Norfolk artist has painting displayed at Canadian Museum of Nature
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Booth's Harbour artist Lynette Carrington-Smith will never forget the first time she laid eyes on a large yellow lady's slipper orchid.
A native of England, Carrington-Smith was visiting her sister in Tobermory back in 2009 when she came across the eye-catching flower.
“My breath was taken away,” Carrington-Smith recalls.
After moving to Norfolk in 2012, Carrington-Smith became an executive member of the Botanical Artists of Canada. When word began to spread that the prestigious Art of the Plant exhibition would be held in Ottawa at the Canadian Museum of Nature, Carrington-Smith knew exactly what subject she would focus on for a submission.
Over the last two years, Carrington-Smith created three paintings, one of which was selected as part of this month's show.
The Art of the Plant project, which was created by the American Society of Botanical Artists, spans the globe with other countries such as Australia, Brazil, Ireland and Thailand also showcasing their native and indigenous plant life.
“To think that one of my paintings was selected amongst the top botanical artists in Canada was quite humbling,” Carrington-Smith said in a recent interview.
“I nearly fell off my seat,” she said. “I was so pleased because I have been working towards it for two years. I was just over the moon really.”
Carrington-Smith's contribution not only includes the orchid – known as Cypripedium Parviflorum in Latin – she added some personalized touches. As she does normally, Carrington-Smith included some of the wildlife associated with the plant in the form of a wood frog and butterfly.
“Really and truthfully you don't really notice (them) until you look into the painting,” she said. “Maybe nobody noticed or they could let that one go by because (the show is) jurored, it just depends on the people on the jury as to what they're into and what their criteria is.”
Carrington-Smith will visit the nation's capital for the exhibit's official opening. The entire collection will be available online at artoftheplant.com.
While most members of the Botanical Artists of Canada submitted work for the show, not all will have their work displayed. A total of 44 pieces will make up the Canadian portion of the exhibit.
“I feel very honoured,” Carrington-Smith said. “Only a few of us were selected.”
jrobinson@postmedia.com