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by Deb Shaw
BAGSC members were treated to an inspirational garden tour of Cordelia’s sustainable, drought-tolerant, and enchanting garden and home before the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting on June 4, 2016. Stay tuned to the blog for an article by Cordelia about the garden, its inspiration, planning, and building and more photos.
In the meantime, as promised, Cordelia has provided us with her plant list. All of the plants listed below are available from Australian Plants Nursery in Ojai, California.
Looking from the house toward the street. Photo by Clara Josephs, © 2016.
Acacia cardiophylla
Acacia craspedocarpa
Acacia cultriformis
Acacia drummondii
Acacia hubbardiana
Acacia podalyriifolia pearl
Acacia spectabilis
Acacia stenophylla
Acacia terminalis
Agonis flexuosa burgundy
Alyogyne hakeifolia
Anigozanthos amber velvet
Anigozanthos flavidus bush nugget
Anigozanthos yellow gem
Looking from the front room out to the garden. The windows are laminated to dampen noise from the street. Photo by Clara Josephs, © 2016.
Aulax cancellata
Austromyrtus dulcsis
Banksia blechnifolia
Banksia dryandroides
Banksia grandis
Banksia hookeriana dwarf
Banksia media dwarf
Banksia menziesii dwarf
Bankisa oblongifolia
Banksia petiolaris
Banksia praemorsa
Banksia repens
Banksia robur
Banksia serrata
Banksia speciosa
Banksia sphaerocarpa
Banksia spinulosa
Gathered around the center island in the kitchen, looking at “before and after” photos, Cordelia’s artwork, and listening to information about construction details. Photo by Clara Josephs, © 2016.
Banksia spinulosa dwarf
Banksia telmatiaeae
Banksia verticillata
Banksia violaceae
Berzelia lanuginosa
Brachysema praemorsa bronze butterfly
Callistemon pinifolius
Callistemon red alert
Callistemon viminalis captain cook
Callistemon viminalis slim
Calothamnus villosus
Chamelaucium ciliatum
Cordyline stricta
The side yard leads to a soaking tub. Photo by Clara Josephs, © 2016.
Dianella becca
Dianella king alfred
Dianella sterling variegata
Dianella tasmanica variegata
Erica verticillata South Africa
Eucalyptus kruseana
Eucalyptus moonglow
Eucalyptus orbifolia
Eucalyptus preissiana
Eucalyptus victrix
Eutaxia obovata
Goodenia species, unknown purple flower (spreading ground cover)
BAGSC members Steve Hampson, Rita Hopper and Leslie Walker discuss an interesting specimen in the back yard. Photo by Clara Josephs, © 2016.
Gossypium sturtianum
Grevillea banksii
Grevillea bonfire
Grevillea bronze rambler
Grevillea austraflora fanfare
Grevillea filoba
Grevillea long john
Grevillea magic lantern
Grevillea majestic
Grevillea moonlight
Grevillea olivaceae
Grevillea peaches and cream
Grevillea petrophiloides
Grevillea pteridifolia
Grevillea red hooks
Grevillea robyn gordon
Grevillea sericea
Grevillea thelemanniana
Grevillea thelemanniana compact green gem
Grevillea wakiti sunrise
Grevillea winpara gem
Hakea adnata
Hakea elliptica
Hakea obtusa
Indigofera australis
Isopogon antheifolius curra moors
Isopogon formosus
Kennedia prorepens
Kunzea pulchella
Leptospermum burgundy
Leptospermum laevigatum reevesii
Leptospermum petersonii
Leptospermum polygalifolium
Leucadendron crown jubilee
Leucadendron cordifolium pickford
Leucadendron discolor pompom
Leucadendron goldstrike
Leucadendron jester
Leucadendron linifolia
Leucadendron little bit
Leucadendron maui sunset
Leucadendron meridian more silver
Leucadendron Mrs. Stanley
Leucadendron petrophill
Leucadendron red eye
Leucadendron safari sunset
Leucadendron salignum blush
Leucadendron salignum chief
Leucadendron salignum winter red
Leucadendron salignum summer red
Leucadendron salignum yellow form
Leucadendron scolymocephala New Zealand
Leucadendron stunning
Leucadendron tinctum
Leucadendron thymifolium
Leucadendron uliginiosum
Leucadendron wilson’s wonder
Leucospermum rotundifolium
Leucospermum yellow bird
Leucospermum yellow rocket
Leucospermum veldfire
Libertia peregrinans New Zealand
Lomandra longifolia
Melaleuca brian walters
Melaleuca coccinea
Melaleuca decussata gibbosa
Melaleuca densa
Melaleuca diosmifolia
Melaleuca elliptica
Melaleuca huegelii
Melaleuca incana nana (prostrate)
Melaleuca micromera
Melaleuca violaceae
Mimetes cucullatus South Africa
Myoporum floribundum
Nephrolepsis obliterata
Orphium frutescens
Pellaea falcata cliff brake fern
Phormium jester
Phyllica plumosa
Podocarpus macrophylla South Africa
Protea burchellii
Protea cynaroides South Africa
Protea cynaroides mini king
Protea eximia
Protea nerifolia
Protea obtusifolia
Protea pink ice
Protea sylvia
by Deb Shaw
GNSI 2016 Conference Logo, © 2016 GNSI.
The Guild of Natural Science Illustrators (GNSI) will be holding their 38th annual GNSI Conference at the University of California Santa Cruz, July 3-9, 2016.
Home to the infamous Banana Slug mascot, the three-day core conference will be held July 3-6, 2016 on the beautiful Santa Cruz campus. Conference housing will be provided at Cowell College. Most of the conference events will also be conveniently located at Cowell. Rooms will be available in Cowell residence halls or apartments on a first-come, first-serve basis. Each housing package includes a full meal plan in the dining hall and a parking permit.
During the core conference, there will be seven keynote addresses, 37 breakout sessions, an auction, the ever-popular and always inspiring portfolio sharing session and a techniques showcase where illustrators generously share their knowledge with conference attendees.
Plenary speakers include John Muir Laws, nature journaling evangelist, who will present “Your Brain on Paper” and why it is so important for illustrators to have this observation tool. Terryl Whitlatch, artist for Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, will share her tips and tricks in novel creature design. David Goodsell, a microbiologist from Scripps Institute of Oceanography, will reveal the world of cells in nanoscale through his watercolor paintings, which are both practical and beautiful.
Wendy Hiller Gee will highlight the importance of science and health literacy through her medical illustration practice. Breck Tyler, a seabird biologist, will share his experiences from 25 years at Midway Atoll observing albatross colonies. Jane Kim, founder of Ink Dwell studio, will share her extraordinary efforts to foster a love and respect for the earth through her Wall of Birds mural, depicting the 375-million-year evolution of birds. More than 260 species of birds are represented, all painted to scale. And Marc Paisin, our favorite art lawyer, will give us the rundown on how to copyright our own work (and how to stay out of trouble).
Presentations, Panels and Mini-Workshops
Following the plenary speakers in the mornings, there will be three afternoons packed with 50-minute presentations and 2-hour mini workshops by more than 45 experts in art, technical and scientific concepts. The presentations will cover a wide variety of topics, ranging from traditional media techniques (waxy pencil, gouache, and watercolor) to digital media (Photoshop and animation). BAGSC’s Tania Marien will be part of the panel for a presentation entitiled “When Good Careers Stall: Working Through the Slump.”
On Monday evening, all conference attendees can participate in illustrating a collaborative chalk mural of either a Kelp Forest or the California Coast Landscape. Expect a delightful evening of drawing, wine and desserts—working along side talented artists. Come prepared with sketches of your favorites from the species list on the website, or not; reference photos will be available. Want to help but not draw? Participants are needed to write species names in the border areas. After the conference, the two murals will hang on public display for about a month at the Sanctuary Exploration Center (SEC), a block from the Municipal Wharf—the heart of Santa Cruz.
Post-Conference Workshops and Field Trips
On July 7 and 8, following the core conference, there will be half-day and full-day workshops exploring traditional and digital media in depth. A few of the traditional media workshops include: silverpoint/pastels; mushrooms in watercolor; field sketching; graphite and pastel dust; and, textures in gouache.
A few of the exciting slate of field trips include: a whale-watching trip; sketching the jewel-like tide pools at Natural Bridges State Park; a behind-the-scenes tour of marine mammal facilities at Long Marine Lab; a day trip to Monterey Bay Aquarium and Cannery Row; and a kayaking trip in Elkhorn Slough. And, of course, what conference in Northern California would be complete without a wine-tasting tour.
Many ASBA and BASGC members also below to GNSI — you will recognize a lot of familiar faces! There is much to see, learn and do. Registrants who sign up before June 5 receive a $50 early bird discount! Hope to see you there!
by Melanie Campbell-Carter, posted by Deb Shaw
The Botanical Art Exhibit and Sale at the LA County Arboretum this past weekend was a great success!
Titled “the First Annual ARTboretum!”, twelve botanical artists (ten of whom are BAGSC members) exhibited 62 botanical works for three days at the Oak Room. The twelve artists self-funded the show, with the Arboretum providing space in the Oak Room and on the Patio.
Over the three days, nearly 500 visitors enjoyed botanical art demonstrations, a viewer’s choice ballot, and a delightful reception on Saturday. Awards were presented to Juanita O’Marah BAGSC, First Place, Citrullus lanatus dulcinea ‘Sugar Baby Watermelon’; Shae Gazzaniga, Second Place, Pelargonium cordifolium; and Robyn Reilman BAGSC, Third Place, Cynara cardunculus ‘Globe Artichoke’.
A full-color exhibit catalog was produced by the artists to help defray costs of the event, and a few copies are still available for $20 plus shipping through this link.
The artists wish to express their appreciation for the support of the BAGSC members who were able to visit the event. Congrats to all!
Click to see the slide show of artists with their paintings:
by Deb Shaw
Invitation postcard for “Looking for Flora,” Roger’s Gardens. Watercolor on vellum by Akiko Enokido, Camellia japonica ‘Kingyoba tsubaki’, © 2016, all rights reserved.
Roger’s Gardens Fine Art Gallery will be hosting a juried exhibition of BAGSC artists, entitled “Looking for Flora: An Exhibition of Botanical Art” from May 21 – June 5, 2016.
Several exhibiting artists will paint in the gardens on May 21, from 12 pm – 4 pm, followed by a reception with the artists in the Art Gallery from 4 pm – 6 pm.
Exhibiting artists include: Diane Nelson Daly • Estelle DeRidder • Akiko Enokido • Cynthia Jackson • Arillyn Moran-Lawrence • Joan Keesey • Suzanne Kuuskmae • Lesley Randall • Gilly Shaeffer • Janice Sharp • Deborah Shaw • Grace Swanson • Ellie Yun-Hui Tu
Download the complete postcard here: Looking for Flora-Postcard-2
Roger’s Gardens is located at 2301 San Joaquin Hills Road, Corona del Mar, CA 92625, 949.640.5800. Hours are 9 am – 6 pm. Roger’s is dog-friendly.
Congratulations to all of the artists, and looking forward to seeing you at the Opening, May 21!
by Margaret Best, posted by Deb Shaw
BAGSC member Margaret Best has a painting in the newly released book ‘Florilegium’ to mark the bi-centennial of the Royal Botanical Gardens in Sydney, Australia.
A Florilegium Society for the gardens was formed with Shirley Sherwood as the honorary Patron and Beverly Allen as president. One of the goals of the society was to produce a high quality book containing full-page works by various botanical artists to portray a diverse array of plants of significant importance to the garden. The complete exhibition of works is to be hung at the gardens from the end of July to November and is expected to travel to the Shirley Sherwood gallery in 2018.
This is a project of over three years in the making and the superb volume has just been released. The book showcases works by 41 Australians artists, 13 British artists, two South Africans, two Japanese and one each from the United States, Canada, Netherlands, France, Korea and New Zealand.
Leslie Walker scouting out the tree, Schotia brachypetala at The Huntington Gardens. © 2013, Margaret Best, all rights reserved.
The only Canadian with a painting in the book is Margaret Best. She flew to Los Angeles in 2013, and with the help of Leslie Walker and Janice Sharp, Margaret was able to find a sole specimen of a Schotia brachypetala, in The Huntington Gardens. This is a South African native tree known in Australia as the ‘drunken parrot tree’. Wild parakeets are attracted to the gardens by the clusters of small red flowers that drip nectar. After a short period, the copious quantities of nectar ferments and causes the birds to become intoxicated!
Margaret working in Janice’s studio. © 2013, Janice Sharp, all rights reserved.
Graciously hosted by Janice, Margaret was able to work in her wonderful studio for a week to complete drawings, colour matching of flowers, leaves and pod specimens for a large study. More than year later, Margaret visited a remarkable specimen in Kirstenbosch Gardens in Cape Town. With the help of the curator Ernst Van Jaarsveld, she was able to acquire a small branch from the landmark tree. That caused a last minute composition change to include the textures of bark and new growth emerging from older parts of the tree.
The outstanding book contains many fine works by artists such as Jenny Phillips, Beverly Allen, John Pastorizia-Piñol, Anita Walsmit Sachs and many more notables. [A list of the Florilegium paintings and artists can be found here.] It is most definitely worthy of any serious botanical artist’s book collection. Ask Leslie and Janice – they have heaped accolades on its quality since recently receiving their copies!
The ‘Florilegium’ may be ordered by contacting Angela Lober, international phone 02 9552 1169 or by email. Payment can be made by cheque or direct deposit. Cheques are payable to: The Florilegium Society at the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney Inc., and can be mailed with your contact and delivery information to: Ms Angela Lober, 12 Allen Street, Glebe NSW 2037
Congrats Margaret!
by Beth Stone
Boddy House Postcard from 1967.
In the 1930’s Descanso’s Boddy House was built for E. Manchester Boddy, founder of Descanso Gardens, as a home for his family. It is situated majestically on a hillside with grand views of the San Gabriel Mountains. This elegant Hollywood Regency style mansion now serves as a museum preserving Descanso Garden history and continues as a location for entertaining in style.
In the Spring of 2015, BAGSC’s “A Passion for Camellias” exhibit was hung along an interior hallway of the Boddy House, leading to and spilling into the kitchen. The space is ideally suited to botanical art as it invites close observation and is sheltered from sunlight, protecting sensitive media. The botanical art style is very compatible with the feel of the mansion.
Boddy House: Photo by Beth Stone © 2013, all rights reserved.
Artists Diane Daly, Estelle DeRidder, Clara Josephs, Joan Keesey, Patricia Mark, Mitsuko Schultz, Gilly Shaeffer, Janice Sharp, and Beth Stone contributed the artwork for BAGSC’s “A Passion for Camellias” exhibit which graced the walls of Descanso’s Boddy House for a full year.
On Monday May 9th the BAGSC Camellia artworks were taken down and a new exhibit celebrating roses was hung in their place.
Camellia Exhibit: Photo by Beth Stone © 2015, all rights reserved.
BAGSC artists contributing to the new exhibit “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” are Bonnie Born Ash, Cynthia Jackson, Suzanne Kuushmae, Lee McCaffree, Marilyn Parrino, Gilly Shaeffer, Janice Sharp, Beth Stone and Ellie Tu. Thanks to the variety and quality of the artworks and the professional hanging the exhibit is lovely! “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” made its debute May 10th , timed to be on display for Descanso’s Rose Festival on the weekend of May 14th & 15th. BAGSC volunteers will demonstrate our art form during the Rose Festival.
Rose Hanging in Progress: Photo by Beth Stone © 2016, all rights reserved.
The Boddy House is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays and is included with admission to Descanso Gardens.
Many thanks to Descanso Gardens, especially David Brown, Susan Armstrong and Cris Martinez for welcoming BAGSC artworks to the Boddy House. Thanks also to Paul Gellman for his thoughtful, professional hanging of the new exhibit.
by Deb Shaw
BAGSC News previously posted Gilly Shaeffer’s acceptance into “Celebrating Flora of the National Parks“, the new exhibition by the United States Botanic Garden (USBG) and the National Park Service (NPS) showcasing plants and ecological communities found throughout the more than 400 national parks.
Dudleya greenei, watercolor by Ellie Tu, © 2016, all rights reserved. This plant grows in the Channel Islands National Park.
BAGSC member Ellie Tu also was accepted into “Celebrating Flora”. Ellie’s cousin visited the exhibition at the US Botanic Garden at the end of March, and sent these photos of his visit.
The exhibition, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the NPS and the diversity of our national park’s flora, will run from February 18 – October 2, 2016 in the USBG Conservatory in Washington, D.C. Artworks in a wide variety of media by 78 artists from across the country are on display, along with living specimens from the USBG and graphics representing each of the National Parks represented. Programs will include botanical illustration and photography workshops, meet-the-artist sessions, and lectures by national parks rangers and other experts.
The U.S. Botanic Garden is the oldest public garden in the United States, and is open to the public, free of charge, every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Conservatory is located at 100 Maryland Ave. SW, on the southwest side of the U.S. Capitol. More information about the exhibit, programs, and visiting the USBG is available on the website.
Gallery wall showing Dudleya greenei by Ellie Tu; and California Poppy and Toyon Berries by Gilly Shaeffer. © 2016 by the artists, all rights reserved. Photo by Keith Fisher, © 2016.
Congratulations to Ellie and Gilly, and Happy 100th birthday to the US Botanic Garden!
Entry to “Flora of the National Parks”. Photo by Keith Fisher, © 2016, all rights reserved.
by Melanie Campbell-Carter and Gilly Shaeffer, posted by Deb Shaw
The opening day of the 18th Annual Botanical Art Exhibition at Filoli was a most extraordinary day from start to finish! New BAGSC member and Filoli student Ellie Tu had graciously delivered all the BAGSC paintings to Woodside the week before. At dawn on Thursday, April 7, Gilly Shaeffer, Mitsuko Schultz, Cristina Baltayian and Melanie Campbell-Carter arose and departed for a fabulous day at Filoli Gardens. Our first stop was to view the 65 lovely botanical paintings from the US and the Netherlands. Gilly said, “The quality of the paintings this year was truly inspiring!”
It was a magical day in the gardens. With picture-perfect sunny skies and warm breezes, we could not resist enjoying the gorgeous grounds in full spring bloom. The Filoli volunteers made our visit very special by sharing all their knowledge about the history of the estate, even giving a quick personal tour of the home. The Mark Catesby and select pieces of the Filoli and Highgrove Florilegiums prints were exhibited in the ballroom, and well worth a visit.
When the crowd gathered at the reception for the presentation of awards, we were thrilled to hear that Melanie Campbell-Carter was presented the Roth Award, “for distinction with an emphasis on traditional botanical art presentation” for her Duabanga grandiflora. Lee McCaffree was presented with the Bourn award, “for distinction with an emphasis on horticulture” for Narcissus ‘Delibes’, the Alcatraz Daffodil. The third award, the Jurors’ award, “for distinction with an emphasis on botanical art presentation”, went to Milly Acharya for her Lathyrus odoratus, Sweet Pea.
Everything about the day was perfectly delightful, and we feel that we have blazed a trail for future BAGSC jet-setting adventures! We heartily encourage everyone to see the exhibit before it closes on June 12, and to enjoy the beautiful spring gardens at Filoli.
BAGSC members accepted into the 18th Annual Botanical Art Exhibition at Filoli include:
- Cristina Baltayian
- Melanie Campbell-Carter
- Joan Keesey
- Lee McCaffree
- Mitsuko Schultz
- Gilly Shaeffer
- Ellie Tu
The 18th Annual Botanical Art Exhibition at Filoli goes through June 12th. Filoli is located at 86 Cañada Road, Woodside, CA 94062.
Kudos to all the award winners, and congratulations to all the accepted artists!
Click on an image of the exhibition opening and the Filoli gardens to enlarge:
by Teri Kuwahara, posted by Deb Shaw
The students in the Botanical Art and Illustration Class at the Los Angeles Arboretum and Botanical Garden will present ARTboretum!, botanical art show and sale. The beauty of capturing nature in a realistic style using watercolor and color pencil will be on display at the Los Angeles Arboretum and Botanical Garden on
Friday, Saturday and Sunday,
April 29, 30 and May 1, 2016,
11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m
“I have been honored to teach the botanical illustration class for the last four years,” said instructor Cristina Baltayian. “The best way to highlight the value of the Arboretum and its botanical art educational program is to allow you to see the inspiration, talents, and visions of the students.”
Twelve artists will display original art and fine art giclees in the Oak Room for this weekend event. In addition, prints and greeting cards will also be available for sale. Artists will demonstrate techniques and will be available to answer questions. The public is invited to attend the Artists’ Reception and Catalog Signing on Saturday, April 30 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Catalogs for the show will be available for sale while supplies last.
Admission to the art show and sale is free with admission to the Arboretum.
BAGSC Members participating in the show are: Cristina Baltayian, Nancy Beckham, Melanie Cambell-Carter, Nancy Grubb, Teri Kuwahara, Kathy Morgan, Juanita O’Marah, Marilyn Parrino, Robyn Reilman, Jude Wiesenfeld.
The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanical Garden is located at 301 North Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, CA.
by Ellie Tu and Deb Shaw
Dudleya greenei, watercolor by Ellie Tu, © 2016, all rights reserved.
BAGSC member Ellie Tu will have two displays of her botanical art, and will present two talks this coming weekend:
Saturday, March 19, 2016 at 1 pm
Ojai Library, Ojai, California
Ellie will present a talk entitled “Channel Islands National Park Guide Book Illustrations and a Glance at Traditional Botanical Art.” This talk will include a brief history of traditional botanical art and explain the equipment and materials used for painting and drawing.
Ellie will also speak on the process of creating the Channel Islands National Park guide book illustrations and give a drawing demonstration. She will bring some plant samples for guests to experience from a botanical illustrator’s point of view.
Ellie Tu illustrated the Channel Islands National Park guide books.
Ellie Tu illustrated the Channel Islands National Park guide books.
Ellie’s artwork will be on display in the library until the end of June, 2016.
This event is free and open to the public. For additional information, contact the library at (805) 646-1639. The E.P Foster Library is located at: 111 East Ojai Avenue, Ojai, California 93023.
Pen and ink illustrations of California native plants by Ellie Tu, © 2016, all rights reserved.
Sunday, March 20, 2016 at 2 pm
Oak Park Library, Oak Park, California
On Sunday, March 20, Ellie will present a talk entitled “Botanical Wonders: An introduction to Traditional Botanical Art.” Ellie will give a brief history of botanical art, show the step-by-step process of botanical painting, and give a watercolor demonstration. Those who attend get to create (and take home) their own botanical art! Ellie’s artwork will be on display in the library until April 3, 2016.
This event is free and open to the public. The address for the Oak Park Library is: 897 North Kanan Road, Oak Park, CA 91377.
Additionally, Ellie will be giving a talk at Channel Islands National Park auditorium on April 9th. Stay tuned — details will be posted to our BAGSC News blog.
Ellie demonstrated botanical art with BAGSC at the Bowers Museum and at Roger’s Gardens.
by Ted Tegart, posted by Deb Shaw
The Arboretum is bringing back botany Professor Matt Ritter for a lecture and walk, discussing and celebrating the Arboretum’s Australian trees, “Australian Trees for a Drought-Stressed Southern California”.
Saturday, March 19, 2016, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Los Angeles Arboretum
301 N. Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007
10 am – 12 noon / Bamboo Room
Matt Ritter, Instructor
$30 members; $40 per non-member (includes Arboretum admission)
Reservations are preferred: Please call 626.821.4623 or pay at the door
Whether it’s an El Niño year or not, it’s dry in California and likely to get dryer. Trees from Australia can be part of the solution toward creating beautiful, diverse, and resilient urban forests that use less water.
We’ll explore drought-tolerant, appropriate Australian species for planting in our Southern California environment. This event will be partial classroom lecture and discussion, and part tree walk in the Arboretum’s world class collection of Australian trees. Come learn about Acacias, Eucalypts, Callistemons, Melaleucas, and Brachychitons, and so many more great Australian trees.
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, holds a Kenan Fellowship at the National Tropical Botanical Gardens, is the chair of the City of San Luis Obispo Tree Committee, and editor-in-chief of Madroño, the journal of the California Botanical Society. He is an avid woodworker and gardener.
by Melanie Campbell-Carter, posted by Deb Shaw
February 27, 2016 was a picture-perfect day for botanical art at Roger’s Gardens in Corona Del Mar! Featured prominently for the fourth Annual Day of Art at Roger’s Gardens, the BAGSC outreach table was well received by the public, with hardly a moment for breaks. Deborah Shaw, Diane Daly, and Clara Josephs presented a Nature Journaling workshop, delighting visitors with a chance to draw freesias, pansies, and other lovelies from the nursery.
Additional BAGSC members came as well, and there were a lot of visitors who had seen BAGSC at the Bowers Museum demonstrations and joined us at Rogers.
Theresa Marino, the Fine Art Gallery director, was thrilled with the art provided by our BAGSC artists. She can’t wait for the upcoming BAGSC exhibit, “Looking for Flora,” slated for May 21-June 5, 2016. (BAGSC members should have received the Roger’s Gardens “Call for Entries” for “Looking for Flora” in your email. If you haven’t received it, please contact Deb Shaw. Submission deadline is April 23, 2016.)
The framed art gallery on the shaded outdoor furniture pavilion was thronged with visitors most of the day, enjoying over 50 submissions in all media. Member Terri Munroe sold her lovely painting, and members Deborah Shaw and Melanie Campbell-Carter took home “Award of Excellence” blue ribbons for their submitted artworks. Thanks to all the participating members, as well as the visiting members, who helped make this another successful BAGSC outreach event.
Participating BAGSC artists included: Melanie Campbell-Carter, Clara Josephs, Suzanne Kuuskmae, Patricia Mark, Arillyn Moran-Lawrence, Terri Munroe, Diane Nelson Daly, Mitsuko Schultz, Deborah Shaw, and Ellie Yun-Hui Tu.
Click on the photo bubbles below to see the full image and caption.
Theresa Marino, Gallery Director, Roger’s Gardens, hanging blue ribbons after the judging. Photo: Linda Carpenter, © 2016, all rights reserved.
Deborah Shaw demonstrated on her painting of Opuntia with cochineal. Many of the visitors who had seen BAGSC at the Bowers Museum demonstrations commented, “Oh, you haven’t made much progress, have you?” Photo: Linda Carpenter, © 2016, all rights reserved.
The exhibition panels showcased botanical art and plein aire paintings. Photo: Linda Carpenter, © 2016, all rights reserved.
Melanie Campbell-Carter and Deborah Shaw with their blue ribbons. Photo: Linda Carpenter, © 2016, all rights reserved.
Suzanne Kuuskmae talking with visitors to the BAGSC info table about botanical art. Photo: Linda Carpenter, © 2016, all rights reserved.
Suzanne Kuuskmae’s palette and painting at her demonstration table. Photo: Linda Carpenter, © 2016, all rights reserved.
Ellie Tu and Suzanne Kuuskmae demonstrating. Photo: Linda Carpenter, © 2016, all rights reserved.
Arillyn Moran-Lawrence demonstrated graphite. Photo: Linda Carpenter, © 2016, all rights reserved.
by Cynthia Jackson and Clara Josephs, posted by Deb Shaw
Olga Eysymontt’s demonstration of carbon dust, graphite dust and pencil techniques. Photo by Cynthia Jackson, © 2016, all rights reserved.
In each of Olga’s classes, we show our progress on what we had started the class before. Recently, that meant we shared our composition of the seedpods, cotton plant, bottlebrush branch, pussy willow, or whatever each of us had chosen. After the critique we continued to finish the drawing we had started.
One session ago we had a demonstration of carbon dust technique by Olga. She had done a pepper using graphite dust, carbon dust, and a combination of both, including the pencils that she had listed on the list of supplies we got for the class. She uses old makeup brushes for some of the application of the dust. The shorter handles are easier to work with when applying the carbon dust or graphic dust. Olga suggested we start with an outline of a simple object—nothing complicated. It turns out this technique is a very fast way, comparatively, to do a drawing. One classmate had drawing almost completed before the end of the class, beautifully done. And it’s fun!
We were asked to try to continue practicing with the carbon dust and other work we had started. We are learning a lot!
by Deb Shaw
Cover, “A Botanical Reader for the Curious Gardener”, James P. Folsom, © 2016, all rights reserved.
It’s here! Jim Folsom, has just published his ebook as of February 29, 2016: “A Botanical Reader for the Curious Gardener.” The Reader is a wealth of resources; Jim’s Botany for Artists is just one chapter in a line-up of content that Jim lists in his introduction:
- Introductions (Chapters 1, 2, and 3) explain the organization of the Reader, suggest places and activities of interest, and lay out overarching themes that pervade the study and cultivation of plants.
- The Literature Review presents some commonly available texts and resources, suggesting which might be most useful for different readers.
- In Botanical Terms is a series of short essays dedicated to highlights that showcase topics fundamental to plant science and eliminate barriers presented by useful but arcane botanical terminology.
- Conversational Botany is a Primer that tells the story of plants in textbook-style.
- Issues – Plants, Politics, & Practice includes background and discussion of topics that are part of today’s public discourse as well as transcriptions of presentations I give on current topics.
- An annotated Plant Trivia Timeline gives snippets of plant-related stories and discoveries in chronological sequence, so as to provide historical context to plant use and cultivation.”
- Hands-on Discovery suggests particular plants and instructive techniques that will help students make their own observations and learn-through-doing, which is the most effective and delightful method.
Excerpt From: James P, Folsom. “A Botanical Reader.” James P. Folsom, 2016. iBooks. https://itun.es/us/XDT5ab.l
Chapter from “A Botanical Reader”, listing “Botany for Artists” as one of the sections. James P. Folsom, © 2016.
Easy to read, this is a book of RESOURCES. In addition botany, horticulture, gardening, food, and the secret world of plants, Jim introduces his readers to his favorite Plant Destinations (where we can see the “wonders of the plant world”) and compiles a list with descriptions of the books we should have on our shelves and the websites we need to have bookmarked in our browsers.
ASBA and BAGSC members will be treated to a three-part series, starting in the March issue of The Botanical Artist, excerpted from Jim’s chapter, Botany for Artists.
The ebook is downloadable for free from iBooks, at https://itun.es/us/XDT5ab.l It’s listed in the category of Life Sciences, and is a
Jim Folsom lecturing during the “Weird, Wild & Wonderful Symposium.” Photo by Clara Josephs, © 2015, all rights reserved.
About Jim Folsom, Telleen/Jorgensen Director of the Botanical Gardens, The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
Jim Folsom, PhD., rides the demographic peak of baby boomers, having been born in southeastern Alabama in 1950. His lifelong love of plants is reflected in a BS in Botany from Auburn University, an MA in Biology from Vanderbilt University, and a PhD in research botany from The University of Texas at Austin. Though his research has centered on the orchid family, with much of the research time spent in Tropical America (including a year in Colombia on a Fulbright Pre-Doctoral Fellowship), Jim’s botanical interests are wide-ranging. As Curator of the Botanical Gardens at The Huntington in San Marino, CA, he dedicates much of his effort to educational programs that increase public interest and understanding of the science, culture, and history of plants and gardens. He lives at The Huntington with his wife, Debra (also a botanist) and children Molly and Jimmy. Jim was recognized as a Friend of the Cactus and Succulent Society of America in 1996, a Member-at-Large of the Garden Club of America in 1998, and presented a Professional Citation by the American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta in 1999. The Garden Club of America awarded him their Medal of Honor in 2007.
by Deb Shaw
Diane Daly demonstrating at last year’s “Day of Art” at Roger’s Gardens. Photo by Deborah Shaw, © 2015, all rights reserved.
Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California (BAGSC) artists will be participating again in Roger’s Gardens 4th Annual Day of Art this coming Saturday, February 27, 2016 from 10 am – 4 pm. The event is free, and open to the public. In case of rain (a lovely thought, but, unfortunately for our water shortage, unlikely!) the event will be rescheduled.
BAGSC artists have participated each year since its inception; 50 botanical and plein air artists paint and draw in the Gardens for the day. Each of the participating artists will have an original painting on display (available for purchase). Judges will present awards and recognition for paintings in the exhibition.
Participating BAGSC artists include: Melanie Campbell-Carter, Clara Josephs, Suzanne Kuuskmae, Patricia Mark, Arillyn Moran-Lawrence, Terri Munroe, Diane Nelson Daly, Alyse Ochniak, Mitsuko Schultz, Deborah Shaw, and Ellie Yun-Hui Tu. BAGSC also will have a table available with information about BAGSC, American Society of Botanical Art (ASBA), and botanical art.
Schedule
Free workshops are open to the public and BAGSC members:
Printmaking Workshop: Printing Posies and Plants, 10 am – 1 pm, in the Amphitheater
Local artists Sheryl Seltzer and Carol Kreider will teach participants how to draw and transfer to a small relief plate, and “pull” their own monoprint. All skill levels and ages welcome.
Awards Ceremony, 12 pm, in the Outdoor Living area
Ten awards of excellence will be presented to artists participating in the exhibition. This year’s Judge is Gil Dellinger, a retired professor of art of the University of the Pacific, Signature Member of The Pastel Society of America, California Art Club, and PAPA, Plein Air Painters of America. [Last year BAGSC members Diane Daly and Deborah Shaw received awards of excellence.]
Drawing Workshop: Journal your Garden through Art / Drawing Leaves and Flowers in the Garden, 2 pm – 3:30 pm, in the Amphitheater
Learn to draw leaves and flowers and create a garden journal from BAGSC members Deborah Shaw, Clara Josephs, and Diane Daly. This is a great workshop for the whole family, as no art experience is required.
Hope to see you there!
BAGSC News 