About Anastasia Traina

Here at the Berkshire Botanical Garden, these words struck a chord as I encountered a discerning cricket perched inside a tubular flower. It reminded me that flora and fauna have a language of their own, and the creatures that inhabit them reflect much of what makes us human.

In my botanical art practice, I translate the fleeting, epic stories of floral specimens and their accompanying fauna into visual narratives. I take inspiration from the moment, color, position, ecosystem, folklore, and medicinal properties of each subject to create floral and natural portraits. My work blends the precision of natural observation with the imaginative spirit of Nouveau‑Victorian floriography or hanakotoba, a symbolic language meant to convey emotion and connect directly with viewers.

The tools I use range from watercolor, graphite, and colored pencil, to hand‑pressed paper, kiln‑cast glass, and pâte de verre, all aiming to inspire audiences to rediscover the efflorescing beauty around them — a reminder of wonder, even in the tiniest garden or wild corner.