Paper botanicals by Kelly Pastorek bring nature to us during lockdown

Her latest piece, Passionflower Vine, is so accurate, so close to the real thing, it's a comforting sight for all of us – full of the twists and turns, and unexpected details we might enjoy seeing from blooms and leaves that find their way to the light.

"As culture removes us from nature, we become deprived of our intrinsic need to connect to the natural world," says Pastorek. "My mission in my exploration of paper botanicals is to find and execute the subtle details that are the essence of each bloom, replicating their gestures with as much accuracy as possible."

Pastorek's formal training was in ceramics with a BA from Bennington College and seven years with Terrafirma Ceramcis Inc. It's interesting to see how she has applied her skills from ceramics to the medium of paper.

She adds: "The process of creating botanical art is as much meditation and appreciation of nature as it is the creation of a physical object. In this way, my botanical specimens are meant to act as a mirror, reminding the viewer of our place on earth and reconnecting them to the importance of nature. This is the power of biophilic design."