Amy Ross writes “I am interested in the idea of artist as mad scientist. My drawings offer visual hypotheses to the question: what would happen if the DNA sequence of a plant or mushroom were spliced with that of an animal? Using graphite, watercolor, and walnut ink on paper as well as directly on gallery walls in site-specific installations, I portray animals morphed with branches, mushrooms, berries, and blossoms, thus forming implausible hybrid creatures. These images subvert the traditional genre of botanical illustration by approaching the close study of the natural world through the lens of genetic engineering and mutation gone awry.”

Her delightful images make your face smile as you imagine small mushroom birds bursting from the soil or hopping along branches. The delicate colours emphasise the unusual creatures created from both foliage and fur or feathers. Her attention to detail, and delicate renderings of shadow, smudge, beak and eye make you wish that her mad creations existed somewhere in the world. And perhaps they do! Find her work here.