OCTOBER 1, 2025
Spotlight @ Sparrow: Beth Murphy
Beth Murphy, brings the ephemeral beauty of Vermont botanicals into lasting form. In her own words, she shares how gathering and pressing plants has become both her palette and her inspiration.
Beth Murphy: An Aritst's Reflection
Gathering and Preparing
As painters would search for natural sources of colors and pigments to make their paints, I gather and press botanicals as the essential first step in my creative process. Over the years I have learned the optimal time of day to gather, which growths press best, what plants hold their colors well when pressed, and interesting shapes and textures to seek when gathering. Since the availability of botanical materials is impacted by geographic location and the time of year, organization and planning are important to maintaining a palette of colors, shapes and structures. The act of choosing and gathering items to press is multisensory; a finished piece can enable a viewer to imagine the sweet fragrance I smelled emitted by the bloom or feel the velvety texture of the petal when picked. Memories and feelings evoked as I gather become integral parts of my collages, captured within their designs.
Ephemeral and Enduring
I experience nature as both ephemeral and enduring. I seek to embody these characteristics in my work. When pressed, some flowers may have less vibrancy; yet their shapes and textures remain identifiable and evocative of the living form with which we are familiar. The rose bud that exists as one image on the bush takes on another personality when utilized in collage. When I was a youngster, my mother would admonish me to not pick the flowers. “Leave them for others to enjoy too” she would say. I believe I have found a way to do both.
Inspiration and Process
These experiences – and the thoughts and visions they activate – are all sources of inspiration. Sometimes when I sketch out a design in my mind or on paper, this is stimulated by a cognitive process or a writing that resonated with me. More often though, there is an organic internal process occurring simultaneous with the mechanics of creating. I feel a sense of calm and serenity when working on a collage that is thriving and coming alive in its own rights. I am in my very private, meditative state of creativity in these moments, guided by a deeper sense of purpose and focus.
Once gathered and pressed, my botanicals reside in the numerous light-blocked files and containers that fill my studio to the brim. For convenience, I organize both by the name of the plant species and by color. With my supply of materials at hand – which includes paints and hand printed papers as well as pressed materials – I am ready.
A Studio by the Lake
I create my mixed media collages in my studio overlooking Lake Bomoseen in central Vermont. Here, I am in an orb of color and movement with ever-changing land- and waterscapes that constantly inspire and consistently do not disappoint. In addition to the lake front and surrounding hills, the gardens I have cultivated with care offer both specimens and stimulus.
Vermont Autumn
I have created this grouping of works to illuminate the beauty of our Vermont autumn, with its color, shifting light and cooling temperatures. This is part of a larger body of collages that highlight the joy to be found in a season that not all find joyful. Just as I embrace fall as the time to begin to hunker down, the earth too prepares itself for renewal. The resiliency and consistency of nature is center stage, as leaves fall and provide the needed nourishment to ensure a bounty of blooms come spring.
We’re grateful to Beth Murphy for sharing her process and reflections with us. You can see her pressed botanical collages in person and on our website all month long at Sparrow Art Supply.
Spotlight @ Sparrow: Beth Murphy
Beth Murphy, brings the ephemeral beauty of Vermont botanicals into lasting form. In her own words, she shares how gathering and pressing plants has become both her palette and her inspiration.
Beth Murphy: An Aritst's Reflection
Gathering and Preparing
As painters would search for natural sources of colors and pigments to make their paints, I gather and press botanicals as the essential first step in my creative process. Over the years I have learned the optimal time of day to gather, which growths press best, what plants hold their colors well when pressed, and interesting shapes and textures to seek when gathering. Since the availability of botanical materials is impacted by geographic location and the time of year, organization and planning are important to maintaining a palette of colors, shapes and structures. The act of choosing and gathering items to press is multisensory; a finished piece can enable a viewer to imagine the sweet fragrance I smelled emitted by the bloom or feel the velvety texture of the petal when picked. Memories and feelings evoked as I gather become integral parts of my collages, captured within their designs.
Ephemeral and Enduring
I experience nature as both ephemeral and enduring. I seek to embody these characteristics in my work. When pressed, some flowers may have less vibrancy; yet their shapes and textures remain identifiable and evocative of the living form with which we are familiar. The rose bud that exists as one image on the bush takes on another personality when utilized in collage. When I was a youngster, my mother would admonish me to not pick the flowers. “Leave them for others to enjoy too” she would say. I believe I have found a way to do both.
Inspiration and Process
These experiences – and the thoughts and visions they activate – are all sources of inspiration. Sometimes when I sketch out a design in my mind or on paper, this is stimulated by a cognitive process or a writing that resonated with me. More often though, there is an organic internal process occurring simultaneous with the mechanics of creating. I feel a sense of calm and serenity when working on a collage that is thriving and coming alive in its own rights. I am in my very private, meditative state of creativity in these moments, guided by a deeper sense of purpose and focus.
Once gathered and pressed, my botanicals reside in the numerous light-blocked files and containers that fill my studio to the brim. For convenience, I organize both by the name of the plant species and by color. With my supply of materials at hand – which includes paints and hand printed papers as well as pressed materials – I am ready.
A Studio by the Lake
I create my mixed media collages in my studio overlooking Lake Bomoseen in central Vermont. Here, I am in an orb of color and movement with ever-changing land- and waterscapes that constantly inspire and consistently do not disappoint. In addition to the lake front and surrounding hills, the gardens I have cultivated with care offer both specimens and stimulus.
Vermont Autumn
I have created this grouping of works to illuminate the beauty of our Vermont autumn, with its color, shifting light and cooling temperatures. This is part of a larger body of collages that highlight the joy to be found in a season that not all find joyful. Just as I embrace fall as the time to begin to hunker down, the earth too prepares itself for renewal. The resiliency and consistency of nature is center stage, as leaves fall and provide the needed nourishment to ensure a bounty of blooms come spring.
We’re grateful to Beth Murphy for sharing her process and reflections with us. You can see her pressed botanical collages in person and on our website all month long at Sparrow Art Supply.