Day 10: Ginkgo
Ginkgos are the oldest living seed plant in the world and the oldest tree species. Scientists estimate that the ginkgo developed around 200 million years ago as the first tree. There were earlier trees, but they resembled more of a low-lying palm. You can read a great interview with Ginkgo guru, Peter Crane, HERE. I am definitely putting his book, Ginkgo, on my reading list.
“I think that anyone who is seriously interested in plants inevitably comes across ginkgo pretty early in their training, because there are only five living groups of seed plants, and ginkgo is one of them. And ginkgo is the only one that consists of just one species. So it’s an important plant in any botanist’s view of the plant world — you inevitably run across it early in your training. The other thing is that it has such a distinctive leaf — once you see it, you don’t forget it. It’s thoroughly memorable.” - Peter Crane
Charles Darwin called this tree a “living fossil”, and for good reason. Ginkgos have not only survived mass extinctions, but they are also incredibly hardy in the modern world. Their resilience makes them ideal for urban environments, where they often thrive despite pollution and tough conditions.
Perhaps most remarkably, several ginkgo trees survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. These trees are still alive today and are revered as symbols of endurance, hope, and peace.
Wilcox Park is home to several ginkgo trees, both male and female, lining the southern edge of the park. Their fan-shaped leaves, growing gracefully along the branches, immediately caught my eye. I began my drawing with delicate lines in graphite, gradually building up layers of shading and detail through line work. With the constant movement of the leaves in the wind and shifting sunlight, I used a photograph to help me capture the finer details and overall composition.
As I worked, I found myself reflecting on the immense span of time this ancient tree species has witnessed on Earth. That curiosity led me to research a cross-section of a ginkgo trunk, which I drew on layered paper. I added textured paper made with modeling paste on mineral paper, an environmentally friendly surface made from stone rather than trees. While the drawing part of my practice is based on observation and focus, this next part of assembling the various pieces into a collage is more intuitive. I am guided by gut instinct and years of experience shaping compositions until they feel balanced and harmonious. The last element I added, to make a symbolic connection through time, is the thread.
