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Joanna Thomas
Artist Statement
As a botanical artist working in graphite and coloured pencil, I am continually inspired by the quiet beauty and remarkable detail found in the natural world. My work explores the intricate forms, textures and patterns of plants, capturing not only their botanical accuracy but also the unique character that makes each specimen special. Every drawing is a slow and thoughtful process, taking more than 25 hours to complete on A3 paper. By carefully building layers of graphite, I create depth, subtle tonal variation and realism, inviting viewers to pause and look more closely. I hope my work encourages the same sense of curiosity and appreciation that I experience while drawing. Through each artwork, I aim to celebrate the extraordinary beauty of plants and foster a deeper connection with the natural world, reminding us that even the smallest details are worthy of our attention.
Biography
Joanna Thomas is a contemporary botanical artist based in Brisbane, Queensland, whose detailed graphite and coloured pencil works celebrate the beauty, structure, and diversity of plants. A lifelong passion for drawing, combined with a Diploma of Horticulture and almost twenty years teaching Visual Art, Science and Horticulture, naturally led her to botanical art. Inspired by childhood memories of her mother's garden and a lifelong love of plants, Joanna's work encourages viewers to pause and appreciate nature's intricate textures and forms. She is a member of the Brisbane Botanical Artists, the Botanical Art Society of Australia, the Society of Botanical Artists (UK) and the American Society of Botanical Artists. Her work has been selected for exhibitions across Australia and internationally, including London, South Korea and the USA, and received Highly Commended awards at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show in 2022 and 2024.
Influences
The botanical art community has played an important role in my artistic development. I have been inspired by accomplished artists in Australia and internationally, especially those working in graphite, while the opportunity to exhibit, learn and work alongside fellow botanical artists has encouraged me to continually develop my technical skills and artistic voice.
Awards
Highly Commended– BASA Botanical Exhibition, Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (2022) Highly Commended– BASA Botanical Exhibition, Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (2024) Honourable Mention – Still Life/Florals Competition- Art & Color 365 Magazine (2026).
Exhibitions
2026 Brisbane Rotary Art Show – Central Plaza, Brisbane BASA Flora: Nature’s Gift Exhibition – Royal Queensland Art Society Gallery, Gold Coast PLANTAE Exhibition – Society of Botanical Artists (UK), Online BASA Botanical Exhibition – Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show Featured coloured pencil artwork – Colored Pencil Magazine, Spring Edition 2025 2025 WAMA Art Prize- WAMA Foundation, National Centre for Environmental Art, Halls Gap VIC Perceptions of Nature- Friends Botanical Art Group, Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens CanAssist Southern Highlands Art and Illustration Prize – Bowral NSW PLANTAE Exhibition- Society of Botanical Artists (UK), Mall Galleries, London Bountiful Botanicals: Indigenous Uses of Australian Native Plants- Botanical Art Worldwide Exhibition, Canberra March to Art Exhibition- Festival of Veterans Arts, Melbourne Featured contribution – The Botanical Artist Journal, American Society of Botanical Artists 2024 For the Love of Plants- Bowral Botanical Artists, Bowral Art Gallery 10th BAAK International Botanical Art Exhibition – Botanical Art Agency of Korea, South Korea and USA CanAssist Southern Highlands Botanical Art and Illustration Prize – Retford Park, Bowral Beechworth Botanica and Animal Magnetism Exhibition – Beechworth VIC BASA Botanical Exhibition – Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show 2023 BASA Flora Botanical Exhibition – Holmes à Court Gallery, Perth OpenField Contemporary Arts Festival – Locals Salon Exhibition CanAssist Southern Highlands Botanical Art and Illustration Prize – Bowral NSW BASA Botanical Exhibition – Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show 2022 Bowral Botanical Artists Exhibition – Bowral Art Gallery Shoalhaven Art Society Exhibition – Shoalhaven Regional Art Gallery Flora – The Art and Science of Plants– Cowra Japanese Gardens Botanical Art and Illustration Prize Exhibition – Retford Park, Bowral Beechworth Botanica and Animal Magnetism Exhibition – Beechworth VIC BASA Botanical Exhibition – Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show 2021 Waterbrook Drawing Prize Exhibition Botanical Artists’ Society Queensland Online
