64th Owensboro Art Guild Juried Exhibition

Heather Doucette, Founder of Hilltop Botanicals

There are moments in creative work that feel like quiet milestones.

Being accepted into the 64th Owensboro Art Guild Juried Exhibition is one of those moments.

This year, 57 pieces were selected across painting, sculpture, mixed media, and photography. Of those, only five were photographic works—including my piece, Botanical Study: Cucumis Tendril.

While I did not receive an award, I am deeply honored to have my work included in the exhibition at the Owensboro Museum of Fine Arts from March 14 through May 8, 2026.

A Botanical Study

The photograph is a macro study of a cucumber tendril—captured as it curls into a spiral—with a ladybug moving along its surface.

This moment was not staged.

It was observed.

I spent time in the garden watching the movement of the plant and waited until the ladybug moved into position—allowing the composition to form naturally. The tendril curves through the upper portion of the frame, while the ladybug anchors the lower edge.

This type of botanical observation is central to both my photography and the way I approach botanical tea.

It begins with paying attention.

How It Began

My interest in photography started early, but it deepened over time.

I took a photography class in high school, and later continued studying during graduate school, where my understanding of composition and visual storytelling grew.

What continues to draw me to photography is the ability to capture a moment that cannot be recreated.

A single second.
A shift in light.
A movement that passes quickly.

Once it is gone, it is gone.

That is what makes it meaningful.

From Art to Tea

Although this exhibition focuses on photography, it is deeply connected to the work I am building with Hilltop Botanicals.

The same process applies:

Observation → Study → Creation

Whether I am photographing a plant or blending a loose leaf herbal tea, the foundation is the same. Each ingredient, each subject, begins with time spent observing it closely.

This is what shapes both botanical art and herbal tea blends.

They are not separate practices.

They are part of the same process.

A Personal Path

My path to this point has not been linear.

I am originally from California and joined the Coast Guard after high school. During that time, I met my husband, and after his retirement in 2019, we chose to settle in Lewisport, Kentucky.

Along the way, I earned a Bachelor’s degree and later completed my MFA in Graphic Design from the Academy of Art University.

Today, I work as a freelance designer while continuing to build Hilltop Botanicals—focused on seasonal herbal tea, infused honey, and botanical studies.

This exhibition marks the first juried show I have entered, and it will not be the last.

Support and Community

Creative work is never done in isolation.

My family—my husband Adam, my son Donovan, my stepdaughter Addison, my grandson Liam, my stepson Brayden, and my friend Amber—were all there to support me at the exhibition.

Their presence matters.

It is a reminder that behind every piece of work, there is a network of encouragement and belief.

Looking Ahead

There is more to come.

I plan to submit additional work this year, including a piece for the upcoming Bluegrass Museum Art Exhibition. Each step forward builds on the last.

And at the same time, the work continues here—on the hilltop, in the garden, in the quiet moments of observation that lead to both art and tea.

Closing

This exhibition is not an endpoint.

It is part of the process.

A moment captured.
A study shared.
A step forward.

And from here, the work continues.