Artist Gretchen Cooney finds inspiration all around — the shells along the seashore, the flowers and architectural details on roofs and buildings. They’re all featured in her latest exhibit of pen and ink drawings, I Spy ... Bermuda’s Beauty.

Q: What is your exhibit I Spy ... Bermuda’s Beauty about?

A: My latest exhibit features detailed pen and ink drawings of things that you’d see both above and below Bermuda’s soil. I believe that there’s beauty all around us. Sometimes in our rush of day-to-day living we scan the moment and don’t really register what it is that we have just seen.

Q: Do you have any favourite pieces from this collection?

A: I have two. The first is Beauty Below. For this piece there’s a lot of action with reef fish swimming in and around the coral. At the bottom of the page I’ve included shells that can be seen around Bermuda’s shores along with the “shaving brush” plant.

The second piece is Paradise Found. With that I’ve combined typical architectural features of houses seen in Bermuda along with a middle section of Front Street. The three pieces were framed as one long piece in pink and blue matting, representing Bermuda’s colours, while the frame is white to reflect our white roofs. Below the line of buildings is an abundance of flowers that create a softer feel from the buildings.

Q: What do you hope people get from your work?

A: Each work of art that I do is an extension of me. Each piece is unique and one-of-a-kind. They are very detailed, filled with many different patterns that have been inspired through travel, visits to museums or books. My hope is that people who see my work can take a moment to look, to see the different layers of detail and the overall big picture that represents a tiny piece of Bermuda. When I create a piece of artwork, I study the image in question, be it a fish, insects, shells or flowers. I try to get as precise a drawing as possible so that the person looking at the work can instantly tell what type of fish or flower it is. From there, the real work begins when I incorporate the patterns and designs, creating a flow to each unique drawing. I must admit that I get lost in the moment creating, as for me it becomes a type of meditation. Each piece that I do typically takes a few weeks to complete. From the minute I pick up my pencil to sketch and put down the pen after the last line is drawn, I am in the moment.

Q: Have you always been interested in art?

A: As a child, I was forever colouring in those jumbo colouring books. I think that’s where my love of pen and ink started! I studied graphic arts in college, and have dabbled in many different mediums. Photography is my second love.

Q: Is this something you do full-time?

A: As my artwork is so labour-intensive it’s not something I do full-time. When I am not creating I am usually out and about looking for the next inspiration that will take hold. I have created a line of gift cards that I sell Islandwide; I try and create new designs each year. At the moment I’m in the process of creating a colouring book of my artwork, which I hope to have ready for the holidays. Ultimately though, I would love to see my work on a much larger scale on textiles.

Q: Was it initially a scary thing putting your art out there for the world to see?

A: It’s always scary to put your work out for everyone to see, to admire or critique. As an artist you tend to put your heart and soul into your work, and hope that others enjoy it as much as you enjoyed creating it. My advice to other aspiring artists is to believe in yourself and in what you create. As difficult as it may be at the time, listen to constructive criticism, everyone has a point and that point just might be the one that carries you forward as an artist.

Her show is running at Bermuda Society of the Arts until November 18