Meet Artist & Botanist Dr Tanya Scharaschkin and Share in Her Joy

Being able to use art as a way to share my scientific interest in plants brings me immense joy.

The natural beauty of Tasmania is just a constant source of inspiration. Even before I “became an artist” and well before I moved to Tasmania, I designed and created a quilt inspired by the colours of the sky, mountains and sea in Tasmania.

I am a botanist and happen to enjoy gardening, pretty flowers and admire botanical art. At some stage I thought I’d like to give botanical art a go. I next realised that even though I am a botanist, I cannot draw a leaf accurately. 

The Craftorium Studio

My studio is called “the craftorium”. When we designed our house, we thought long and hard about how much space I wanted and where I wanted to be located in the house.

I wanted the studio to be part of the house but it had to be a place where I could make a mess and leave the mess.

The craftorium comes off the kitchen and the laundry-pantry is also a wet-craft area. I’ve got lots of storage space and also room to spread out. The view is marvellous. I can hear the creek, see wallabies grazing, birds visiting the bird bath. There’s lots of natural light.

Ukrainian Egg Dyeing ~ Pysanky

I do art on eggs too! I was introduced to Ukrainian egg dyeing (pysanky) by a friend in the US in 2003.

What I thought might be a one-off attempt, turned into a hobby and I have been experimenting and exploring different techniques and designs.

I started out by following traditional patterns but was soon creating my own designs. Some of my designs are influenced by my Pakistani background, others by my interest in botanical art and still others by my scientific career in plant biology, especially plant anatomy.

Practice Makes Perfect

My earliest memories are of learning to knit and do basic embroidery when I was 6 years old.

I have always had craft projects and hobbies, but never had formal art lessons in school or elsewhere, until I signed up for Botanical Drawing Classes (Tutor: Margaret Hastie) with the Botanical Art Society of Queensland in 2010.

My art training therefore involved very precise, accurate and detailed drawing. Even though I am a botanist, drawing a leaf accurately did not come easily to me. I put in a lot of time to practise between classes and just kept at it.

About the Artist

Dr Tanya Scharaschkin is a botanist, artist and teacher.

Tanya is intrigued by patterns in nature and is keen to share the beauty of plants that she sees at different scales as a botanist.

Her artwork combines traditional botanical art with photography and digital art using a variety of media. She hopes her art will inspire others to, not only admire plants, but also develop an understanding and appreciation for the biology of plants.

Tanya is an enthusiastic and well-organised instructor. Her lectures, talks and workshops enable the general public to understand scientific concepts.

She conducts a variety of workshops as a way of sharing her enthusiasm for plants and bringing art and science together.

Tanya was born and brought up in Pakistan. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Botany and Zoology and a Master’s in Science degree in Zoology from Pakistan, followed by a Master’s degree in Vertebrate Paleontology and a PhD in Plant Systematics from the USA.

Much of her academic career was spent at Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane. She is now a free-lance botanist and artist, living and working in Collinsvale, Tasmania.

Most of Tanya’s projects incorporate a botanical theme, although she has designed, made and exhibited mathematically-motivated quilts. Her artwork is held in private collections, in Australia and overseas.

Follow Tanya on Facebook and shop with her on Redbubble.