Minimalist Mixed Media Botanical Study Painting Botanical "Branch #1" This mixed media painting by Derek James Lynch (American, b. 1959, 2003 presents a botanical study rendered in a minimalist, almost archaeological aesthetic. The vertical composition features a single tall branch of densely clustered, dark leaves painted in fine, tonal detail. The plant’s silhouette stands out in stark contrast against a textured, weathered ground of pale lavender-gray and dusty white, evoking the patina of time-worn plaster or fresco. Lynch’s treatment of surface — with its intentional abrasions, scratches, and uneven coloration — suggests both age and fragility, as if the image has been unearthed or preserved from antiquity. The effect is contemplative, evoking memory and impermanence, while the delicate draftsmanship of the plant form reveals a quiet reverence for nature. The work feels at once botanical, archival, and poetic — a visual artifact that bridges scientific observation with ephemeral beauty. Medium: Mixed media (Acrylic on canvas with leaves) Signature: On verso, Auction and gallery label Created: 2003 Condition: Excellent Presented unframed Canvas/Image size: 49"H x 24"W x 1.5"D Derek James Lynch was born in Englewood, New Jersey and currently works and lives in San Francisco. Lynch graduated from the School of Visual Arts in New York City in the early 1980s, studying alongside artists such as Keith Haring and Kenny Scharf. He was mentored by notable artists including Frank Owen, John Seery, and Sandro Chia. He is a San Francisco-based visual artist known for his evocative mixed media works that blend painting, digital photography, and architectural forms. His art often explores the intersection of natural and urban elements, creating compositions that are both familiar and dreamlike. In the late 90s he began experimenting by incorporating plant matter into his work. He developed a unique process combining foliage, many layers of acrylic medium, with drawing and surface scratching. The subject matter and technique were the basis of his work for well over a decade.