You are currently browsing the category archive for the ‘Learning Opportunities’ category.
by Bonnie Born Ash, posted by Deb Shaw
Join us on Saturday, April 28,2012 for a tour of Lotusland!
BAGSC members and significant others are invited to a docent-led tour of Lotusland, the 37-acre historic garden estate of opera singer Madame Ganna Walska in Montecito. The grounds are the home of many large and rare plants, some no longer found in the wild. Leslie has visited many times in the past 30 years and looks forward to enjoying one of Southern California’s jewels again.
The tour begins at 10:00 am and will be approximately two hours. Bring your camera and wear comfortable shoes! Cost of the tour is $35.00 per person. Visit the website to explore the gardens and learn about its colorful history. Advance reservations are required, so you must reserve your place by February 29 to Leslie Walker. Payment is due March 28.
Carpools will be organized to relieve everyone from driving. If there are enough people interested we might look into getting a bus.
by Jill Berry, posted by Deb Shaw
Mushroom, © 2011, D Shaw
Confused by how to identify the fungi you would like to paint? The LA Arboretum is holding a workshop on MUSHROOM IDENTIFICATION as a lead-in to the Mushroom Fair at the Arboretum on February 12!
Saturday, February 4
10am-Noon (followed by a walk in the garden to hunt for mushrooms!)
Palm Room at the Arboretum (301 North Baldwin Ave., Arcadia, CA 91007)
$25 Arboretum members / $30 non-members
Dr. Jerrold Turney, Ph.D, instructor
Please call the Arboretum class registration line at 626.821.4623 to register for class. You may also pay at the door.
This class will provide a basic overview of the fungal kingdom with emphasis on mushroom identification. Learn the basic characteristics used to identify mushrooms and other fleshy fungi. Find out which mushrooms are safe to eat and which ones to avoid. Jerry will also take the class out on Arboretum grounds to seek out and identify mushrooms right in “our own backyard.” Bring to class any mushrooms you find for identification and group discussion. Then with a new understanding of our fungal friends, attend the Wild Mushroom Fair on February 12 from 10am – 4 pm at the Arboretum.
Dr. Turney received his B. S. In Botany from California State Polytechnic University and his Ph.D. in plant pathology from the University of California at Riverside. He has served as the curator of the camellia gardens at the Huntington Library and Botanic Gardens, a research horticulturist at the Los Angeles County Arboretum, and is currently the plant pathologist for the Department of Agricultural Commissioner/Weights and Measures for the County of Los Angeles. In addition, Dr. Turney was formerly a licensed landscape contractor, and is currently a licensed agricultural pest control advisor and an ISA certified arborist. His primary fields of expertise are plant pathology, mycology and arboriculture.
by Deb Shaw
Colored Pencil Artwork by Cristina Baltayian, © 2010, all rights reserved.
Cristina Baltayian will teach “Using Colored Pencils in Botanical Art” at The Arboretum. The class will focus on color pencil techniques, composition, and color mixing. All levels of experience are welcome.
Classes meet from 10 am – 2 pm (including a lunch break) on Tuesdays, beginning in January, 2012:
January 10, 17, 24, 31
February 7, 14, 21, 28
March 6, 13, 20, 27
The cost is $255/month for Arboretum members, and $275/month for non-members. A supply list will be provided upon registration. Students may bring a sack lunch, or purchase one at the Peacock Café.
Preregistration is required. To register, please call The Arboretum at 626.821.4623.
Cristina Baltayian has a background in drawing (graphite, charcoal, pen and ink), two-dimensional design, watercolor, and colored pencils. Her work has been shown at Filoli, the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Chapman University. She is a member of the American Society of Botanical Artists and The Botanical Artist Guild of Southern California.
The Arboretum is open daily from 9AM to 5PM and is located at: 301 North Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007.
by Deb Shaw
There are still a few openings in Margaret Best’s upcoming class “The Fruits that Fall or Form in the Fall”. Read all about the class in our previous blog posting.
The class is coming up soon: December 2, 3 and 4, 2011 from 10 am – 4:30 pm. The cost is $275 for BAGSC members or $300 for non-members. Please call or email Leslie for more details and to reserve your spot.
The class will be held in the Oak Room, under the Peacock Cafe, at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, 301 North Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, CA 91007.
by Deb Shaw
The October 7th early bird discount date has passed for the Tuscany botanical art workshop taught by BAGSC member Margaret Best, in conjunction with Quench Trip Design. There has been a great response to the trip, and there are still a few spots open at the regular price.
Margaret will be teaching the workshop in Tuscany, in Spring 2012 (April/May). Participants will stay in a restored medieval village, drawing or painting some of the seasonal displays of flowers or choosing from the local fruit and vegetable offerings. This workshop has been designed for artists at every level, and also features an expert Italian-speaking cultural guide on a memorable eight-night visit to Italy.
The PDF, MargaretBestItaly, contains more details, or please e-mail Quench Trip Design, or call them at 416 366 2777 to book.
by Deb Shaw
BAGSC member Margaret Best, in conjunction with Quench Trip Design, will be teaching a botanical art workshop in Tuscany, in Spring 2012 (April/May). Participants will stay in a restored medieval village, drawing or painting some of the seasonal displays of flowers such as red poppies, Azaleas, wisteria or the native blue iris. Or, artists may choose to depict the local fruit and vegetable offerings such as the asparagus, strawberries, fennel or peas to be found in the market place. This workshop has been designed for artists at every level.
Margaret will teach in a stunning historical indoor/outdoor studio setting. The trip also features an expert Italian-speaking cultural guide on a memorable eight-night visit to Italy.
Outside the studio, participants will visit an organic kitchen garden and join the owner for a sumptuous gourmet meal. They also will be able to experience the authentic Chianti region by mingling with the local residents and visiting boutique wine estates to sip their vintages, and savour the culture of Rome and Siena.
Please read the PDF, MargaretBestItaly, for more details, e-mail Quench Trip Design, or call them at 416 366 2777 to hear more information on how to book. Those booking before October 7th will receive Euro 150 per person off the program cost.
by Clara Josephs (posted by Deb Shaw)
All BAGSC members attending the ASBA Conference and Workshops in Boston in October should have received notification that power cords are not available for workshops and classes, and attendees need to bring battery operated lights if instructor’s have specified a lamp on the materials list.
Since outlets can be hard to come by in many classrooms, and traveling with lamps add to luggage woes, we decided to post a quick review of some battery-powered options.
The ASBA recommended the following:
- Best Color Rendering: OttLite 290G59 LED Task Light, sold online by many retailers including Amazon.com, J & R Electronics, Sears and Ottlite. It’s also available in Michael’s Craft stores.
- Lightest and Most Flexible: JOBY Gorilla Torch Flare, sold online by many retailers including Amazon.com, J & R Electronics, and REI.com
I read the specs and reviews of the Ottlite battery-operated light and decided that was definitely not for me: It weights 5 pounds (I was thinking of getting two lamps for the illumination I typically need), cost $99 each, and the battery lasts about three hours before it needs recharging. So, where would I recharge it in the middle of a class, and how long does that take?? I need light for four full days of classes. I looked at the Daylite version of the Ottlite battery light at Art Supply warehouse. It is HEAVY and bulky. So, I ordered the JOBY Gorilla Torch Flare.
After I received the first from Amazon, I purchased a second one. It’s lightweight, small, with a strong light that’s easy to position, and has DISPOSABLE batteries. (I definitely don’t want to run to my room at lunch to try to recharge my light for the afternoon.) So far, I am pleased with the JOBY torch light. It isn’t perfect, but the light is crisp and shows details. I am not as sensitive to color correction issues as I should be, but I would guess the color is not as true as on Ott. I will carry a ton of AA batteries (the ASBA should make sure there is someone in the lobby selling batteries at all times!!!!). Joanne’s Fabrics had a 50 percent off sale on all Ott lamps, but I don’t know if they carry the battery light. I also tried ordering a flip light from Lamps Plus and it was useless – a glorified book light. I was going to go check REI for a larger dimension spot light, but I haven’t had time. I think I will just go with these two JOBY’s.
by Leslie Walker/Margaret Best (published by Deb Shaw)
Rosa canina, Rose Hips, watercolor, © 2010, Margaret Best, all rights reserved.
Why does a botanical artist need to know anything about brown when there are stunning pink, purple, or blue flowers to paint? Aren’t brown botanical subjects dead, dried up or dull? And then there are all those oxides, umbers and siennas, “burnt” and “raw”. What do these names mean and why can’t you just mix browns from other colours? Just how important can they be in a world that demands eye-popping, saturated hues?
To find out the answer to all of these questions and so much more, join us at Margaret Best’s upcoming class titled the The Fruits that Fall or Form in Fall. This 3-day workshop is designed to give you a meaningful opportunity to explore the range of available watercolor earth pigments. You will discover the warmth and richness of color that they can bring to your work when you know how to use them. Their multitude of useful applications will surprise you!
The timing of this class has been specifically planned for you to utilize your earth color discoveries effectively in the drawing and painting of a choice of seasonally available subject matter. You will need your preferred supply of paper and paints but the earth pigments for testing and color matching will be provided.
This class will be held December 2, 3 and 4, 2011 from 10 am – 4:30 pm in the Oak Room, under the Peacock Cafe, at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, 301 North Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, CA 91007.
The cost is $275 for BAGSC members or $300 for non-members. A $50 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your space, with balance due November 1, 2011. Please mail checks to Leslie Walker, made out to BAGSC, with an indication that the check is for Margaret’s class. Questions? Please call or email Leslie.
by Deb Shaw
BAGSC member Tania Marien, ArtPlantae, will be teaching “Learning through Natural Science Illustration: Tree Life Cycle” at the Environmental Nature Center (ENC) in Newport Beach, CA on Saturday, October 8, 2011 from 10 – 11 am.
Children ages 5 and 6 (and their parents) will learn what happens to a tree after it falls to the ground during a reading of “A Log’s Life”, by Wendy Pfeffer. They will then learn about the amazing paper sculptures used to illustrate the book, created by artist and natural science illustrator Robin Brickman, before creating their own paper sculptures of Fall leaves.
Fee: $12 per child, ages 5 – 6. Art supplies will be provided. Call the ENC at 949.645.8489 to reserve a space, or email Lori Whalen at the ENC. Reservations are required. The ENC is located at: 1601 16th Street, Newport Beach, CA 92663.
by Deb Shaw
BAGSC member, Cristina Baltayian will teach a class in “Using Colored Pencils in Botanical Art” at the Los Angeles Arboretum. The class will focus on techniques, composition and color mixing. All levels of experience are welcome.
Students can sign up for September classes or October classes, or both!
Tuesdays, September 6, 13, 20, 27 – Oak Room (except for September 13)
Tuesdays, October 4, 11, 18, 25 – (Oak Room (except for October 4)
10 am-2 pm (includes one-half hour for lunch)
Los Angeles Arboretum & Botanic Garden
301 North Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007
626-821-3222
Cristina Baltayian, Instructor
$225 Arboretum members/$245 non-members per month
To register, contact Jill Berry, via email, phone: 26.821.4624, or fax: 626.821.4642. A materials list will be sent to all registrants. Space is limited, so be sure to register soon.
Cristina Baltayian has a background in drawing (graphite, charcoal, pen and ink), two-dimensional design, watercolor, and colored pencils. Her work has been shown at Filoli, the Los Angeles Arboretum and Chapman University. She is a member of the American Society of Botanical Artists and The Botanical Guild of Southern California.
by Deb Shaw
Tania Marien, ArtPlantae will teach a children’s nature art class through Back to Natives on Saturday, 23 July, 2011, from 10 am – 11 am at the Santiago Creek Nature Center, 600 E. Memory Lane, in Santa Ana, CA.
Part of the “Learning through Natural Science Illustration” series, Tania will introduce children to natural science illustration through the book, “A Seed is Sleepy.” The class will take a short hike, and learn how Back to Natives collects seeds for habitat restoration. The young naturalists will then use colored pencils to design and illustrate a seed packet, and receive native plant seeds to plant at home. The class will cover plants, how they grow, and why they are important.
The class is for children ages 5 & 6, and costs $10.75 per child. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. To register, email Back to Natives that you will be coming to the class, fill out the City+of+Santa+Ana+Registration+Form-1 and bring it with you with payment to the class the day of the event.
by Deb Shaw
Morgan Kari will be teaching “Amazing Colored Pencils” at the Manhattan Beach Creative Center Tuesday nights July 5-August 9, from 7:00-9:30 p.m. The cost is $140 for residents of Manhattan Beach, and $154 for nonresidents.
Registration is available online. There are still spaces available. If you need help with registration, call (310) 802-5448. A supply list is available by calling (310) 802-5448.
Students will be introduced to colored pencil and exciting techniques, including odorless turpentine blending, embossing, frisket erasing, burnishing, and optical blending. This class will further students’ knowledge of composition, form, value, color, line, paper selection and lightfast color pencils. The class will be held in the Performing Arts Room at the Creative Arts Center, at 1560 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Manhattan Beach, CA 9026.
by Deb Shaw
Tania Marien, ArtPlantae will be teaching a children’s nature class presented by Back to Natives on Saturday, 25 June from 10 am to 11 am at the Santiago Creek Nature Center, 600 E. Memory Lane, in Santa Ana.
The class is part of the series, “Learning through Natural Science Illustration: Mother Monarch” and will introduce children ages five and six to natural science and illustration through Mindy Lighthipe’s book, “Mother Monarch”. Children will become more aware of butterflies and insects and the important role they often play as pollinators. In a hands-on nature-themed art project using paper sculpture and gouache, each child will create a beautiful butterfly life cycleand learn about plants, how they grow, and why plants are relevant to our lives.
The cost is $10.75/child. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. Space is limited. To register, send an email to Back to Natives Restoration to reserve your spot and fill out the City+of+Santa+Ana+Registration+Form, which can be brought with payment the day of class.
by Sue Kuuskmae
There are still a few openings left for Mike Sibley’s “Drawing From Line To Life Workshop”; a 3-Day Graphite Pencil Workshop focusing on botanical subjects, June 24 – 26 at the Torrance Airport Zamperini Field meeting room. The cost for the workshop is $385 and there is a full description of the class on his website. All materials will be provided. Sign up on Mike Sibley’s website, or contact Suzanne Kuuskmae.
by Deb Shaw
BAGSC member, Tania Marien, of ArtPlantae, will teach a natural science illustration class this Saturday, 7 May, from 10 am – 11 am at the Santiago Creek Nature Center, 600 E. Memory Lane, in Santa Ana. Presented by Back to Natives, this class will introduce children to natural science illustrator Marianne Wallace and her America’s series of books. The class will create a nature-themed art project, and learn about plants, how they grow, and why they are important in our lives.
The class is designed specially for children ages 5 and 6 for $10.75/child. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. Register for the class by emailing Back to Natives, then click on the following link: (City+of+Santa+Ana+Registration+Form) to download the registration form. Fill out the form and bring it with you with payment to the class.
Santiago Park Nature Center is located at 600 E. Memory Lane, Santa Ana, 92706, between Main Street and the 22 Freeway in north Santa Ana.
Bring your children or grandchildren and see you there!
