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by Teri Kuwahara and Deb Shaw
BAGSC gathered at the Madrona Marsh Nature Preserve in Torrance for the January meeting to feature the ongoing mural project of BAGSC member Estelle DeRidder.
The interior of the meeting room walls in the Madrona Marsh Interpretive Center have been filled with Estelle’s paintings of the plants, animals and insects found in Marsh. She has spent countless hours capturing each plant in its native environment. The meeting was highlighted by featuring Estelle as our guest speaker, adding her wit and wisdom in starting and continuing this ambitious project. In addition to discussing her process and goals, Estelle also spoke about the challenges of creating such a large work, including determining scale, practical techniques, and interesting visitors (of the human, insect and avian varieties).
Estelle was recently honored by the Cultural Arts Commission in Torrance for her work on this mural. [See BAGSC News blog article about the award here.] The Marsh staff and volunteers from the Friends of the Marsh group were also present to support Estelle, a true indication of how much she is respected and admired. A video was made to highlight Estelle’s mural project for the Cultural Arts Awards ceremony and we were fortunate to view it. It has now been posted on YouTube so members unable to attend the meeting can enjoy it, and can be found here: https://youtu.be/zExN3JWTcMY
Our sincere thanks go out to Estelle for bringing BAGSC to the attention of Madrona Marsh. Estelle’s mural can be viewed in the Interpretive Center, Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Additional thanks goes to Tracy Drake, Park Services Manager, Community Services Department, City of Torrance; Hilary and Dave Jamieson; and, Lance Hill for his wonderful photographs of the meeting.
The Marsh is located at: 3201 Plaza del Amo, Torrance, CA 90503.
Click on any image below to see larger images in a slide show format with full captions for each photo.
BAGSC members chatting as they arrive to the meeting. In the photo are: Tania Marien, Tania Norris, Jude Wiesenfeld, Cynthia Jackson, Estelle DeRidder, Terri Munroe, Mary Sinclair, Bonnie Born Ash, Kathlyn Powell, Leslie Walker and Deborah Shaw. BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
Kat Powell at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
Tania Norris at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
Veronica Raymond at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
BAGSC President Janice Sharp at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
Kathlyn Powell (front) and Tania Marien at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
Hilary Jamieson (Madrona Marsh staff member) at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
Tracy Drake, Park Services Manager, Community Services Department, City of Torrance gave a presentation and introduced Estelle at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
Front to back: Leslie Walker, Deborah Shaw, Tania Norris at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
Hilary Jamieson (Madrona Marsh staff member) and her father Dave Jamison, a Marsh volunteer, at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
BAGSC President Janice Sharp presiding over the meeting at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
Jude Wiesenfeld, BAGSC Education Chair, presenting information about upcoming workshops at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
Olga Ryabstova, BAGSC Exhibitions Chair, presenting information about upcoming exhibition opportunities at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
(L to R) BAGSC Vice President Diane Daly, Mary Sinclair and Terri Munroe at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
Andrea Lofthouse-Quesada at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
Incoming BAGSC Education Chair, Teri Kuwahara at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
Janice Sharp (L) and Jude Wiesenfeld (R) at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
Estelle DeRidder and Tracy Drake at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
Diane Daly (L) and Leslie Walker (R) at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
Estelle DeRidder (L) and Olga Ryabstova (R) at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
Terri Munroe (L) and Tracy Drake (R) at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
Kat Powell (L) and Janice Sharp (R) at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
Estelle has pulled the outdoors “in” and the windows frame the view outside as artwork. Photo by Tania Marien, © 2018.
Estelle discussing the challenges of painting the mural. Photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2018.
Detail of the mural, showing Estelle’s work in progress. Photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2018.
Detail of the mural, showing Estelle’s work in progress. Photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2018.
Detail of the mural, showing Estelle’s work in progress. Photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2018.
Detail of the mural, showing Estelle’s work in progress. Photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2018.
Detail of the mural, showing Estelle’s work in progress. Photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2018.
Detail of the mural, showing Estelle’s work in progress. Photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2018.
Detail of the mural, showing Estelle’s work in progress. Photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2018.
After the presentation, BAGSC members enjoyed a tour of the Marsh. Photo by Tania Marien, © 2018.
Signage along the Marsh tour. Photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2018.
Signage along the Marsh tour. Photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2018.
After the presentation, BAGSC members enjoyed a tour of the Marsh. Photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2018.
After the presentation, BAGSC members enjoyed a tour of the Marsh. Photo by Tania Marien, © 2018.
After the presentation, BAGSC members enjoyed a tour of the Marsh. Photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2018.
After the presentation, BAGSC members enjoyed a tour of the Marsh. Photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2018.
After the presentation, BAGSC members enjoyed a tour of the Marsh. Photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2018.
After the presentation, BAGSC members enjoyed a tour of the Marsh. Photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2018.
After the presentation, BAGSC members enjoyed a tour of the Marsh. Photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2018.
After the presentation, BAGSC members enjoyed a tour of the Marsh. Photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2018.
After the presentation, BAGSC members enjoyed a tour of the Marsh. Photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2018.
After the presentation, BAGSC members enjoyed a tour of the Marsh. BAGSC President Janice Sharp points out (?). Photo by Tania Marien, © 2018.
by Lee McCaffree and Deb Shaw
Filoli’s 20th Annual Botanical Art Exhibition is a celebration of spring flowers from their wonderful historic Garden. Artworks in the exhibition are from local and international artists (some of them graduates of Filoli’s Botanical Art Certificate Program) and are depicted in watercolor, colored pencil, pen and ink, oil, and graphite.
Jurors were Peggy Feidler, botanist, and Carol Woodin, botanical artist; curators were Lee McCaffree and Catherine Watters. The exhibition includes 44 pieces by 36 artists, including the curators and juror Carol Woodin, many of them artists who are exhibiting for the first time.
Awards:
Bourn Award for distinction with an emphasis on horticulture: “Sunflower Awakening” by Jeannetta vanRaalte
Roth Award for distinction with an emphasis on traditional botanical art presentation: Paeonia lactiflora, Pink Peony by Miksuko Schultz (and BAGSC member!)
Jurors Award for distinction with an emphasis on botanical art presentation: Papaver somniferum, Poppy by Jean Emmons
Jurors Award Honorable Mention: Tacca chantrieri, Cat’s Whiskers by Stephanie Law
The exhibition runs from February 23 – May 20, 2018.
BAGSC members in the exhibition include: Nina Anzte, Catherine Dellor, Joan Keesey, curator Lee McCaffree, and Mitsuko Schultz. Carrie Di Constanzo has two pieces in the exhibition: Carrie will be coming to teach a BAGSC workshop in April, 2018, to be held at The Huntington Libraries, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens.
Click on any of the images by BAGSC members below to see a larger image. These paintings, as well as all of the artworks in the exhibition can be seen online at OnlineJuriedShows.com
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- Penstemon Firebird, 13 x 11, Colored Pencil, © 2018, Nina Antze
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- Fuchsia ‘Grand Harfare’ 13 x 10, Watercolor, © 2018, Catherine Dellor
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- Vernal Witch Hazel (Hamamelis vernalis) 15 x 11, Watercolor, © 2018, Joan Keesey
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- Hibiscus dasycalyx, Rose Mallow, watercolor, © 2018, Lee McCaffree
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- Paeonia lactiflora, Pink Peony, 16 x12, Watercolor, © 2018, Mitsuko Schultz
In addition to “A Palette of Flowers,” the Filoli Florilegium is on display in its entirety throughout the House.
Filoli Historic House & Garden is A Site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and is located at 86 Cañada Road, Woodside, CA 94062, (650) 364-8300.
Congratulations to the award-winners and all the participants!
by Jude Wiesenfeld, posted by Deb Shaw
Magnolia grandiflora, gouache on paper, © Carrie Di Costanzo
Carrie Di Constanzo will be teaching a BAGSC-sponsored workshop, entitled Creating Botanical Paintings with Impact Using Gouache.
Participants in this workshop will learn how gouache is used to create realistic and detailed botanical paintings. Explore the benefits of using gouache and the similarities and differences between gouache and watercolor. Demonstrations will include using light washes of gouache, layering of colors with a dry brush, mixing of colors, glazing, and using semi-transparent and semi-opaque gouache. The class will be encouraged to experiment with gouache using small botanical subjects.
This workshop is suitable for artists who have previous experience with gouache, as well as those who have always wanted to try this wonderful opaque medium. Gouache will be supplied by the instructor, and a small fee will be charged to participants to share in the cost of the supplies. The workshop will be held at:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens,
Botanical Education Center, Allied Technical Lab
Wednesday – Friday, April 11 – 13, 2018
9:30 am – 4:00 pm
The Huntington is located at: 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA 91108.
The cost for BAGSC Members is $300; non-members may also attend for $350. Maximum Registration: 16 students.
To register: Send a check in the full amount, made out to BAGSC, with Carrie Di Constanzo on the subject line. Please mail the check to: BAGSC, PO Box 50166, Pasadena, California 91115.
Bring your lunch, or purchase lunch at any of the cafés on The Huntington grounds.
Questions about the Workshop? Contact the BAGSC Education Chair.
More information, materials list and map are available on the BAGSC website.
About the instructor
Carrie Di Costanzo worked as a fashion illustrator before shifting her focus to botanical art. Group exhibitions include the 14th Annual International through the 20th Annual International with the ASBA/HSNY (receiving the Ursus Award in\2013); “Following in the Bartrams’ Footsteps” and “Weird, Wild, and Wonderful” and the 14th through 19th Annual Botanical Art Exhibit at Filoli (receiving the Roth Award in 2013 and the Jurors’ Award in 2014). Her work is held in the Botanical Collections at The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens, The Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation, and private collections.
by Deb Shaw
Botanical Art Worldwide is listed on the American Express Essentials Culture site as one of 15 Art Exhibitions to see this spring at this link: https://www.amexessentials.com/top-art-exhibitions-events-spring-2018/
Congratulations to Akiko Enokido, her Camellia japonica var. decumbens is included (number 14 of 15 in the slide show). Thank you to the ASBA facebook page for the notification!
BAGSC and ASBA member Akiko Enokido’s, Camellia japonica var. decumbens.
by Gilly Shaeffer, posted by Deb Shaw
I recently had a wonderful opportunity to teach a workshop during the California Native Plant Society 2018 Conference that was held at the LAX Marriott Hotel in early February. The attendees at the conference were from all over California. They are a very energetic, enthusiastic and passionate group of people who are committed to protecting the plants and open spaces in our state. Since I live in an area of Los Angeles where many residents are also committed to protecting natural areas and encouraging the cultivation of native plants. I was looking forward to teaching at this venue and thought that a workshop that would be an Introduction to Botanical Art would be well received by this group and I was right.
It is always fun to share an appreciation and love for a subject with those who are attending my class. In this case, it was my love for Botanical Art. This class was intended to introduce botanical art to those who were interested and wanted to know and do more.
The class started with an introduction to the materials used to create this art. Class attendees received a list of recommended books to inspire and to give step by step drawing exercises to begin the process. Workshop attendees did exercises to learn how to shade with graphite to create a value scale which would be preparation for creating three dimensional forms using light to dark shading.
The next portion of the class was focused on line drawing and some of what this entails. We did drawing warm up exercises then contour drawing. I wanted those attending the class to have as much “hands on” experience with drawing, as possible. They were shown how to use the plexiglass view finder, also called the “Leonardo Frame” as a drawing aide.
Workshop participants applied their skills to drawing Toyon berries and leaves. Photo by Gilly Shaeffer, © 2018.
Next, the group learned about how establishing a light source can be very important in the shading of their drawing. I showed them how to establish a source of light coming from the left and how it would hit the object that the artist is shading. Those in the class shaded a sphere and a cylinder. After doing this shading, the information about shading was applied to shading a branch and some berries.
Seeing as the class members were all fans of our California native plants, this was a great opportunity to to have them shade Toyon branches with some leaves and berries applying the concept of light coming from the left.
The class members did remarkably well with this drawing and shading exercise and to my delight seemed keenly interested in learning how to do more in the future.
by Deb Shaw
Every three years, the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) Conservation Conference brings together California’s conservation community for scientific sessions and lectures, field trips, workshops, special events and networking. Each conference also has a native plant botanical art and photo contest. This year included a California native plant tattoo contest as well!
BAGSC members Olga Ryabstova and Gilly Shaeffer taught botanical art workshops at the Conference.
Congratulations to the CNPS Botanical Art Contest winners (including BAGSC members):
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- First Place and Conference Choice , Burned Manzanita, © Marie Brennan.
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- Second Place, Matjila Poppy Seedpod, © Olga Ryabtsova, www.olgaryabtsova.com
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- Third Place, Greene’s Dudleya, © Ellie Yun-Hui Tu , http://www.asba-art.org/member-gallery/ellie-yun-hui-tu
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- Honorable Mention , Acorn Sprouts, © Maria Cecilia Freeman , mcf-art.com
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- Honorable Mention, Fremontia with Yellow warbler, © Estelle DeRidder
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- Honorable Mention, Asclepias fascicularis with Danaus, Estelle DeRidder
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- Honorable Mention , Upper Bidwell Wildflowers, © Erin E. Hunter, http://www.eehunter.com
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- Honorable Mention , From cotyledons to true leaves, © Susan Jackson
These images and more from the exhibition can be viewed at: https://www.facebook.com/pg/CaliforniaNativePlantSociety/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1587978757905901 Participating BAGSC members included: Ellie Yun-Hui Tu, Kim Garrison Means, Nina Antze, Donald Davidson, Estelle DeRidder, Susan Jackson, Joan Keesey, Lee McCaffree, Olga Ryabtsova, Mitsuko Schultz, Gilly Shaeffer, Janice Sharp, Deborah Shaw, and Jude Wiesenfeld.
Kudos to all who participated, and a special thank you to Elizabeth Kubey, CNPS Conference Assistant and the CNPS art panel: Tina Curiel, Wendell Pascual, Lesley Randall, and Nancy Elizabeth Saltsman.
by Tania Norris, posted by Deb Shaw
BAGSC handouts for “Portraits of Bonsai from The Huntington Collection.” Cover image, Ficus retusa, watercolor on paper, © 2018 Anna Suprunenko. Brochure and photo by Olga Ryabtsova, © 2018.
The Botanical Center at The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, is the location for the BAGSC exhibition ‘“Portraits of Bonsai from The Huntington Collection.” The paintings received many admiring comments from the public and participants at The Huntington’s Bonsai-a-Thon held the weekend of February 24 – 25, 2018.
Demonstrations during the two-day event were given by Olga Ryabtsova, Mitsuko Schultz and Tania Norris. The questions and comments from the viewers were many and varied. They ranged from ‘how do you?’, ‘I could never do that’, ‘are they for sale?’ and ‘where do I find classes?’ etc. People were really interested and appreciative of our participation.
Amazing Bonsais everywhere! Photo by Olga Ryabtsova, © 2018.
The wonderful and patient Bonsai master, Ted Matson, gave a long plug for BAGSC before he started the auction of bonsai for the attendees. He mentioned how BAGSC members had come weekly to paint The Huntington Collection. Ted also mentioned the upcoming ASBA “Out of the Woods” art show at the Brody Center (May 18, 2018 to August 27, 2018) and was most complimentary about the BAGSC paintings.
Olga Ryabtsova (L) and Mitsuko Schultz (R) demonstrate in front of the BAGSC wall of Bonsai Portraits. Photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2018.
It was also wonderful to see many BAGSC members attending the event. A few additional BAGSC demonstrators or BAGSC members who could answer questions would have been appreciated. Don’t be shy — all levels of expertise are appreciated at our outreach events, and seasoned BAGSC participants are always on hand to lend a hand.
Jude Wiesenfeld with her painting Juniperus californica, © 2018. Photo by Mitsuko Schultz, © 2018.
Thank you to Ted Matson and The Huntington for this wonderful opportunity; and kudos to all BAGSC papticipants!
BAGSC News 