been thrilled with the response to her exhibition.

“It’s been nice to see people come in with the little flyer I produced over the first few days, having picked it (the flyer) up somewhere in town,” she said.

“There has been a real mix of people. The first girl through the door was from Darwin and there has been a couple from New Zealand, a few couples from South Australia, some people from Tasmania, as well as locals.”

Martin, who has previously exhibited her work as part of shared presentations, is keen to see where her first solo exhibition leads.

“I’m always looking for work and do commissioned work,” she said.

“Hopefully, there’s some more work out there for me and more exhibitions.”

Botanical Inspirations is open every day of the week from 10am to 3pm until 13 April. Art Space Ballarat is located at 14 Lydiard Street North.