Hoefnagel-Inspired Series
This series of paintings was inspired by the illustrations of Joris Hoefnagel. Every subject in these paintings is very personal to me - everything in them is either from my garden, found on a trip, or given to me by someone special.
For more information on Hoefnagel go to the Getty Blog or to the Getty website.
For questions about my work or to purchase an
original (prices listed below), please email me at denisewalserkolar@gmail.com.
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Hoefnagel-Inspired #1
Watercolor and gouache on vellum, 4" x 6"
Hellebores from our garden, found dead dragonfly in a shop window, seashell from Sanibel Island, rosehip from our garden, chestnut from Badgersett Research Farm
SOLD
Hoefnagel-Inspired #2
Watercolor and gouache on vellum, 4" x 6"
Moth is from a class I took (I pinned it myself!), woodpecker feather was found in our birdbath, acorns are from a walk with my parents in Bamberwood, rosehip is from our garden, the dried artichoke leaf is from the grocery store
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From Start to Finish (click arrow to see progression)
Hoefnagel-Inspired #3
Watercolor and gouache on vellum, 4" x 6"
Blackberries from Pat's lake, violets from our yard, monarch from Connie, damselfly photo from Linda, pod from Tim, seashell from Sanibel Island
SOLD
Hoefnagel-Inspired #3
Back side of the painting
Hoefnagel-Inspired #4 (In Memory of the Cardinals)
Watercolor and gouache on vellum, 4" x 6"
Bluejay feather found in our birdbath, the dead cicada was found at my mom and dad's house, the cardinal egg is from the fuchsia hanging on our front porch - they built a lovely nest in the middle of the fuchsias - it was attacked by crows, the parents never returned, and all that was left was this one egg.
SOLD
Hoefnagel-Inspired #5
Watercolor and gouache on vellum, 4" x 6"
Rosa rugosa and the unripe raspberries are from our garden, the seed pod is from Jane, my mom found the moth, trapped it in a jar, and excitedly called me to come see it (I took lots of pictures and we set it free), the hazelnut is from Badgersett Research Farm.
SOLD
Hoefnagel-Inspired #6
Watercolor and gouache on vellum, 4" x 6"
Beetle is from the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh (thanks for taking the picture Kelly), larkspur is from my garden, pod is from Jane, bluejay feather was floating around in our back yard. This painting has deep meaning for me. I was painting it the week before my dad had open heart surgery. I never knew that many beetles have a little heart shape right between their wings (it looked just like this - I did not exaggerate!) - I took it as a good omen that everything would be OK.
NFS
Hoefnagel-Inspired #8
Watercolor and gouache on vellum, 4" x 6"
Violets are from our garden (my husband thinks they are weeds, they aren't), I can't remember where I found the dead beetle but it was stored in a jar in the freezer as well - it's only about half an inch long, the buckeye came from Linda, and the pod from Tim
SOLD
Hoefnagel-Inspired #10
Watercolor and gouache on vellum, 4" x 6"
Bleeding hearts, roses, and blueberry from our garden, bluejay feather found floating in our bird bath, butterfly photographed at Como Park Butterfly Garden
SOLD
Hoefnagel-Inspired #12
Watercolor and gouache on vellum, 4" x 6"
Rose, snapdragon, and Japanese beetle (sadly we have so many, all devouring our plants) from our garden, Mayfly photo from Linda, shell is from Sanibel Island and fruit is from Trader Joe's
SOLD
Hoefnagel-Inspired #7
Watercolor and gouache on vellum, 4" x 6"
The rosehips were on a bush outside my hair salon, my dad scooped the leaf skeleton out of his pool filter, I found the fly dead on my windowsill and stored it in the freezer until I needed it, pod is from Jane, acorn was found on a Bamberwood walk with my parents, the tomato was bought at Trader Joe's
SOLD
Hoefnagel-Inspired #9
Watercolor and gouache on vellum, 4" x 6"
Crab apple buds from our "Pink Spires" crab apple tree, snapdragon blossom from our garden, Blue Morpho butterfly photographed at Como Park Butterfly Garden, the eggshell was found on our driveway (pretty sure they were murdered by crows)
SOLD
Hoefnagel-Inspired #11 (in memory of Grandma)
Watercolor and gouache on vellum, 4" x 6"
Everything in this painting reminds me of my Grandma - she was so proud of her Irish heritage, she loved chicken (the wishbone is from a rotisserie chicken that we ate in her memory), my sisters and I spent hours eating peas in the pod in her garden when we visited, the peonies in our garden belonged to her mother (then to her, then to me), and the wheat was on my Grandpa's casket instead of flowers (he was a wheat farmer)
SOLD
Hoefnagel-Inspired #13
Watercolor and gouache on vellum, 4" x 6"
Milkweed seeds from my parent's ditch, persimmon is from Trader Joe's, blackberries are from the Missouri Botanical Garden, leaf was from outside the hotel in Miami, and Arthur the snail belongs to Kandy
SOLD
Hoefnagel-Inspired #14
Watercolor and gouache on vellum, 4" x 6"
Janet and Howard found the dragonfly in Grand Marais, the rosebud and raspberry are from our garden, the pear is from Cynthia, and the hummingbird feathers were from a dear artist that I met at a gallery demo
SOLD
Hoefnagel-Inspired #15
Watercolor and gouache on vellum, 4" x 6"
Blueberries from the Missouri Botanical Garden, Luna moth is from Steve, the shell is from Sanibel Island, and the blueberry and lilac are from our garden
SOLD
Hoefnagel-Inspired #16
Watercolor and gouache on vellum, 4" x 6"
This piece was commissioned by some very dear collectors of my work - her mom liked lilies of the valley and lilacs, she grew up with peacocks, blackberries, and swallowtail butterflies on her farm, the silk worm is a reminder of their romantic trip to Italy
SOLD
Hoefnagel-Inspired #18
Watercolor and gouache on vellum, 4" x 6"
The raspberries and rosehip are from my garden. The butterfly was photographed at the Chicago Botanical Gardens Butterfly House and the seashell was a gift from Suellen.
SOLD
Hoefnagel-Inspired #17
Watercolor, shell gold, and gouache on vellum, 4" x 6"
Gooseberries and bladder campion from our garden (again, disagreement among us about whether or not it's a weed), the toad has lived in a damp little corner of the pool cover for years - his eyelids are shimmery gold and I used shell gold to paint them.
SOLD
Hoefnagel-Inspired #19
Watercolor, gouache, and gold leaf on vellum, 4" x 6"
My friend Jan raised the monarch chrysalis, the clematis grows up my front porch, The oak leaf was found at my parent's house, Alyssa took a picture of the beetle for me, and the crane fly is compiled from many pictures (Hoefnagel made up insects at times, so I am once again inspired by his work).
SOLD
Hoefnagel-Inspired #20
Watercolor and gouache on vellum, 4" x 6"
I found the woolly bear caterpillar wandering the streets and found the beach pea by Lake Superior. Martha gave me the lovely pussy willow when I was staying with her, the ant was on my peonies, and I grew the Meyer lemon myself.
SOLD
Hoefnagel-Inspired #21
Watercolor, shell gold, and gouache on vellum, 4" x 6"
We love this toad so much, I had to paint him/her again. I used shell gold to paint the shimmering eyelids. The inchworm was on my rosebush, the cardinal feather was floating in the birdbath, the Virginia Creeper was in the woods at my daughter's house, and I found the blueberry (actually Cynthia did) in a ditch outside of Grand Marais.
SOLD
Hoefnagel-Inspired #22
Watercolor and gouache on vellum, 4" x 6"
I found the sand dollar at Sanibel, the buckeye is from my son's tree, the violets and the feather are from my daughter's yard, and the blue butterfly is from a photo taken by my friend, Linda.
SOLD
Hoefnagel-Inspired #23
Watercolor and gouache on vellum, 4" x 6"
I grew the hazelnut myself and bought the pear at Trader Joe's, the bleeding hearts are from my parent's garden, the dragonfly was sent to me by a nice couple I met at a gallery event, and the cute little bug was climbing in my daughter's rosebush.
SOLD
Hoefnagel-Inspired #24
Watercolor and gouache on vellum, 4" x 6"
The ripening blackberry and the ladybug are from my garden, my friend Jan raises monarchs and gave me some amazing photos to work from, and the apple and rosebud came from Trader Joe's (I barely ever get out of there without buying myself some flowers!).
SOLD
Hoefnagel-Inspired #26
Watercolor and gouache on vellum, 4" x 6"
Anya gave me the pine branch and hydrangea blossom, I found the acorns in Bamberwood, the sweetpeas were grown for my daughter's wedding, and the pepperberry is from Deb's front garden.
SOLD
Hoefnagel-Inspired #25
Watercolor and gouache on vellum, 4" x 6"
I grew the hazelnuts myself, the Painted Lady butterfly was visiting our garden (they love Autumn Joy sedum), the wasp was on my daughter's driveway, the blue egg was sitting on our driveway one day when I came home, and the poppy bud about to burst into bloom was at our local garden center.
SOLD
Hoefnagel-Inspired #27
Watercolor and gouache on vellum, 4" x 6"
The iris about to bloom is from my dad's garden, the peacock feathers were a gift from Cindy, the turkey skull is from a fifth grade science fair project, and the hydrangea blossom was a gift from Deborah.
SOLD
Hoefnagel-Inspired #28
Watercolor and gouache on vellum, 4" x 6"
The Rubrum Maple leaf is from my back yard, the acorn caps are from Alyssa's woods, Anya found the dead butterfly for me, the gourd is from Trader Joe's, and the small acorn is from my collection.
SOLD
Hoefnagel-Inspired #30
Watercolor and gouache on vellum, 4" x 6"
The butterfly was found dead in the garden, the shell is from my mom's collection, the yellow violet is from our garden, and we planted the white peony (which attracts lots of ants) in memory of our sweet dog who loved to go into the garden and smell the flowers.
SOLD
Hoefnagel-Inspired #29
Watercolor and gouache on vellum, 4" x 6"
I grew the hazelnut and blueberry myself, the shell is from Sanibel Island, and the flowers grows in what was my mom's garden - I'm not sure what it is, but it blooms in the early spring.
To purchase, contact Riverwood Art & Frame riverwoodartandframe@gmail.com
Hoefnagel-Inspired #31
Watercolor and gouache on vellum, 4" x 6"
A very special commission. Everything was chosen by her for a special reason.
SOLD
Hoefnagel-Inspired #32
Watercolor and gouache on vellum, 4" x 6"
Gabriele grew the tomato in her garden, she and I found the bur oak acorn at Como Park, the leaf and dragonfly were by the pool, the ant was in my peonies, and the woodpecker feather was found floating in the birdbath.
SOLD
Hoefnagel-Inspired #33
Watercolor and gouache on vellum, 4" x 6"
The iris grows in our garden - I planted it especially so I could paint it, the dead butterfly was found on a windowsill, and the sea urchin is part of my collection, although I can't remember when or where I got it.
SOLD
Hoefnagel-Inspired #34
Watercolor and gouache on vellum, 4" x 6"
The plum is from my neighbor's plum tree, the butterfly was from Steve, and the shell is from my mom's collection.
$2,000
Hoefnagel-Inspired #35
Watercolor and gouache on vellum
The zinnia is from our garden, the maple seed and beetle are from my daughter's house, and my son-in-law found this crab apple for me while out on a walk.
SOLD
Hoefnagel-Inspired #36
Watercolor and gouache on vellum, 4" x 6"
The rose hip is from the shores of Lake Superior in Grand Marais, Minnesota, the fly was in our raspberries, the hazelnut (chewed and eaten by squirrels) is from our garden, and the shell was my mom's.
$2,000
Hoefnagel-Inspired #37
Watercolor and gouache on vellum, 4" x 6"
The poppy is from our garden, the dragonfly was flying around the pool, the apple is from an old apple tree at my son's house, and the Canterbury Bells grow in my garden.
SOLD
Hoefnagel-Inspired #38
Watercolor and gouache on vellum, 4" x 6"
The wild turkey feather is from Linda, the snail shell is from Nancy, the rose bud is from our garden, and the insect was hanging out on our balcony at the hotel in Grand Marais, Minnesota last summer.
$2,000
Hoefnagel-Inspired #39
Watercolor and gouache on vellum, 4" x 6"
The blackberry and the false indigo grow in our garden, the beetle was crawling in a sunflower in my daughter's garden, and the seashell was in a box of treasures I got from Nancy.
To purchase, contact Riverwood Art & Frame riverwoodartandframe@gmail.com
From Start to Finish
(click the arrow to follow the progress of Hoefnagel-Inspired #3)
From Start to Finish
(click the arrow to follow the progress of Hoefnagel-Inspired #16)
