HORSE CHESTNUT LEAF MINER

Entrée n° 79

Lately, I’ve been noticing how the heat is shaping the plants around me, and I was drawn to a strange pattern emerging on the leaves of the horse chestnut. At first, I assumed it was caused by sun scorch—but when I looked more closely, I discovered it was the work of the horse chestnut leaf miner moth. Its larvae burrow between the layers of the leaf, creating intricate networks that start yellowing, then browning as the damage spreads. By mid-summer, entire leaves can be covered in these fragile, fraying marks.

While the moth's impact can be quite destructive, I find there’s a beauty in these forms. I’ve always been interested in documenting plants that are in some way altered—by disease, insects, or weather—because they reflect the shifting, often fragile relationship between life and its conditions. These natural disruptions create almost abstract patterns, and they tell a story of a trees vulnerability.

This particular piece is drawn in graphite onto handmade Hayle Mill paper—one of the last sheets I have, as these types of papers are no longer made. The paper itself holds history, and I’m drawn to how its soft surface allows me to draw with clarity. It feels fitting to pair a disappearing material with a disappearing leaf. I get my frames made bespoke with a open plywood frame to add another layer of craftsmanship to the piece.