Durio zibethinus L.
30 x 42 cm
Oil on paper
2022
The Sun King
IDR -
| This painting was created from observations made in situ. Botanical art is quite challenging because rigor mortis can change the appearance of the subject in a matter of minutes, so direct observation greatly influences the feel of the artwork. The tree of the Durio zibethinus var. species that I painted is located in a place I often visit for vacation. However, in the many years I’ve been visiting, only once did the tree bear fruit intact without being eaten by wild animals, so the reference could be fairly comprehensive. I wanted to showcase the macro texture aesthetics often found in contemporary botanical art. It was very enjoyable to immerse myself in the process of defining each fine fiber with oil paint on paper. However, executing it in A3 size turned out to be quite challenging because the viscosity of the oil paint made the lines appear thicker than watercolour. I returned to the site several weeks after taking the initial reference because I wanted to take photos of the cross-section of the ripe fruit and seeds. It turns out the fruit had already been eaten by local wildlife. |
Marsha Damita Siagian
Starting from her desire to develop textile designs, Marsha joined IDSBA in 2018.
Being part of this community reintroduced her to the art of painting, which she had pursued during high school. Watercolour, graphite, coloured pencils, gouache, and oil paint became the starting point for her exploration of visual language.
Although in her career journey Marsha decided to take a break from the fashion world, she continued her journey in botanical art. Indigenous plants, edible plants, and carnivorous plants became her favorite subjects. She always strives to make direct observations to get the right ‘model pose’ for painting references.
In addition to raising her child and collecting air miles, Marsha is also active in coral reef preservation, basic education advocacy, and politics.
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