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Botanical Art: Portraits of Houseplants from Dutch Painter Maaike Koster

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PileaIssue 29 — Modern Gardens

Botanical Art: Portraits of Houseplants from Dutch Painter Maaike Koster

July 24, 2017

It’s a given that indoor plants require sunlight and water, but did you know they also benefit from some well-placed botanical art? We learned this lesson from Dutch artist Maaike Koster, who has a knack for combining her own houseplants and prints.

Koster left her job as a media agency creative director a few years back to devote herself to painting and interior design. To sell prints of her work, she launched My Deer Art Shop online, and it proved so successful that she’s since opened My Deer’s, her showroom in Haarlem, The Netherlands. The store and her nearby home are both filled with compelling pairings of potted and painted greenery. Come take a look.

Photography courtesy of Maakie Koster, My Deer Art Shop.

In the Shop

Dutch artist, interior designer, and entrepreneur Maaike Koster in her shop in the center of Haarlem. In addition to showcasing limited-edition prints of her own watercolors, Koster sells plants, furniture, ceramics, textiles, and jewelry, many from up-and-coming designers.
Above: Dutch artist, interior designer, and entrepreneur Maaike Koster in her shop in the center of Haarlem. In addition to showcasing limited-edition prints of her own watercolors, Koster sells plants, furniture, ceramics, textiles, and jewelry, many from up-and-coming designers.
Koster has a degree in graphic and typographic design from The Royal Academy of Arts in The Hague. She specializes in watercolors of flora and fauna, and also makes prints of her hand-lettered mottos.
Above: Koster has a degree in graphic and typographic design from The Royal Academy of Arts in The Hague. She specializes in watercolors of flora and fauna, and also makes prints of her hand-lettered mottos.

The examples shown here include her Spotted Eagle Ray, starting at 30 by 40 centimeters (11.8 by 15.7 inches) for €34.50 ($40.23); Eucalyptus branch, 50 by 70 centimeters (19.6 by 31.1 inches), €59.50 ($69.38); and Que le fuck?, 30 by 40 centimeters (11.8 by 15.7 inches) for €34.50 ($40.23). Most come in a range of sizes; the smallest are listed here.

An ode to the fiddle leaf fig tree, a  Ficus Lyrata is available in four sizes, ranging from 30 by 40 centimeters (\1\1.8 by \15.7 inches), €34.50 (\$40.\23) to 50 by 70 centimeters (\19.6 by 3\1.\1 inches), €59.50 (\$69.38).
Above: An ode to the fiddle leaf fig tree, a  Ficus Lyrata is available in four sizes, ranging from 30 by 40 centimeters (11.8 by 15.7 inches), €34.50 ($40.23) to 50 by 70 centimeters (19.6 by 31.1 inches), €59.50 ($69.38).
 Koster makes watercolors of her own plants. She prints her work on fine art photo paper in signed limited editions of no more than 500.
Above: Koster makes watercolors of her own plants. She prints her work on fine art photo paper in signed limited editions of no more than 500.

A set of three Botanics Postcards for mailing and/or hanging is €\17 (\$\19.8\2).
Above: A set of three Botanics Postcards for mailing and/or hanging is €17 ($19.82).
Shop shelves hold among other things, a potted pilea and Koster&#8\2\17;s Pilea Peromiodies print; €39.50 (\$46.06). The fern postcard is from Koster&#8\2\17;s Urban Botanics collection; €\2\2.50 (\$\26.\24) for a set of four.
Above: Shop shelves hold among other things, a potted pilea and Koster’s Pilea Peromiodies print; €39.50 ($46.06). The fern postcard is from Koster’s Urban Botanics collection; €22.50 ($26.24) for a set of four.
She notes that her prints fit perfectly in Ikea’s Ribba frames. To re-create the look, see 10 Best Low-Maintenance Houseplants and 11 Ways to Keep Houseplants Happy.

At Home

Koster lives near her shop with her husband, Jeff, and their two sons, Beau, 7, and Luca, 5. In Beau&#8\2\17;s green-and-white room, his desk is surrounded by Pufferfish,€34.50 (\$40.\23) for the 30-by-40 centimeter (\1\1.8-by-\15.7 inch) size, and Ocean  postcards; €\2\2.50 (\$\26.\24) for a set of four. Play Hard is €34.50 (\$40.\23).
Above: Koster lives near her shop with her husband, Jeff, and their two sons, Beau, 7, and Luca, 5. In Beau’s green-and-white room, his desk is surrounded by Pufferfish,€34.50 ($40.23) for the 30-by-40 centimeter (11.8-by-15.7 inch) size, and Ocean  postcards; €22.50 ($26.24) for a set of four. Play Hard is €34.50 ($40.23).
Koster&#8\2\17;s bird series includes Flying High, shown far right, €34.50 (\$40.\23) for the 30-by-40 centimeter (\1\1.8-by-\15.7 inch) size. Admiring the chair? Read the surprising history of the Eames Lounge on Remodelista.
Above: Koster’s bird series includes Flying High, shown far right, €34.50 ($40.23) for the 30-by-40 centimeter (11.8-by-15.7 inch) size. Admiring the chair? Read the surprising history of the Eames Lounge on Remodelista.
N.B.: In addition to her boutique and My Deer Art Shop, Koster sells her prints through a number of retailers worldwide (though not in the US).  One of the stockists is Remodelista favorite Father Rabbit in Auckland, NZ, where her Fern Art Print is currently marked down from $119 NZD ($88.72 USD) to $34.87 NZD ($26 USD).

Stay tuned: Urban Botanics, an indoor plant guide by Emma Sibley of London Terrariums with illustrations by Koster is being published this September. Go to Studio Visit: Gardening Under Glass to see our post on Sibley at work.

For more botanical art, take a look at:

Finally, get more ideas on how to plant, grow, and care for various houseplants with our Houseplants: A Field Guide.

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