Exquisite Botanical Bas-Relief by Artist Zela
Krasnodar-based artist Elena Zayarnaya works in her studio, “Zela Botanical Relief.” Elena, a trained biologist, is inspired by nature, and her observations of plant life led her to create her “botanical worlds,” or botanical bas-reliefs.
Elena handcrafts exquisite botanical bas-relief panels for home decor, bringing aesthetic pleasure to their owners. She uses high-strength plaster and meadow flowers to create the bas-reliefs. Traditionally painted light gray, the panels measure 50 x 70 cm and come with wall mounts. Noteworthy, side lighting highlights the plant reliefs most effectively.
According to the artist, “there are sometimes days when you’re tired and inspiration fails to strike. But once you enter the realm of natural forces, the patterns of the leaves and the curves of the stems make you forget everything. You immerse yourself in this wondrous world. At such moments, you’re overcome with a wave of gratitude to Nature and the Creator for allowing you to see all of this”.
A botanical bas-relief is a captured moment of plant life. The artist’s task is simply to combine the plants into a design, attempting to preserve the harmony of nature.
Artist Zela Following the Path of Botanical Bas-relief
The basis of bas-relief, plastic clay conveys the smallest impressions and even stamens, preserving the beauty entrusted to it. Next, color transitions enliven the bas-relief, impart realism, and emphasize the depth of the relief. Gypsum, the best decorator for architects and sculptors, is the opposite of clay. Yet, it perfectly renders all the subtleties of a plant’s imprint, preserving and enhancing its structure.
However, you never know exactly how the design will manifest, and that’s the magic of botanical bas-relief. Combined with plaster and clay, plants create the unique technique of botanical bas-relief.
“Following the path of botanical bas-relief, being a part of this fine art, is a joy that gives a sense of human community and the interconnectedness of everything,” says Elena.
Botanical Worlds by Artist Zela
