words + pictures from the studio of Joan Colbert
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A recent addition to the As Potent as a Charm series of poisonous botanicals, Suspects, is inspired by Castor Bean, Ricinus communis, with a nod to the 1978 ‘umbrella murder’ of Bulgarian dissident, Georgi Markov, in London. Neurotoxins found in the seeds are 500 times more poisonous than cyanide.
Tags: as potent as a charm, castor bean, Georgi Markov, linocut, linoleum block, poison, relief print, ricinus communis
Part of the fun in researching botanical poisons for As Potent as a Charm, was coming across bits and pieces of information, quotes and symbols. Tiny prints and commentary are gathered here in a collection of nine little pieces. There’s a crown for the Queen of Poisons (Aconitum) and a dagger to mark a botanical poison; Belladonna for dark, alluring eyes or castor oil to brighten the whites a la Cleopatra; the atropine dose from my hound’s recent surgery and intriguing quotes from disparate sources, including Agatha Christie’s comment on her frequent method of (fictional) murder: “I prefer to poison them.”
Tags: as potent as a charm, belladonna, castor bean, linocut, printmaking, relief print
The Castor Bean plant from this year’s garden found multiple uses in the As Potent as a Charm exhibit. The framed artwork is a print of a fresh leaf on mulberry hosho using oil based ink; the display leaves were overlapped, coiled in newspaper and dried.
Tags: as potent as a charm, castor bean, leaf print, printmaking, ricinus communis
Making leaf prints at last week’s workshop was inspiring, even for the instructor! This Castor Bean, Ricinus communis, leaf was printed with oil base ink on mulberry hosho.
Tags: as potent as a charm, castor bean, leaf print, printmaking, relief print, ricinus communis
