Lush Garden by Mariah Ruggles

Artist's Statement

As an artist, I am currently most interested in exploring botanical forms. I love their curves, brilliant color, and repeating patterns. Flowers bring joy to me both in painting and in my garden. The flowers on the bench were inspired by the Nasturtiums and Gerbera daisies in my yard. While painting, I kept samples of various flowers, grasses, and bamboo in my studio. To capture the curves found in botanical forms, I added swirling grasses to the top of the bench, using a scroll saw. In addition to working as an artist, I work as a pediatric RN. My artwork is dedicated to the children and families coping with serious illness and chronic disease.