The collection of over 170 sketchbooks donated as part of the Blackadder-Houston bequest represents the travels, inspirations and muses of Elizabeth Blackadder and husband John Houston. Flowers, cats, and sketches from her travels reflect Elizabeth’s inspirations throughout the years.
Though undated and unlabelled, we can assume that this sketchbook travelled with Elizabeth on one of her many trips to Japan. Sketches contained within this sketchbook show possible inspirations for some of her well-known Japanese paintings - See Shrine, Fushimi, 1999 and Interior, Kyoto, View of a Garden, 1991 - as well as a sketch of what would later become the etching Orchidaceae Pendrobium ‘Fire Coral’ on pages 6 and 7.
