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by Deb Shaw
Alice Tangerini
Alice Tangerini, botanical illustrator for the botany department at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, will be exhibiting her work and giving two presentations at the Riverside Metropolitan Museum in Riverside, California as part of their “Smithsonian Week in Riverside.”
The free public programming is related to the “John Muir and the Personal Experience of Nature” exhibit at the Museum. In addition to a display of Alice’s work, the program includes:
“Treasures of Yosemite” Presentation
David Wimpfheimer, Natural History Study Leader, Smithsonian Journeys
Wednesday, April 24
3 pm – 5 pm
Botanical Illustration Demonstration
Alice Tangerini, Botany Staff Scientific Illustrator, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Thursday, April 25
3 pm – 5 pm
“To Reach Perfection — the Challenge of Botanical Illustration” Presentation
Alice Tangerini, Botany Staff Scientific Illustrator, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Thursday, April 25
7 pm – 8:30 pm
If you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Alice or taking a class from her, you’re in for a rare treat. Alice has illustrated more than 1500 species of plants for the Smithsonian and is also the curator of the 4800 plant drawings currently in the Smithsonian inventory. She is a board member of the American Society of Botanical Artists (ASBA), and is the person to whom we send our information and images to when we want to post them to the Member’s Gallery on the ASBA website. Alice received the American Society of Botanical Artists Award for Excellence in Scientific Illustration in 2008, teaches scientific illustration, and provides educational outreach. She is also a member of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators (GNSI). You can view Alice’s scientific illustrations from the Catalog of Botanical Illustrations, Department of Botany, Smithsonian Institution online.
More information about the Smithsonian Week at the Riverside Metropolitan Museum is on their website. The museum is located at 3580 Mission Inn Avenue, near Orange Street, right off the 91 Freeway. The phone number is (951) 826-5273.
As long as you’re in Riverside, you might want to plan to arrive early and visit ArtPlantae. Just two blocks away you’ll find ArtPlantae at Aurea Vista Marketplace, at 3498 University Avenue on the corner of Lemon and University. Tania Marien will (of course!) be at the Riverside Metropolitan Museum to see Alice’s presentations, but her two areas in Aurea Vista will be open, and there are lots of other shops to see in Aurea Vista and in the mall in the historic downtown Riverside.
Hope to see you there, and welcome to California, Alice!
by Deb Shaw
Image of Google’s Doodle to Maria Sibylla Merian’s 366th Birthday.
Thank you to Jody Williams, who sent me an email alert that was waiting in my inbox with my morning coffee. Google is celebrating Maria Siblylla Merian’s 366th birthday today with her own Google Doodle (screen shot shown here). Clicking on the Doodle brings up related posts and information. Maria’s Google Doodle will only be there today: http://www.google.com. Happy Birthday Maria!
by Sue Kuuskmae and Rita Hopper, posted by Deb Shaw
Invitation postcard from The Pastel Society of Southern California
The Fourth Annual Pastel Exhibition at the Creative Arts Center, Manhattan Beach, will be held from April 6th – April 26th, 2013.
Everyone is invited to the opening reception on Saturday April 6, from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm. There will be music, art, food, wine, and voting for your favorite painting. Come join the fun.
There will be a free demonstration by Richard McKinley, a well known pastelist and teacher on the following Saturday, April 13th at 10:00 am – noon. The juried entries will be judged for awards by Master Pastelist Richard McKinley.
BAGSC members Suzanne Kuuskmae and Rita Hopper have works in the show.
The Manhattan Beach Creative Arts Center is located at 1560 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Manhattan Beach, CA 90266. For more information about the gallery and hours, visit the web site, or call 310.802.5440.
For more information about the Pastel Society of Southern California, visit their website, or call 310.540.0724.
by Deb Shaw
The online, local newsletter, the “Newport Beach-Corona del Mar Patch” posted a great article about the “Day of Art” at Roger’s Gardens. Written by Rayna Jensen, “Art Blooms at Roger’s Gardens” has a quote from Tania Marien and photos of the drawing workshop taught by Tania and Deb Shaw.
Be sure to click on the accompanying photo to view all of the photos of the event that are included with the article, and their captions. Included in the photo album: Janice Sharp’s silverpoint demo drawing, photos of participants drawing in Tania and Deb’s workshop, and the brilliant colors of the fruit and vegetables on BAGSC’s interactive table.
by Deb Shaw
Janice Sharp (left) and Pat Mark (right) demonstrating and staffing the BAGSC Botanical Art Information Table. photo by Peter Conlon
On Saturday, February 2, 2013, BAGSC participated in Roger’s Garden’s first “Day of Art” in Newport Beach. Fifty artists, using different media participated in a full day of drawing and painting demonstrations and workshops. The “Day of Art” was free to the public and for all ages.
Pat Mark talking with visitors to the BAGSC Botanical Art Information Table. The Information Table also displayed books, originals and prints of contemporary and historical botanical art and scientific illustration. Photo by Peter Conlon.
Additionally, BAGSC had an interactive table where visitors could explore the botany (and some unusual) fruits and vegetables, and make stamp prints with them. BAGSC also had a botanical art information table, with a display of originals, prints and books of all kinds of botanical art, from scientific illustration to plant portraits, historical and current.
Tania Marien at the BAGSC Interactive Table, photo by Deb Shaw.
BAGSC artists participating included: Diane Daly, Clara Josephs, Arillyn Moran-Lawrence, Sue Kuuskmae, Alyse Ochniak, Tania Marien, Deborah Shaw, Pat Mark, and Janice Sharp.
Tania Marien and Deb Shaw gave a two-hour workshop in the afternoon in the outdoor amphitheater on drawing flowers and leaves in pencil, with drawing boards, drawing paper and pencils provided by Roger’s. A watercolor and pastel workshop was offered in the morning by plein aire artists David Damm and Gill Dillinger, and a gourmet food truck, “Bite Me Foods” provided lunch for those who were hungry.
Tania Marien and visitors to the BAGSC Interactive Table. Kids of all ages used fruits and vegetables to create stamp art.
The event had been postponed from the previous Saturday due to rain. The weather held out this Saturday, and the event was packed with enthusiastic participants, even with the change in schedule. People and their dogs strolled the grounds, bought plants and took in the art.
Attendees were eager to watch the demonstrations, and BAGSC members spent the day talking about botanical art, different media and techniques to interested customers. Many inquired about botanical art classes and were complimentary about the day’s events. Roger’s reported overwhelmingly positive comments from their guests.
Thank you to all who participated, and to Roger’s for hosting the event. We hope there will be more in the future!
Deb Shaw (left) and Tania Marien (right) teaching a workshop about how to draw flowers and leaves in pencil. Photo by Peter Conlon.
Deb Shaw expressively describing the morphology of a banana inflorescence to Theresa Marino from Roger’s Gardens. Photo by Peter Conlon.
Sue Kuuskmae chose to draw in the shade section of the nursery, near a fountain. Photo by Deb Shaw.
Clara Josephs (left) and Diane Daly (right) discuss botanical art and painting with visitors.
Alyse Ochniak demonstrating in the garden, photo by Deb Shaw.
Arillyn Moran-Lawrence demonstrating in the garden (in the luxurious outdoor furniture section). Photo by Deb Shaw.
by Deb Shaw
(left to right) Leslie Walker, Joan Keesey and Lesley Randall hang and straighten artwork, photo by John Keesey.
Botanical Visions, an exhibition of botanical art by the Botanical Artist Guild of Southern California opened on January 12th in the Ecke Building of the San Diego Botanic Garden.
The exhibit features paintings, drawings and prints in watercolor, pen and ink, graphite and colored pencil. BAGSC member Lesley Randall organized this wonderful exhibition of ten BAGSC artists: Estelle DeRidder, Linda Ericksen, Polly Jones, Joan Keesey, Lesley Randall, Gilly Shaeffer, Janice Sharp, Deborah Shaw, Mitsuko Schultz and Patricia Van Osterhoudt.
(left to right) Janice Sharp and Mitsuko Schultz hanging artwork, photo by John Keesey.
(left to right) Mitsuko Schultz and Patty Van Osterhoudt, photo by Deborah Shaw.
The artwork was hung the day of the opening artists’ reception in the Ecke Building. The light-filled, open-beamed room is used as a classroom, so the artwork will have lots of exposure for the duration of the show, from January 13 – March 23, 2013.
(left to right) Joan Keesey and Janice Sharp share a laugh before the Artists’ Reception, photo by Deborah Shaw.
Lesley Randall, Leslie Walker, Estelle DeRidder, Joan Keesey (and BAGSC helper John), Polly Jones (and husband), Patty Van Osterhoudt (and BAGSC helper Chris), Janice Sharp, Mitsuko Schultz and I were all on hand to hang the show. Linda Ericksen joined us for the reception.
(right to left) Polly Jones, Polly’s husband and Estelle DeRidder place artwork labels, photo by Deborah Shaw.
Formerly called “Quail Gardens”, the San Diego Botanic Gardens are absolutely beautiful, and this is a wonderful time of year to see them. Although the gardens are extensive, with different sections devoted to plants from different parts of the world, each section feels like an intimate treasure, with delightful surprises around each bend of the path.
A few attendees at the Artists’ Reception, photo by John Keesey.
A statue in the garden, San Diego Botanic Gardens, photo by John Keesey.
The exhibit will be open during regular garden hours January 13 – March 23, 2013.
Thank you Lesley!
by Deb Shaw
Sunflower, pen and ink by Tania Norris, © 2012, all rights reserved.
In October, 2012, when we posted the “Stipple, then Tipple” article about Anita Walsmit Sachs’ BAGSC class, we also posted a request for additional artwork as students completed their drawings. (See https://dbshaw.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=1448&action=edit for the original article.)
Joan Keesey emailed Tania Norris’ pen and ink beautiful Sunflower from the class. Thank you Joan and Tania for sharing a wonderful drawing!
by Clara Josephs, posted by Deb Shaw
Before: The BAGSC crew arrives and unpacks artwork. Thank you to all the BAGSC members (and supporters) who came to help!
The Chapman show, “Drought Tolerant Beauty”, is up and it is stunning! There are 59 pieces by 18 of our members. The art is arranged through the gallery areas by drought tolerant mechanisms. Dr. Jennifer Funk’s students have written wonderful commentaries to accompany the groupings.
Our Artist Reception is Thursday evening, February 7 from 7 – 9 pm.
In addition to the tasty hors d’oeuvres and adult libations, Dr. Funk will talk briefly about her involvement with restoration ecology and drought tolerant plants.
Sorting artwork into drought-tolerant categories.
Plan to attend with your family and friends. Even if you don’t have a piece in the show, you will enjoy seeing this collection of works by our members. You will see work that was inspired by Anita Walsmit Sachs’ workshop, works in a variety of media, and some very unique ways of composing challenging subjects.
Take time to notice the framing. Almost all the paintings were framed to ASBA show specifications, using a blonde L profile frame. Many of the frames are the Dick Blick renewable bamboo frame we recommended. Several frames are “look-alikes” that blend perfectly with the Dick Blick frame. Do you like the standardized framing look? Proponents say it helps focus attention on the art, and give the art a more professional, less “décor” appearance. Let us know what you think!
Pausing to admire the beautiful art.
If you would like to demonstrate during the reception, please call or email Diane Daly. If you weren’t able to paint for the show, demonstrating during the reception is another great way to participate!
Don’t forget to WEAR YOUR BAGSC NAME TAG! If you don’t have one, please let Deb Shaw know and she will bring one for you.
Looking forward to seeing everyone on the evening of February 7.
Dr. Jennifer Funk, ecologist with Chapman University, helps categorize the art.
Laurie Gates Cussalli, Chapman University, demonstrates the hanging wire system.
The “Succulent Leaves” Category is up on the wall, waiting for signage and labels.
The exhibition continues on the other side.
by Joan Keesey; photography by John Keesey, posted by Deb Shaw
Joan Keesey in Fern Canyon at Descanso Gardens with Coast Live Oaks
Yesterday John and I visited Descanso Gardens to check out the two art exhibitions currently on display there. In the Sturt Haaga Gallery the exhibit, “The WILD Flowers”, is a collection of works by seventeen contemporary California artists. Concurrently, contemporary botanical illustrations are being presented in the Boddy House; these paintings are provided by five members of the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California (BAGSC): Joan Keesey, Sue Kuuskmae, Gilly Shaeffer, Janice Sharp, and Deborah Shaw.
It was a beautiful clear and crisp day, and although it is still winter, Descanso Gardens was very lovely; the magnificent Coast Live Oaks (Quercus agrifolia) provide the perfect canopy for the garden’s remarkable collection of Camellias, many of which were blooming.
Penelope Gottlieb, “Flowers Gone WILD”
I hadn’t really expected to like the exhibit, “The WILD Flowers”. I couldn’t conceive of how an artist could invent flowers that were more wild and astonishing than real flowers, but the pictures were very imaginative, technically accomplished, and fun. Many of them, like Potentilia multijuja by Penelope Gottlieb, included recognizable flowers and plants. I was told that Ms. Gottlieb always includes a flower that is no longer in existence.
Gary Brewer, “Flowers Gone WILD”
Maura Bendett, “Flowers Gone WILD”
There was one video that had bubble-gum and aqua colored slime dripping from slowly opening lilies—not sure what that was all about.
Sue Kuuskmae in the Gunroom.
The botanical paintings by BAGSC members were very thoughtfully displayed and illuminated in the Hall and the Gunroom of the Boddy House. Without knowing that I was involved the docent was very enthusiastic about and complementary of our
More Action in the Gunroom — Gilly Shaeffer & Janice Sharp.
pictures. Several visitors took pictures of our pictures. I am impressed and proud that BAGSC has been able to provide quality paintings for the three concurrently running botanical exhibitions in Southern California: “Botanical Visions” at the San Diego Botanical Garden, “Drought Tolerant Beauty” at Chapman University, and “Contemporary Botanical Illustrations” at Descanso Gardens.
Sue Kuuskmae, Deborah Shaw & Joan Keesey in the Hallway.
by Janice Sharp
JANUARY 15 – MARCH 31, 2013 at
Descanso Gardens in the Sturt Haaga Gallery
The WILD Flowers presents work by 17 contemporary artists who live and work in California. The show was conceived and curated to complement the exhibition When They Were Wild, which opens March 9, 2013, at the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens.
Running concurrently with the WILD Flowers are works of contemporary botanical illustration provided by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California. This exhibit is presented in the Boddy House’s Heritage Gallery and features selected works by Suzanne Kuuskmae, Joan Keesey, Janice Sharp, Deborah Shaw, and Gilly Shaeffer.
Both exhibits are free with admission and open during regular business hours: the Sturt Haaga Gallery is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Mondays.
by Diane Daly and Deb Shaw
The Chapman University exhibition and opening reception are coming together! Diane Daly was interviewed by Julie Bawden-Davis for the Old Towne Orange Plaza Review. Read the column “Botanical Art” in Garden Clippings.
Front side of Announcement/Invitation postcard for the “Drought Tolerant Beauty” exhibition at Chapman University.
The announcement postcards/opening reception invitation have been printed for “Drought Tolerant Beauty: Artists and Students Respond to California’s Changing Environment”.
The 5″ x 7″ postcards are available for BAGSC members to send to their mailing lists. Please let Deb know the quantity you would like to receive by Friday, 18 January. A BAGSC team will package them all up on the weekend and put them in the mail for you by Monday.
by Lesley Randall, posted by Deb Shaw
Botanical Visions, an exhibition of botanical art by ten members of the Botanical Artist Guild of Southern California (BAGSC), opens this weekend in the Ecke Building of the San Diego Botanic Garden. Guild members produce scientifically accurate as well as beautiful botanical pieces. The exhibit will feature paintings, drawings and prints in watercolor, pen and ink, graphite and colored pencil.
Come meet the artists at the opening reception, Saturday, January 12th, 2013, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm. The reception is free and open to the public.
The exhibit will be open during regular garden hours, January 13 – March 23, 2013.
Exhibiting members include: Estelle DeRidder, Linda Ericksen, Polly Jones, Joan Keesey, Lesley Randall, Gilly Shaeffer, Janice Sharp, Deborah Shaw, Mitsuko Schultz and Patricia Van Osterhoudt.
The garden is located at 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas, California. Exit off of the 5 freeway and head inland (up the hill). Turn left on Quail Gardens Drive. Go roughly 200 yards; the driveway is on the left (there is a big sign.)
by Janice Sharp, posted by Deb Shaw
As you know, BAGSC has produced the first round of the Arboretum Introduction card collection. To get a very good rate for the production of the cards we bought a relatively large number.
We would like to offer members the opportunity to buy copies of the cards, with envelopes and boxes at a price of:
$2.00 per card, in packs of 5 (5 different cards/pack), $10/pack; or,
in packs of 10 (2 cards each of the 5 different cards/pack) $20 per pack.
The cards are beautiful and include a description of the Arboretum, BAGSC, the image and artist on the back. This is a very good price for high quality cards (I know I cannot produce cards at this price). See the original article about the cards, with an image, at https://bagscblog.com/2012/12/13/update-on-the-arboretum-introductions-project/
If you would like to buy cards contact Janice Sharp with the number of cards you want to purchase.
We are continuing to print additional cards as members paint the LA Arboretum introductions. Please contact Janice with information about any paintings you are doing. A list of LA Arboretum introductions can be found on our blog at: https://bagscblog.com/2012/09/03/call-for-images-of-the-los-angeles-county-arboretum-and-botanical-garden-introductions/
A map of the introductions is at: https://bagscblog.com/2012/10/06/google-map-of-la-arboretum-plant-introductions/
by Veronica Raymond, Bonnie Born Ash and Pat Mark, posted by Deb Shaw
Veronica, Bonnie and Pat all gave us a heads up about an upcoming exhibition at The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens, “When They Were Wild: Recapturing California’s Wildflower Heritage”.
The exhibition is a collaborative project of The Huntington, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, and the Theodore Payne Foundation for Wildflowers and Native Plants. “When They Were Wild” traces the unique diversity of California flora as depicted by artists, scientists, and horticulturalists for more than a century. Artwork by amateur naturalists, who were also talented artists, including Alice Brown Chittendon, Clara Mason Fox, and James Milford Zornes are complemented by herbarium (plant specimen) collections, publications, and ephemera.
This exhibition of more than 200 items tell the story of the botanical ecological and horticultural legacy of California plants, and how many of them migrated from wildflowers to domesticated garden plants.
The exhibition is in the MaryLou and George Boone Gallery at The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens from:
March 9 – June 10, 2013
The Huntington is located at 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, California, 91108.
by Janice Sharp
The initial five-pack of LA Arboretum Introduction cards include cards by Cristina Baltayian, Akiko Enokido, and Janice Sharp. The cards are blank inside for messages; the back has text about the Los Angeles Arboretum, BAGSC, the plant, and the artist.
BAGSC has been asking its Members to “donate” the use of images they may have, or will create, to be included in an “Arboretum Introduction” card collection. So far we have put together a test run of five cards that are now on sale in the Los Angeles Arboretum Gift Store. The cards have been well received and we are moving forward with the project. If you have Introduction plants you have painted/drawn and would like to have them included in this project please contact Janice Sharp or Deborah Shaw.
For those who have painted plants and are not sure if they are “Introductions”, please contact Deborah to send a digital image, or mail a print to me and I will take them to the botanists at the Arboretum to get an opinion as to whether they are “Introduction” plants.
Read about the LA Arboretum Introduction project and see the Google map to the plants at the Arboretum on the BAGSC blog by clicking the links in this sentence.
For those who have found the Google map difficult to use to locate the Introductions contact Janice Sharp and she will arrange a tour of the Arboretum to find the Introductions.
BAGSC News 