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by Janice Sharp, posted by Deb Shaw
The California Native Plant Society (CNPS) will be holding its
2018 Conservation Conference
February 1 – 3, 2018
at the LAX Marriott, Los Angeles, California
The CNPS 2018 Conservation Conference features botanic art and photo contests and exhibits to highlight the beauty of California. The botanical art exhibition will be on display throughout the conference.
Artists are invited to enter original artwork in any two-dimensional medium that reflects the beauty and uniqueness of California flora and adheres to high standards of botanical accuracy. All entries must depict plants native to California (no introduced plants).
All the information (guidelines and entry form) are posted online for the botanic art contest and show. Both the entry guidelines and form are downloadable PDFs from this linked page.
Also included on the site are images of the winners of the 2015 botanical art and photography contests, including BAGSC members Joan Keesey who won first place for her watercolor of Salvia spathacea, Hummingbird Sage; and Lesley Randall, who won third place for her pen and ink scientific illustration of Malva assurgentiflora, Island Mallow.
The due date for entries is October 20, 2017.
by Leslie Walker, posted by Deb Shaw
BAGSC member Estelle DeRidder continues to work on her murals at the Madrona Marsh Preserve and Nature Center in Torrance, California. And as promised, we’re bringing you updates.
Estelle DeRidder adding details to the mural. Photo by Leslie Walker, © 2017.
Estelle is adding more plants and details to the murals, bringing the outdoors garden inside.
You can visit Estelle and the mural at the Madrona Marsh Preserve and Nature Center in Torrance, California. The Madrona Marsh is located at 3201 Plaza del Amo, Torrance, CA 90503, 310-782-3989.
The Madrona Marsh is open free to the public, Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, excluding holidays. Because most of the Marsh is staffed by volunteers, and because weather can be a factor, the times the Marsh and Nature Center is open is subject to change. Please call (310) 782-3989 before visiting to make sure the Marsh is open.
If you missed the first post about Estelle’s mural, you can read it here on our BAGSC News blog.
by Lesley Randall, posted by Deb Shaw
In preparation for the upcoming BAGSC Exhibition, Ficus at San Diego Botanic Garden, here is a bit of information about this extraordinary group of plants.
We’ll start with the one most of us know best: the edible fig. Ficus carica, has been in cultivation since ancient times. Though humans typically eat only this species of Fig, others are considered to be keystone species in their habitats, providing food (leaves as well as figs) and shelter for a wide variety of mammals, birds and insects. Several species are plants of special significance in many cultures. For example, Ficus religiosa, the Bo Tree, is said to be the tree under which Buddha sat while gaining enlightenment.
Some figs are cauliflorous, a botanical term for plants which have flowers and fruits growing directly from their main stems or woody trunks rather than from new growth. The word comes from Latin. Caulis means trunk or stem and Flory means flower. Photo by Lesley Randall, © 2017.
The genus Ficus is a member of the Moraceae, or Mulberry Family. There are more than 800 species of Ficus. Most are tropical, but there are some species that survive in more temperate zones, such as the edible fig. The genus is highly diverse, with species growing as epiphytes, massive banyans, stranglers, shrubs, caudiciforms, vines and small trees. They are found from rainforests to dry rocky deserts.
So what makes a Ficus a Ficus?
Ficus auriculatus cut to reveal the interior and white latex. Photo by Lesley Randall, © 2017.
There are a couple of key characteristics that separate this group. First is the unusual flower/fruit arrangement—the fig itself. Known as a syconium in botanical lingo, the fig is an urn-shaped structure lined with tiny flowers on the inside. The flowers are pollinated by a specialized group of wasps that enter the syconium through an opening called an ostiole.
The second key characteristic are the paired stipules that enclose the developing leaf. Though these often drop off as the leaf begins to unfold, they leave a distinct scar at the base of the leaf. The stipules may be separate, or fused into one structure.
The third key characteristic is the sap: a striking white or yellow latex.
Other characteristics to note are: an alternate leaf arrangement, and typically, pinnate venation. All figs share these characteristics that, combined, distinguish them from other plant genera. How these characters are expressed are what makes the group so interesting. The syconium can be as large as a baseball or less than a centimeter wide. It may be scaled or smooth, sessile or stalked and borne in leaf axils or on the main branches and trunk (cauliflorous.) The leaves are typically entire, but several species have lobed leaves. Leaves may be thick and tough, light and delicate, very large or very small. The bark can be smooth, rough, or in the case of a couple Australian species, corky and fire retardant.
Ficus with stipules and scars. Photo by Lesley Randall, © 2017.
Where to find Ficus in Southern California?
The Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden, San Diego Zoo, and San Diego Botanic Garden all have nice collections. The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens have some as well. They also can be found in parks, lining city streets, in back yards, as house plants, in nurseries and as Bonsai specimens.
Want to learn more? Check out Fig Web which has information on specific species as well as general information on the group. BAGSC members who are interested in organizing and/or attending expeditions to find and paint specimens should let us know your interest and stay tuned!
Information about the Ficus exhibition at the San Diego Botanic Garden can be found on BAGSC’s website. Information about the “Call for Entries” can be found on the “Members Only” page of the BAGSC website.
Ficus religiosa, the Bo Tree, with reddish new growth. Photo by Lesley Randall, © 2017.
by Janice Sharp, posted by Deb Shaw
Artwork hanging above the card catalog in the Arboretum Library. Artists are: (L to R) Diane Nelson Daly, Deborah Shaw, and Estelle DeRidder. Photo by Janice Sharp, © 2017.
Illustrating the Urban Forest: 20 Years of Botanical Art, is now open at the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden. The exhibition, featuring Southern Californian urban trees, is now hanging in the Arboretum’s library and includes 29 artworks by 17 BAGSC artists. The exhibition is being held in conjunction with BAGSC’s 20th anniversary celebration.
Photo by Janice Sharp, © 2017.
BAGSC artists in the exhibition include: Diane Nelson Daly, Estelle DeRidder, Cynthia Jackson, Susan Jackson, Clara Josephs, Suzanne Kuuskmae, Patricia A. Mark, Arillyn Moran-Lawrence, Terri Munroe, Marilyn Anne Parino, Veronica Raymond, Olga Ryabtsova, Mitsuko Schultz, Gilly Shaeffer, Janice Sharp, Deborah Shaw, and Jude Wiesenfeld.
Illustrating the Urban Forest: 20 Years of Botanical Art will run from July 6, 2017 to September 28, 2017.
A collage of artwork in the exhibition in The Arboretum Library. Photo collage by Janice Sharp, © 2017.
Join BAGSC members for our 20th Anniversary Celebration at The Arboretum
On Saturday, August 26, BAGSC will celebrate their 20th Anniversary. The program for the celebration will be:
4:00 – 4:45 p.m.
“Illustrating the Urban Forest: 20 Years of Botanical Art” Exhibition by BAGSC Members • Tour of the exhibition includes light refreshments and comments by the artists and Matt Ritter, our guest speaker.
5:00 – 5:45 p.m.
Presentation by Matt Ritter, botanist and author of A Californian’s Guide to the Trees Among Us
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Buffet Dinner • Highlights of BAGSC’s 20-year history
BAGSC members and their guests are invited to the programs and the dinner for $60 per person. Admission to The Arboretum is free; please see the Visitor’s Center attendant for free admission to the Arboretum Gardens for BAGSC guests.
Please email Gilly Shaeffer to RSVP with your name, phone number and the number in your party. Gilly will send an email reply to let you know where to send your check, payable to BAGSC, by August 15.
Los Angeles County Arboretum members and others who would like to attend only the exhibition tour and Matt Ritter presentation (but not the dinner) are welcome to join us for that part of the program. Arboretum members are $10; non-members are $15, payable at the door. There is no additional charge for Arboretum admission.
The 2017 Summer/Fall issue of The Arboretum’s magazine has a page featuring the upcoming exhibitions in The Arboretum’s library.
The Urban Forest exhibition can be seen with admission to The Arboretum during regular business hours in The Arboretum’s Library. There are no additional charges. The Arboretum is located at: 301 North Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia CA 91007-2697.
by Leslie Walker, posted by Deb Shaw
The background and basic plant shapes are blocked in. Notes and reference photos are taped on the beginnings of the mural. Photo by Leslie Walker, © 2017.
BAGSC member Estelle DeRidder has been painting a mural at the Madrona Marsh Preserve and Nature Center in Torrance, California. She has been working on the wall for the past couple of weeks, but has done a great deal of planning previously.
I have been following the progress of the mural. The first time I saw it, the background was in and Estelle was beginning to paint in the big plants, but I couldn’t take any pictures as I had forgotten my iPad.
This past weekend, there were many more plants blocked in, and places were earmarked where more plants would go.
I will be keeping everyone up-to-date about Estelle’s botanical mural as the work progresses. More plants will continue to be blocked in, after which details will be added, including insects, animals and birds.
You can visit Estelle and the mural at the Madrona Marsh Preserve and Nature Center in Torrance, California. The Madrona Marsh is located at 3201 Plaza del Amo, Torrance, CA 90503, 310-782-3989.
Another section of the mural, with reference photos. Photo by Leslie Walker, © 2017.
The Madrona Marsh is open free to the public, Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, excluding holidays. Because most of the Marsh is staffed by volunteers, and because weather can be a factor, the times the Marsh and Nature Center is open is subject to change. Please call (310) 782-3989 before visiting to make sure the Marsh is open.
Another section of the mural. Photo by Leslie Walker, © 2017.
Andrew Mitchell (left) and Janice Sharp (right) mark the wall for hanging the paintings.
by Janice Sharp and Deb Shaw
The first art exhibition by the Botanical Artist Guild of Southern California in the Brody Botanical Center at The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens has been hung… and it is beautiful!
This show, Inspired by California, features plants that are both indigenous to California as well as plants that have become synonymous with California.
Janice Sharp hanging one of the selected artworks.
Thirteen of the entrants were selected for hanging. We congratulate Diane Nelson Daly, Estelle DeRidder, Patricia Mark, Terri Munroe, Gilly Schaffer, Deborah Shaw, Mitsuko Schultz, Janice Sharp, Beth Stone, Ellie Tu and Jude Wiesenfeld on their outstanding submissions.
We thank The Huntington for the exhibit space, Jim Folsom for the inspiration that resulted in the exhibition, Robert Hori for the inception and logistics, Andrew Mitchell for the designing and hanging of the exhibit and Melanie Thorpe for all the details.
Andrew Mitchell with final exhibition display.
Inspired by California will run from June 1, 2017 to August 15, 2017. Current and future exhibitions in the Brody Botanical Center will coincide with events and seasons at The Huntington.
In September, Inspired by Latin America will take the place of the current exhibition. Inspired by Latin America will shown from September 1, 2017 to January 15, 2018. BAGSC member entries will be due no later than August 1, 2017. See the “Call for Entries” page in the “Members Only” section of the BAGSC website for further details.
Inspired by California can be seen with admission to The Huntington during regular business hours. There are no additional charges. The exhibition is in the main lobby area of the Brody Botanical Center. The Huntington is located at: 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA 91108.
“Inspired by California” by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California, in the Brody Botanical Center at The Huntington. Signage about the paintings and information about BAGSC was added after this photo was taken.
posted by Deb Shaw
The Los Angeles Times has an article on this Father’s Day by Matt Ritter in the California Journal section, entitled The case of the leaning pine tree: A natural history mystery unfolds on the Central Coast. The story highlights Matt’s research about Cook pine trees, which he discovered all lean towards the equator, no matter where in the world they grow.
Matt is an engaging lecturer and the author of A Californian’s Guide to the Trees Among Us. Matt will be our keynote speaker at BAGSC’s 20th Anniversary Celebration at the Los Angeles Arboretum on August 26, 2017. Come join us for his presentation, our exhibition, and our celebration!
posted by Deb Shaw
Descanso Gardens had perfect specimens of California native plants on the demonstration tables, with the botanical and common names on tags.
The most recent of BAGSC’s ongoing exhibitions at the Descanso Gardens opened on Friday May 19, 20017. The theme of the show is California Natives.
On the May 20 and 21 weekend, BAGSC held botanical art demonstrations in the Boddy House in conjunction with the exhibition opening and the Rose Festival at Descanso. Thank you Estelle DeRidder, Mitsuko Schultz and Janice Sharp for demonstrating botanical art and talking with the public.
Upon arrival at the Body House the demonstration artists were presented with fresh-cut California native flowers in vases on our cloth-covered tables. Each flower had a tag printed with its common name as well as its botanical name. Each was a perfect example of the species.
The continuous stream of visitors to the Boddy House were very enthusiastic about the art and the Native Plants on the table.
Docents at the Boddy House were very excited and complementary about our art and enjoyed seeing the change over of art. (They keep tabs on the exhibitions.)
The BAGSC sign at the beginning of the exhibition gives information about our organization and mission.
The Boddy House at Descanso Gardens is open daily (except Mondays) from 10 am to 4 pm (the gardens are open daily 9-5).
The California Native Plants show runs until May 2018. The next BAGSC Descanso Garden show theme will be Plants from a Japanese Garden and will run from March, 2018 to March, 2019. Entries are due no later than February 12, 2018. Visit the BAGSC Exhibitions page for more details.
Happy painting.
Hanging along wall in the Boddy House at Descanso Gardens.
by Deb Shaw
Paphiopedilum ‘Hideki Okuyama’, © 2017, Carol Woodin, watercolor on vellum, all rights reserved.
Carol Woodin will be teaching a workshop entitled “Painting Orchids in Watercolor on Vellum” at The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, June 2, 3 and 4, 2017, from 9:30 am – 4:00pm each day. There are still some spaces available in this coveted workshop, with subject specimens specially selected from The Huntington’s prized Orchid collection.
In addition to teaching about painting on vellum, and all about orchids, Carol will demonstrate how to select, cut and stretch vellum over a board.
The cost to BAGSC Members for the three-day workshop is $250; the cost for Non-Members is $275. Payment should be received by BAGSC by Saturday, May 27. Participating artists can provide their own vellum for the workshop, or can purchase a piece from the instructor, who will provide a 10” x 13” piece of vellum for $50, payable at the workshop.
Details about the workshop, enrollment, directions and a materials list can be found on the BAGSC website.
See you there!
By Jude Wiesenfeld, posted by Deb Shaw
Lee McCaffree (left) and Pat Mark (right); photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2017.
BAGSC held a one day class with botanical artist (and BAGSC member), Lee McCaffree, at The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens on May 6, 2017 on “Leaf Detail: Start to Finish, Veins and Edges”.
Susan Jackson, enjoying her leaf studies; photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2017.
Lee stayed with Pat Mark, who also acted as her assistant in the class, arranging for specimens, distributing hand-outs, etc. We brought our lunch, which was a very good idea, as there turned out to be a special film event at The Huntington that took over the Brody side parking lot and added to the crowd.
Lee is a very affable teacher and took time with every student checking their work on the assignments. She began showing us examples of different leaf vein patterns and margin (edges) patterns. We divided our watercolor paper into sections and worked on different techniques in an effort to decide which ones we preferred.
I liked leaving the whites of the veins, rather than “lifting” or “masking” the veins. Lee also suggested tools that would best suit rendering our veins and edges for the best results.
We hope Lee will join us again in future. All of us enjoyed meeting her and enjoyed the class very much.
Class members, © 2017.
Kat Powell (left) and Estelle De Ridder (right); photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2017.
Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2017.
by Lisa Reynolds, Public Relations & Marketing Manager, San Diego Botanic Gardens and Deb Shaw
Cork oak trunk at San Diego Botanic Garden. Photo by Deb Shaw, © 2014.
This Sunday, May 7, 2017 at 11 am, the San Diego Botanic Garden will present a rare demonstration by Matt Ritter on how to harvest cork from a live cork oak tree in the grove at the San Diego Botanic Garden.
The cork oak is one of the world’s most interesting and iconic tree species. Commercial cork comes from the thick, spongy, outer bark which is harvested in the tree’s native range in Spain and Portugal. The outer bark of each tree is skillfully and harmlessly stripped off the trunk once every decade, allowing new bark to regrow. Cork oaks are widely grown in California as ornamental trees, but the bark is rarely harvested. The San Diego Botanical Garden has a beautiful grove of cork oak trees that is a perfect place to host this demonstration.
Cork oak branch at San Diego Botanic Garden. Photo by Deb Shaw, © 2014.
Botany Professor Matt Ritter will show how the outer bark of the cork oak is carefully harvested so as to not damage the tree. Using special tools and the same techniques employed by cork harvesters in Portugal, he will demonstrate how this amazing renewable resource can be sustainably harvested. Come see this rare opportunity right here in California!
The San Diego Botanic Gardens are located at 230 Quail Gardens Drive, in Encinitas. Open from 9 am – 5 pm daily; adult admission is $14; seniors, students and active military are $10; children 3 – 18 are $8; and children 2 and under are free. Parking is $2, except for members and for electric vehicles, which are free.
Cork oak trunk at San Diego Botanic Garden. Photo by Deb Shaw, © 2014.
About Matt Ritter
Matt Ritter is a professor in the Biology Department at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. He has authored numerous scientific papers and botanical treatments, including the second edition of the “Jepson Manual,” “The Flora of North America Project,” and a “Natural History Guide to San Luis Obispo’s Native Plants.” He is also the author of “A Californian’s Guide to the Trees Among Us,” the state’s most popular natural history guide to the urban forest. He is the California Coordinator of the American Forests Big Tree Registry, and editor-in-chief of Madroño, the journal of the California Botanical Society. He is an avid woodworker and gardener, and spent part of a recent sabbatical in Portugal, the cork oak capital of the world.
And if you would like more Matt Ritter…
Matt Ritter will be the keynote presenter at the 20th Anniversary Botanical Artist Guild of Southern California celebration dinner in August at the Los Angeles County Botanical Gardens & Arboretum. All are invited and we hope to see you there!
by Bonnie Born Ash, posted by Deb Shaw
Many BAGSC members get together on an informal basis to go to exhibits and museums, see flowers and work on their paintings. BAGSC members in the Los Angeles county area have been getting together to work on their individual paintings. The next gathering of their BAGSC regional botanical illustration group will be held on:
TUESDAY, MAY 2
11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Norma’s Home
If you are interested in attending, please contact Bonnie to RSVP via email. Space is limited when meeting in member’s home, so no more than ten members will be able to join this day. Participants should remember to bring lunch and a portable light if needed.
A “Regional BAGSC” page has been added to the “Members Only” area of the BAGSC website. If you would like to invite all BAGSC members to an outing or a painting day, let Deb know and she will post it to the website and the blog. OR, take a BAGSC website training session and get on the team to learn how to post it yourself!
Happy painting!
posted by Deb Shaw
The BAGSC meeting and workshop took place in Gilly’s beautiful studio; photo © Gayle Uyehara, 2017.
The April 2 BAGSC quarterly meeting was held at Gilly Shaeffer’s home and we appreciate her warm hospitality. The meeting served as a farewell to Melanie Campbell-Carter who has since moved to Tucson. She will be missed by all of us at BAGSC for her enthusiasm, outstanding art work, dedication to the organization and outreach to all she met. Cristina Baltayian made an imaginative “Happy Trails” cake complete with cactus trim to speed her on her way.
Cristina Batalyian created a delicious chocolate cake succulent garden as a bon voyage for Melanie. Photo by Olga Ryabtsova, © 2017.
The Educational portion of the meeting featured a mini class on Metalpoint techniques, led by Janice Sharp. The technique for preparing paper for metalpoint was demonstrated. Each participant was provided with a piece of prepared paper, “sandpaper” film, a thin piece of copper wire and a shell to draw. Everyone produced wonderful metalpoint shell drawings and had a great deal of fun investigating the potential of the technique.
Janice’s handout will be posted to the BAGSC website soon.
Janice demonstrated how to prepare the paper and showed sample metalpoint drawings before members got to work with the materials themselves. Photo by Olga Ryabtsova, © 2017.
BAGSC members hard at work on their shell drawings in metalpoint. Photo by Olga Ryabtsova, © 2017.
One of the metalpoint drawings created during the workshop. Photo by Olga Ryabtsova, © 2017.
by the BAGSC Board
In the beginning of April, Pat Mark, President of BAGSC since 2014, announced she was stepping down as president, citing personal reasons. At a Special Board meeting on April 2, 2017, Janice Sharp was appointed by the Board to fill the position of President, Beth Stone was appointed Treasurer, to replace Janice Sharp, and Ellie Tu was appointed Membership Chairperson to replace Melanie Campbell-Carter, who has moved to Tucson. Normally scheduled elections for the positions of President, Treasurer and Membership Chairperson are to be held in December.
In addition to these changes the following Board position are open:
Exhibition Chair: Responsibilities are primarily to coordinate exhibition events and post them on BAGSC.org along with Calls for Entries. Lessons of posting information to the web site will be provided. Each of the venues where BAGSC exhibits has a primary person who is the contact person for the venue. These people are Janice Sharp (Arboretum), Beth Stone (Descanso), Lesley Randall (San Diego Botanic Gardens), Diane Daly (Chapman), Tania Norris (Huntington), Gilly Schaeffer and Janice Sharp (20th Anniversary). Bonnie Born-Ash and Leslie Walker are also members of the Exhibition Committee and assist at all the venues.
Please contact Janice Sharp if you are interested in filling this position.
Blog Writer(s) at Large: We are always looking for BAGSC members who would like to be trained to write and post on the blog. Lessons will be provided.
Please contact Deborah Shaw if you are interested in filling this/these position(s).
by Nancy Beckham, posted by Deb Shaw
Artwork on postcard: Slipper Orchid Maudiae, © 2017, Kathy Morgan
The Botanical Art and Illustration Class of the Los Angeles County Arboretum is proud to announce their Second ARTboretum Art show, an annual art exhibit and sale to be held Friday April 28 through Sunday, April 30 from 10 am – 4:30 pm, and 10:00 am until 2:00 pm on Sunday. Last year’s first event was an amazing success, with more than 60 works of framed art available for purchase, demonstrations, a reception, and sales of beautiful cards and prints of the artists work. More than 700 people attended this three-day event.
ARTboretum is back this year, with exciting hands-on demonstrations so the public can experience the thrill of drawing and painting plants. Framed or unframed originals and fine art giclées, cards and prints of the work will be available for purchase just before Mothers’ Day. The artists will be on hand to welcome the public and to share their knowledge and love of their art. A reception for the artists will be held on Saturday, April 29 from 1 – 3 pm in the Oak Room.
The LA County Arboretum and Botanic Garden is located at 301 North Baldwin Avenue in Arcadia. Hope to see you at this exciting event in April.
BAGSC News 