I am interested in the passage of time in nature. I focus on how plants grow and die and how we try to preserve and remember their fleeting moments of beauty. 

My work ranges across many media: painting, drawing, collage, photography and installation. I grow, collect and preserve flowers and leaves. I dry them for use in collages. And I make stains from flowers and leaves, rubbing them onto paper, creating traces of their ephemeral color.  Many record what grows at my home in Hillsdale, NY or places I visit and become a kind of diary or scrapbook. My work documents a particular time and place while investigating the beauty of nature and its transformation into art.

Botanicals
Linda Stillman Botanicals leaves, acrylic on paper
Danse Macabre
2023
leaves, acrylic on paper
14 x 11 inches
Linda Stillman Botanicals leaves, ink, acrylic on paper
Black Squares: Maples
2023
leaves, ink, acrylic on paper
8 x 8 inches

Linda Stillman Botanicals leaf, ink, acrylic on paper
Black Square: Scream
2023
leaf, ink, acrylic on paper
8 x8 inches
Linda Stillman Botanicals acrylic, pencil, fern, varnish on paper
Bash Bish Falls
2022
acrylic, pencil, fern, varnish on paper
16 x 11.5 inches

My interpretation of Bash Bish Falls, inspired by the painting by Asher B. Durand and a recent visit to the falls.

Linda Stillman Botanicals acrylic, leaf fragments on paper
Black Square: Touch
2022
acrylic, leaf fragments on paper
8 x 8 inches
Linda Stillman Botanicals acrylic, leaf fragments on paper
Black Square: Oaks
2022
acrylic, leaf fragments on paper
14 x 11 inches

Linda Stillman Botanicals acrylic, leaves on museum board
Black Square: Arc 1
2022
acrylic, leaves on museum board
12 x 9 inches
Linda Stillman Botanicals acrylic, leaves on paper
Black Square: Time out
2022
acrylic, leaves on paper
14 x 11 inches

Linda Stillman Botanicals acrylic, Sweet gum leaves, pencil on museum board
Black square: face it
2021
acrylic, Sweet gum leaves, pencil on museum board
12 x 9.5 inches
Linda Stillman Botanicals acrylic, Japanese Maple leaves, pencil on museum board
Black Square: guards
2021
acrylic, Japanese Maple leaves, pencil on museum board
12 x 10 inches

Linda Stillman Botanicals acrylic, Japanese Maple leaf fragments, pencil on museum board
Black Square: Flight
2021
acrylic, Japanese Maple leaf fragments, pencil on museum board
9.25 x 9 inches on 12 x 10 inch board

The first piece in my series of Black Square collages.
Linda Stillman Botanicals ink & leaves on paper
Tree Tree Tree
2020
ink & leaves on paper
30 x 22 inches

dried Japanese Maple leaves cut and collaged in a grid going from green to brown

Linda Stillman Botanicals acrylic, leaves on paper
Black squares: multi
2021
acrylic, leaves on paper
30 x 22.25 inches

A collage of dried leaves.
Linda Stillman Botanicals leaves on paper
Circle Out
2020
leaves on paper
14 x 11 inches

collage of Japanese Maple leaves

Linda Stillman Botanicals leaves on paper
Circle In
2020
leaves on paper
14 x 11 inches

dried Japanese Maple leaves collaged on paper
Linda Stillman Botanicals Japanese Maple leaf fragments, pencil on museum board
Black Square 1
2021
Japanese Maple leaf fragments, pencil on museum board
9.25 x 9 inches on 12 x 10 inch board

Linda Stillman Botanicals vines, acrylic paint, metal buttons
Bitter/Sweet wreath
2021
vines, acrylic paint, metal buttons
approximately 6 feet round x 8 inches

Invasive Bittersweet vines wound into a wreath with spokes to invoke the model of the Coronavirus. A site specific installation made for the ICEHOUSE Project Space in Sharon, CT.
Linda Stillman Botanicals acrylic & ink on canvas with painted vines
12 Invasives
2021
acrylic & ink on canvas with painted vines
approximately 6 x 6 feet x 2 inches deep

Paintings of some of the invasive plants in my yard. An installation made for the ICEHOUSE Project Space in Sharon, CT.

Linda Stillman Botanicals acrylic on wood
No Norways 2
2021/2022
acrylic on wood
14 x 14 x 1.5 inches

A slice of a Norway Maple tree, an invasive in my area painted with a warning slogan. The wood has cracked over time, my collaboration with time and Mother Nature.
Linda Stillman Botanicals dried leaves, acrylic on panel
Nature Notes: 1 x 1
2019
dried leaves, acrylic on panel
4 x 4 x .5 inches

dried leaves collaged on panel

Linda Stillman Botanicals leaves, ink, acrylic on panel
Nature Notes: 2 x 2
2019
leaves, ink, acrylic on panel
4 x 4 x .5 inches

dried leaves collaged on panel
Linda Stillman Botanicals leaves, ink, acrylic on panel
Nature Notes: 3 x 3 (Fringe tree)
2020
leaves, ink, acrylic on panel
4 x 4 x .5 inches

dried leaves collaged on panel

Linda Stillman Botanicals leaves, ink, acrylic on panel
Nature Notes: 4 x 4 (Sweet Gum)
2020
leaves, ink, acrylic on panel
4 x 4 x .5 inches

dried leaves collaged on panel
Linda Stillman Botanicals leaves, ink, acrylic on panel
Nature Notes: 5 x 5
2019
leaves, ink, acrylic on panel
4 x 4 x .5 inches

dried leaves collaged on panel

Linda Stillman Botanicals leaves, ink, acrylic on panel
Nature Notes: 6 x 6
2019
leaves, ink, acrylic on panel
4 x 4 x .5 inches

dried leaves collaged on panel
Linda Stillman Botanicals leaves, ink, acrylic on panel
Nature Notes: Dandelion
2019
leaves, ink, acrylic on panel
4 x 4 x .5 inches

This is part of my series of collages of plant material on panel.
Private Collection.

Linda Stillman Botanicals collaged flower stains, elm leaves & pencil on paper
Blue/Yellow/Green (Elm)
2019
collaged flower stains, elm leaves & pencil on paper
14 7/8 x 11 inches

In the collection of Montefiore Hospital, Bronx, NY.
Linda Stillman Botanicals flower stains, graphite & ink on paper
Hillsdale Sampler (Verbena-Angelonia)
2019
flower stains, graphite & ink on paper
12.5 x 9.5 inches

A sampling of all the flowers in bloom in my garden one summer.
On exhibit at the Wired Gallery, High Falls, NY
https://www.thewiredgallery.com/?lightbox=dataItem-kxbrz61t7

Linda Stillman Botanicals leaves & pencil on paper
Japanese Maple grid
2019
leaves & pencil on paper
8.75 x 12 inches

collage of leaf fragments from my Japanese Maple tree.

On view at the Wired Gallery, High Falls, NY
https://www.thewiredgallery.com/?lightbox=dataItem-kxbrz61t7
Linda Stillman Botanicals flower stains, colored pencil on paper
The Blues
2016
flower stains, colored pencil on paper
9.5 x 11 inches, unframed size

Stains from all the blue flowers in my gardens.

Linda Stillman Botanicals mixed media on paper
'August' Garden scroll
2002/2016
mixed media on paper
36 inches x 14 feet 8 inches (variable)

The ‘August’ Garden Scroll, a mixed media work on paper, records the making of the ‘August’ Garden shown in the photograph. The scroll follows the growing season from the last frost date in the Spring to the first frost date in the fall and the process of planting and nurturing the garden. The minutiae of gardening and the process of creating the art project, are recorded in multiple ways including collaged scanned images of the dried plants hanging below the time line and a reflection of their intended color above the line among other assorted data.
Linda Stillman Botanicals flower stains, graphite on paper
Conservatory Garden: Collect
2016
flower stains, graphite on paper
21 x 16 inches, unframed size

Linda Stillman Botanicals flower stains, graphite on paper
Conservatory Garden: Collate
2016
flower stains, graphite on paper
21 x 16 inches, unframed size
Linda Stillman Botanicals collaged flower stains on paper
Plotted
2016
collaged flower stains on paper
21 x 16 inches, unframed size

Linda Stillman Botanicals flower stains on paper
Ring Around
2015
flower stains on paper
16.75 x 13.5 inches, unframed size
Linda Stillman Botanicals  flower stains on paper
Central Park Colored
2015
flower stains on paper
18.25 x 23 inches, unframed size

Linda Stillman Botanicals flower stains on paper
Walk in the Park
2015
flower stains on paper
22.5 x 30 inches; 25.75 x 33.5 framed size
Linda Stillman Botanicals flower stains on paper
Reservoir x 3
2015
flower stains on paper
10 1/8 x 12 3/4 inches, unframed size

Linda Stillman Botanicals flower stains and graphite on paper
Infinity grid
2016
flower stains and graphite on paper
22.5 x 30 inches, unframed size
Linda Stillman Botanicals flower stains on paper
Shakespeare Garden
2015
flower stains on paper
11 x 8.5 inches, unframed size

Linda Stillman Botanicals flower stains & colored pencil on paper
False
2015
flower stains & colored pencil on paper
30 x 22.75 inches unframed
Linda Stillman Botanicals flower stains on paper
Between
2015
flower stains on paper
14.25 x 14.25 inches, unframed size

Linda Stillman Botanicals flower stains, colored pencil on paper
About Red
2015
flower stains, colored pencil on paper
11 x 14 inches, unframed size
Linda Stillman Botanicals  flower stains, ink on paper
Salvia x 3
2016
flower stains, ink on paper
14.5 x 19.5 inches, unframed size

Linda Stillman Botanicals flower stains, crayon on paper
Infinity, colored
2015
flower stains, crayon on paper
11 1/4 x 14 inches, unframed size
Linda Stillman Botanicals flower stains on paper
"Say it..." (red)
2015
flower stains on paper
7 x 10 inches; 9.75 x 12.75 inches framed

Linda Stillman Botanicals flower stains on paper
See it...
2015
flower stains on paper
7 x 10 inches; 9.75 x 12.75 inches framed
Linda Stillman Botanicals flower stains on paper
Do it...
2014
flower stains on paper
7 x 10 inches; 9.75 x 12.75 inches framed

Linda Stillman Botanicals flower stains & graphite on paper
Hillsdale Summer Colors
2015
flower stains & graphite on paper
10 x 14.25 inches, unframed

not for sale
Linda Stillman Botanicals flower stains & pencil on paper
Before the Frost
2015/2016
flower stains & pencil on paper
11.5 x 11 inches, unframed size

flower stains from my garden in Hillsdale before the threat of frost...

Linda Stillman Botanicals flower stains and graphite on paper
Equinox Flowers
2014
flower stains and graphite on paper
15 x 14 inches

stains from flowers in my garden on the day of the Fall equinox

SOLD
Linda Stillman Botanicals flower stains collage on paper
Garden Poem - for J.K.
2014
flower stains collage on paper
14 x 14.25 inches, unframed size

The circles are created by rubbing flowers and leaves on paper. Then I use a hole punch to make the circles and collage them in the form of a poem, an homage to Czech artist and poet Jiri Kolar.

Linda Stillman Botanicals flower stains on paper
3 Lots
2014
flower stains on paper
18 x 24 inches, unframed size

These shapes are based on parking lots at the SUNY New Paltz campus. The colors are from flowers gathered at the college.
Linda Stillman Botanicals flower stains on paper
Esopus House Lot
2014
flower stains on paper
12 x 16 inches

The shape is from one of the parking lots at SUNY New Paltz and the colors are stains from flowers growing on campus.

Linda Stillman Botanicals flower stains, transfer paper line on paper
Flower Arrangement: iris
2014
flower stains, transfer paper line on paper
12 x 9 inches

I rubbed the petals of siberian iris flowers on paper to make these colors. The lines are created by tracing the drawing using white and magenta transfer paper.

SOLD
Linda Stillman Botanicals flower stains, transfer paper line on paper
Flower Arrangement: rose
2014
flower stains, transfer paper line on paper
12 x 9 inches, unframed size

I rubbed the petals of roses and iris on paper to make these colors. The lines are created by tracing the drawing using white and magenta transfer paper.

Linda Stillman Botanicals flower stains & colored pencil on paper
Color Study II
2012
flower stains & colored pencil on paper
10 x 7 inches, unframed size
Linda Stillman Botanicals flower stains on paper
Wave Hill Flower Diary
2013
flower stains on paper
each drawing: 6 x 6 inches, installation variable

stains from flowers from Wave Hill Garden in the Bronx, forming a diary of my residency there
As shown at the Dorsky Museum, summer 2014

Linda Stillman Botanicals altered book, rose pigment, flower
Roses for Essie
2011
altered book, rose pigment, flower
16 x 9 x 9 inches
Linda Stillman Botanicals plant rubbing on Arches paper
Wassaic I
2010
plant rubbing on Arches paper
22 x 30 inches

pigment from rubbing flower and leaves on paper. Flowers include: domesticated Rose of Sharon, domesticated Bee Balm and wild Bird's Foot Trefoil growing in Wassaic, NY

Linda Stillman Botanicals plant pigment on Arches paper
Wassaic II
2010
plant pigment on Arches paper
22 x 30 inches

rubbings from plants (Rose of Sharon and wild Bird's Foot Trefoil) found in Wassaic, NY
Linda Stillman Botanicals flower pigment on paper
Petals/Palette
2001
flower pigment on paper
22 x 30.25 inches

This is made using the plants from the 'August' garden, based on the calendar.

Linda Stillman Botanicals Piezo-Dye print of photograph of land art installation
‘August’ Garden-in July
2001/2004
Piezo-Dye print of photograph of land art installation
8 x 12 inch image on 11 x 14 inch paper, also available in larger sizes

To document a garden of annual plants throughout three seasons, I planted a grid in the form of a monthly calendar of flowers and herbs in my garden in upstate New York and photographed it from the air in July, September, November and the following May. August Garden is about the passage of time in nature: how flowers grow and die and how we try to preserve the memory of ephemeral plants.
Linda Stillman Botanicals Piezo-Dye print of photograph of land art installation
‘August’ Garden-in September
2001/2004
Piezo-Dye print of photograph of land art installation
8 x 12 inch image on 11 x 14 inch paper, also available in larger sizes

Linda Stillman Botanicals Piezo-Dye print of photograph of land art installation
‘August’ Garden-in November
2001/2004
Piezo-Dye print of photograph of land art installation
8 x 12 inch image on 11 x 14 inch paper, also available in larger sizes
Linda Stillman Botanicals Piezo-Dye print of photograph of land art installation
‘August’ Garden-in May
2002/2004
Piezo-Dye print of photograph of land art installation
8 x 12 inch image on 11 x 14 inch paper, also available in larger sizes

Linda Stillman Botanicals leaves, acrylic medium on paper
After the Fall
2009
leaves, acrylic medium on paper
14 x 17 inches
Linda Stillman Botanicals dried leaves, acrylic medium on paper
Shatter Acer
2009
dried leaves, acrylic medium on paper
10 x 10 inches

Linda Stillman Botanicals dried leaves, acrylic medium on paper
Hillsdale Landscape
2009
dried leaves, acrylic medium on paper
11 x 14 inches
Linda Stillman Botanicals mixed media with live plants
Niches
2004
mixed media with live plants
variable

Striped plants as prisoners.