A. A. Newton

Part of why I like watercolor is that mistakes are visible, and you can't really repair much. It has to look easy. When it comes out, it looks easy, but to get to that point takes a lot of doing.
~Chris Raschka

For Art Thursday, pomological watercolors by Amanda Almira Newton.

Wikipedia's information about Newton's career is very interesting:

Newton worked for the [U.S. Department of Agriculture] from 1896 to 1928. This was a time when the major fruit-producing regions in the United States were just beginning to emerge, as farmers worked with the USDA to establish orchards for expanding markets. Photography was not yet in widespread use as a documentary medium, so the government relied on artists like Newton to produce technically accurate drawings for its publications. Newton was one of more than 50 skilled botanical illustrators hired in this early period...and she was one of the most productive, turning out more than 1200 finished watercolors for the USDA...

In addition, beginning in 1896, Newton made wax models of some 300 specimens of fruits being grown or tested in the United States. She inaugurated production of these wax models for the USDA and later showed some of them at the Tennessee Centennial Exposition and the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition. For the latter exposition, she created some models showing how environmental conditions, cultivation practices, and storage conditions affect the fruit's condition and keeping qualities.

Early Belle variety of peaches (scientific name: Prunus persica), with this specimen originating in Rosslyn, Arlington County, Virginia
U.S. Department of Agriculture Pomological Watercolor Collection

Image of the Scheradzouli Blanc variety of grapes (scientific name: Vitis), with this specimen originating in Oakville, Napa County, California

Image of the Howard Early variety of strawberries (scientific name: Fragaria), with this specimen originating in College Park, Prince Georges County, Maryland

Image of the Acida variety of oranges (scientific name: Citrus sinensis)

Image of oranges (scientific name: Citrus sinensis), with this specimen originating in Indian River Shores, Indian River County, Florida

Image of the Satsuma variety of oranges (scientific name: Citrus sinensis), with this specimen originating in Alabama, United States.