My Summer Atelier (2026)

My Summer Atelier

A Botanical Narrative Illustration by SALEIGN

My Summer Atelier explores the idea of preserving an entire season through flowers, architectural ornaments, and botanical observation. Rather than depicting a specific place, the illustration imagines an atelier where memories quietly accumulate over the course of summer.

Botanical Elements

Along with the border elements, I carefully selected summer botanicals to add to my illustration. Clematis, Hydrangea, and Yucca filamentosa. Clematis always reminds me of budgies singing on the plant, since my budgie Ruben and Lauren used to. Hyrangeas are the queen of summer with beaming existence. Yuccas bloom in the hottest days on the roads, in the midst of aspalt gardens. A strong symbol of power and thrival.

Decorative Motifs

I included my studies of the <Grammar of Ornaments>, a library of old ornaments studied in the 1700~1900s. Carefully, I picked several ornaments to pile up the sections of my illustration, and thought about the colors. I did not want to fully color each of the ornaments. I wanted them to be subtle and soft, mixing well and supporting the key part of the illustration.

The Illustration

These days I am stunned by the idea of Ice Flowers - First I got the idea from my old work <Glass and ormolu>, wherer antique glass bottle swith bronze ormolu hinges stand to be an object. Then I thought maybe glass flowers also looked like ice flowers. How would ice flowers be in summer? It would be wonderful, the striking shape and beauty gleaming into ice drinks or waters, and a healing spot for people who admire them - as ice is a shelter from heat. I hoped my summer atelier would have ice flowers in the middle center, so that I could flee from heat and linger along its beauty.

This work was created as part of an ongoing series exploring the relationship between botanical observation, memory, and ornamental design. 

I am first planning to convert this illustration into a summer silk scarf, so that I can admire it on my clothing in the season. An imaginary atelier where the memories of a single summer are preserved through flowers, ornaments, and botanical observations - How did you see it?

saleign 2026