Molly Hatch’s exhibition Bouquet at Tower Hill Botanic Garden through May 20 puts on display over 40 of the original gouache illustrations from her new book series Bouquet in a Book published by Abrams Books in February of 2018. The illustrations on exhibit offer a fresh take on the Victorian notion of expressing oneself with the symbolic language of flowers. Hatch’s illustrations feature page spreads that include a flower that “flips up” from the page, a brief description of the flower’s symbolism, and its special message for the recipient. When all of the blossoms in each of Hatch’s books are popped up, the books can be displayed on a desk just like a vase of flowers. Hatch created hundreds of original watercolors based on historic botanic and illuminated manuscripts to generate the illustrations for her books. Hatch reveals the process behind illustrating her books in sharing these gouache paintings that started it all.

Born the daughter of a painter and an organic dairy farmer, Molly was raised to be creatively industrious. Using her imagination and love of drawing to make everything from her well known idiosyncratic ceramics to quirky pen-and-ink drawings. Molly’s craft is finely honed, her designs whimsically literal and pop-culturally on-point.

Working from her home studio, Molly began making her living as a full-time studio potter in 2008. Her formal education in ceramics and drawing resulted in the development of her signature style. Making contemporary ceramics inspired by history, Molly’s career as a studio potter quickly garnered a loyal following. Molly’s designs have expanded beyond tableware to a wide range of lifestyle products and Molly is actively growing collections of home goods to bring her modern yet traditional designs to the contemporary home. Exhibit is free with admission. For more information visit http://towerhillbg.org.