Artist Inspiration: Maryjo Koch

I had the pleasure of meeting Maryjo Koch years ago while attending a workshop she taught on nature illustration and have remained inspired by her work ever since.  As an artist, author and naturalist she has written many beautiful volumes that feature her stunning watercolor and gouache illustrations. 

Her latest book, The Artist the Cook and the Gardener, published by Andrews McMeel earlier this year, is a compilation of seasonal garden fresh recipes accompanied by her detailed nature illustrations and photographs of her garden and studio in Bonny Doon, CA.  This new book also features food styling and photography by her daughter, Wendy Koch Candelaria and her son, trompe l'oeil painter Jonathan Koch.

This volume explores the culinary best of the garden's bounty through a series of recipes often served in Maryjo's painting classes, taught at her studio in Bonny Doon, CA.  The delicious recipes feature fresh garden produce or have a nature-inspired theme.  A recipe for  Silky Tomato Gazpacho is provided alongside a watercolor illustration of an heirloom tomato while a colorful painting of flowers (shown below) accompanies a list of edible blooms.  

Mainly self-taught, Maryjo Koch's art is featured in galleries and museums in North America and Asia.  Her inspiring paintings record with scientific accuracy and creative sensitivity the specific details of flowers, butterflies, nests and other natural phenomena. In addition to illustrating over 18 books, Maryjo was Victoria Magazine's Artist-in-Residence during 2012.  She teaches nature painting workshops in her studio in Bonny Doon, CA.

For more information and inspiring examples of Maryjo Koch's art please visit her website.