michael steele 9/23/21 michael steele 9/23/21

Christmas cherries

Here’s the illustration I made for my Christmas cherries card. In New Zealand, December marks the start of cherry season. Such a delicious fruit with a stunning deep rich red colour.

michael steele 8/31/21 michael steele 8/31/21

My garden in late winter

Photography of my garden in late winter.

michael steele 7/19/21 michael steele 7/19/21

Love-in-the-mist

Love-in-the-mist illustration by Lower Hutt based artist Michael Steele

michael steele 6/22/21 michael steele 6/22/21

William Curtis Botanical Magazine Antique Prints 1787-1817

michael steele 6/16/21 michael steele 6/16/21

Poppies

michael steele 6/16/21 michael steele 6/16/21

Charles Francis Annesley Voysey

Charles Francis Annesley Voysey (28 May 1857 – 12 February 1941) was an English architect and furniture and textile designer. Voysey was an important textile designer/architect in the Arts and Crafts style/ British Art Nouveau movement. I particular love in his charming and whimsical wallpapers, fabrics and furnishings.

michael steele 6/14/21 michael steele 6/14/21

Water lilies illustration

The floral jewel of the aquatic world.

michael steele 6/14/21 michael steele 6/14/21

Clementine

Clementine illustration by Lower Hutt artist/illustrator Michael Steele. Gouache paper cut collage. 2021.

michael steele 6/11/21 michael steele 6/11/21

Bread & Roses

An artwork commission inspired by the 1912 ‘Bread & Roses’ Strike.

michael steele 5/3/21 michael steele 5/3/21

Nasturtium illustration

Nasturtiums by Michael Steele. Paper cut gouache illustration, 2021

michael steele 4/22/21 michael steele 4/22/21

Good magazine feature

In the latest issue of Good, you can find a lovely write-up on Day Dreamer.

michael steele 3/4/21 michael steele 3/4/21

Spring flowers pattern

Spring flowers floral illustration

michael steele 3/4/21 michael steele 3/4/21

Seaweed & three mussels

michael steele 2/15/21 michael steele 2/15/21

Johann Christoph Volkamer

Johann Christoph Volkamer (June 7, 1644 – August 26, 1720) was a German merchant, manufacturer and botanist.

michael steele 2/10/21 michael steele 2/10/21

Salvador Dali, Fleurs, 1948

I came across some of Salvador Dali’s work that featured flowers. I love the mix of watery bold brushstrokes paired with fine, detailed line strokes. They have a whimsical nature to them which I like. These works have been an inspiration in my own botanical art.

michael steele 1/26/21 michael steele 1/26/21

Margaret Mee (1909-1988)

While researching botanical illustrations and art, I came across the beautiful work of Margaret Mee. Margaret Mee was a English botanical artist and a conservationist. She travelled and lived in the Amazon Forest, Brazil in 1952 (aged 42).

michael steele 1/22/21 michael steele 1/22/21

Zinnia outside the library

Fiery orange and red zinnia outside the Lower Hutt War Memorial Library.

michael steele 1/20/21 michael steele 1/20/21

Sophie Tauber-Arp (1889–1943)

Two wood reliefs by Swiss artist Sophie Taeuber-Arp.

michael steele 1/18/21 michael steele 1/18/21

Yoan’s beehive

michael steele 1/18/21 michael steele 1/18/21

Mary Delany (née Granville 1700–1788)

I follow a fantastic Instagram/website/podcast account The Great Women Artists, which I highly recommend. The just posted some of Mary Delany’s stunning botanical decoupage which she called her "paper mosaiks". The are made with arranged finely cut tissue paper.