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by Deb Shaw
ArtPlantae Today featured BAGSC member Arillyn Moran-Lawrence in an interview “Painting Hawaii’s Endangered Plants.” Read about how Arillyn fell in love with Hawaiian plants, and how she works.
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 Joan Keesey
Thread-leaved Brodiaea, Second Place, by Deborah Shaw, watercolor on Kelmscott Vellum © 2012
It was very gratifying to see the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California (BAGSC) so well represented at the Botanical Art Exhibit at the CNPS Conservation Conference 2012 in San Diego at the Town and Country Resort. There were thirteen pictures by seven BAGSC members: Diane Daly, Estelle DeRidder, Clara Josephs, Joan Keesey, Janice Sharp, Deborah Shaw, and Dorthea Yellot. Members of our group won some prizes as well: Deborah Shaw received a second place ribbon for her watercolor on vellum of Thread-leaved Brodiaea; Joan Keesey won a third place ribbon for her watercolor of Snake Lilies and Elegant Madia; Estelle DeRidder won an honorable mention for her colored pencil of Hummingbird Sage.
Snake Lily & Elegant Madia, Third Place, by Joan Keesey, watercolor © 2012
My husband and I visited the exhibit twice—once on Thursday evening and again on Saturday afternoon. On both visits there were 12-15 enthusiastic conference attendees who had taken the trouble to make the trip to the ninth floor of the Regency Towers to see the botanical art and photography. Generally the conference attendees were biologists, botanists, geologists, environmentalists and land managers—a different crowd from the usual botanical art group. The focus at most botanical art exhibits is on the artistic aspects of a work—composition, values, and technique. While this group was very appreciative of the skill displayed in the compositions, they were equally if not more interested in and enthusiastic about the actual subject matter. You overheard people say things like: “Oh, that is my favorite plant”; “Have you ever seen that beautiful sage.”; or “This is such and interesting plant. I saw it for the first time on that hike along the Merced.”
Hummingbird Sage, Honorable Mention, by Estelle DeRidder, colored pencil © 2012
This is the second CNPS exhibit that I have participated in, and I thought that the pictures were better displayed and of a higher quality. I am particularly interested in California Native Plants, so I find a show like this a real treat. I also like botanical exhibits where there is a focus or theme. I find the juxtaposition of “Turnips & Tulips”, “Corn and Camellias”, “Radishes & Roses”, jarring and difficult to evaluate. I hope BAGSC will consider sponsoring exhibits that are more focused—a plant family such as the mustard, pea, rose or lily family, plants of a particular region, trees, succulents, etc. The options are endless, but I think it makes a more interesting and informative exhibit.
BAGSC News 