orchids hanging

A couple of weeks ago, my older sister brought home some orchids and placed them on the kitchen table. At first, I glanced at them and thought, “Hmm, interesting shape.” But as the days passed and I kept walking by, curiosity started to kick in—and before I knew it, my pencil was wandering across the paper.

Orchids have such a geometric, symmetrical structure—unlike most flowers I’ve seen. Each petal ends in a sharp point, and at the center, the column stands upright, housing the reproductive organs: the anther and stigma. There’s something quietly commanding about their form. The word orchid comes from the Greek órchis, meaning “testicle”—a reference to the shape of the plant’s tubers. There are also around 30,000 known species of orchids, making them one of the largest flowering plant families. And here’s another fun fact: real vanilla flavoring comes from the pods of the vanilla orchid, a species that thrives in warm, tropical climates.

I’ve always loved the science behind things—especially in nature. A few of my favorite artists often say, “Everything you need is in nature,” and I couldn’t agree more. True inspiration starts there, especially when creating from both life and imagination.

Below are images of the studies along with some quick woodwork. Holler for any questions!