You are currently browsing the category archive for the ‘Kudos’ category.
by Deb Shaw
BAGSC members Margaret Best and Melanie Campbell-Carter have been accepted into the 18th Annual International American Society of Botanical Artists at The Horticultural Society of New York.
Margaret Best, Echinacea purpurea or purple cone flower, © 2015, All rights reserved.
Margaret’s 8.5 x 11 watercolour on paper is of a Canadian native Echinacea. She writes, “There are two Echinacea natives species in Canada. The one shown is Echinacea purpurea or purple cone flower—the species widely harvested for medicinal use. It has also become popular as a cultivated flower in Canadian gardens, as it brings a final splash of colour at the end of summer and into the fall. The specimens I used came from my daughter’s beautiful front garden that she inherited from the previous green-fingered owner of their new home in Ontario, Canada.”
Melanie Campbell-Carter, colored pencil, Pseudobombax ellipticum, shaving brush tree, © 2015, all rights reserved.
Melanie submitted a Pseudobombax ellipticum, also known as the shaving brush tree. She writes, “The tree was in its full blooming glory this past March on the island of Kauai. Depicting the sturdy strength of its stems and buds, and the delicate profusion of vivid pink stamens, was not only an enormous challenge but also a fantastic and joyful process. As we spent our days and weeks together, I developed a great affection for my ‘shaving brush.’ I am so thrilled to have been able to translate a gorgeous, living thing to paper in such a way that it continues to speak to others!”
Congrats to both of you!
Are there any more BAGSC artists who have been accepted? If so, please send me an email with an image.
A Little About the International ASBA/Hort Exibition
Each fall, the Annual International American Society of Botanical Artists at The Horticultural Society of New York exhibition is held at the Hort in mid-town Manhattan. It is the ASBA’s longest running collaboration. Past exhibitions are posted on the ASBA’s website; this year’s exhibition will be posted as well.
The Hort’s Gallery encourages gardeners and artists alike to appreciate the creative intersection between art and nature. Exhibitions showcase emerging and established contemporary artists inspired by horticulture, botany, landscape, and the environment.
by Cristina Baltayian, posted by Deb Shaw
Cristina Baltayian will be exhibiting her artwork in “Works on Paper,” at SAGA Fine Art.
Cristina Baltayian will be showing 15 paintings at SAGA Fine Art in an exhibition entitled Works on Paper. Showcasing artwork in watercolor, pastel and pencil, the exhibition runs from February 17 – March 27, 2015. An opening reception will be held Saturday, February 28, 2015 from 5 – 7 pm.
SAGA Fine Art specializes in representational Plein Air, Landscape, Figurative and Still Life paintings by contemporary artists. It is located at 110 West Lime Avenue, Monrovia, California 91016, 626.358.5563. Gallery hours are Tuesdays through Saturdays, 1 – 6 pm.
Congratulations, Cristina!
By Beth Stone and Janice Sharp
The BAGSC information and sales table, with some of the Camellia botanical artwork.
The Camellia Societies of Southern California (Kern County, Pacific, Southern California and San Diego Camellia Societies) held their first Camellia show of the 2015 season at Descanso Gardens on January 17 and 18, 2015. As part of the show, members of BAGSC were invited to hang “Camellia” art works. Ten artists, Diane Daly, Estelle DeRidder, Clara Josephs, Joan Keesey, Suzanne Kuuskmae, Patricia Mark, Mitsuko Schultz, Gilly Shaeffer, Janice Sharp, and Beth Stone submitted a combined total of 20 artworks.
The craftsman style elegance of Descanso’s Van de Kamp Hall filled with beautiful Camellia blooms was a beautiful setting for botanical artwork.
The craftsman style elegance of Descanso’s Van de Kamp Hall filled with table after table covered with wildly diverse Camellia blooms was a beautiful setting for botanicals. The art of our members was well received by Camellia flower exhibitors and the public alike as a refreshing addition to the floral display.
Descanso Gardens was also enthusiastic to use the art to complement the current Camellia blooming season and has agreed to hang all 20 painting in the Boddy House where they will remain on display for the next several months.
In addition to participating in the botanical art exhibition, Beth Stone won five prizes for her outstanding Camellia flowers.
In addition, Beth participated in the Camellia show where she won five prizes for her outstanding Camellia flowers.
Many thanks to David Brown and Susan Armstrong of Descanso Gardens and George Harrison and Tom Gilfoy of the Pacific Camellia Society for making this collaboration with BAGSC possible.
Thanks also to Clara Josephs for encouraging this project from the beginning and to Deb Shaw for creating the publicity flier and attending to multiple necessary details. Thank you to Gilly Shaeffer for demonstrating watercolor techniques during the exhibit and to Melanie Cambell-Carter, Diane Daly, Clara Josephs, Patricia Mark, Tania Norris, Veronica Raymond and Mitsuko Schultz for volunteering to set-up, staff and take down the exhibit.
by Lesley Randall (reporting from the conference) and Deb Shaw
First place winner, Joan Keesey, Salvia spathacea, watercolor. © 2014, all rights reserved.
The California Native Plant Society (CNPS) held their Conservation Conference in San Jose, California this past January 15 – 17, 2015. BAGSC members Joan Keesey won first place in the Botanical Art Exhibition with her watercolor of Salvia spathacea, and Lesley Randall took third place with her pen and ink drawing of Malva assurgentiflora. CNPS awards cash prizes of $500 for first place; $300 for second place; and $200 for third place, plus publication in the CNPS magazine, Femontia.
The CNPS conference was attended by about 1200 people—all of whom are passionate about California’s native plants. Bernard Halliwell and Kristin Jakob worked very hard to put the botanical art exhibit together and did a magnificent job. Although they had only a small space with which to work, the exhibit flowed very nicely. As always the standard of work was exceptionally high.
Third place winner, Lesley Randall, pen and ink of Malva assurgentiflora. © 2014, all rights reserved.
This year, the conference also included botanical art talks and demonstrations. Pria Graves gave a talk about The History and Tradition of Botanical Art; Lesley Randall taught a workshop on Pen and Ink Drawing of Plants; Nina Antze taught a workshop on Drawing Plants with Color Pencils; and Maria Cecillia Freemen taught Getting Started in Botanical Drawing and Painting.
Watch the blog as more images and information about the conference comes in. Congratulations to all for a successful conference, and kudos to Joan and Lesley!
by Melanie Campbell-Carter, posted by Deb Shaw
Wine & Books, acrylic on canvas by Melanie Campbell-Carter, © 2014, all rights reserved.
My painting was just selected as the first place winner for The Friends of the Sierra Madre Library 45th annual Wine and Cuisine Tasting fundraising event to be held on Friday, February 20, 2015. The theme was “Wine pairs well with a good book.” It is acrylic on canvas.
The painting will be the featured painting at the silent auction as well as the image used on the publicity posters here in the local area. I appreciate so much everyone’s support as I’ve struggled and studied, and my success is a shared success with all of you who have believed in me for so long! Thank you!
Onward to the next project!
[If you are interested in buying tickets and attending the event in February, 2015, you will be able to find information on the Friends of the Sierra Madre Library website as the date gets closer.]
by Deb Shaw
Tania Marien’s James White Award
The ASBA announced their annual awards last night at the closing banquet. Tania Marien was presented with the James White Service Award for her dedication to botanical art, in recognition of her distinguished support of botanical art.
Lesley Randall’s ASBA Award for Scientific Botanical Illustration
Lesley Randall was presented with the ASBA Scientific Illustrator Award for Excellence in Scientific Botanical Art, in recognition of her outstanding achievements as a scientific illustrator.
George Olsen was presented with the ASBA Diane Bouchier Artist Award for Excellence in Botanical Art, in recognition of his outstanding acheivements as a botanical artist.
Unfortunately, the three award winners were not present to receive their awards in person. When Tania and Lesley’s names were announced, however, the BAGSC table cheered loud enought to hear back in Southern California. Congratulations to the award winners for richly deserved recognition!!
by Deb Shaw
Astragalus trichopodus with Glaucopsyche lygdamus palosverdesensis, Common names: Locoweed with Palos Verdes Blue Butterfly. Estelle De Ridder, © 2014, all rights reserved.
In 2012, BAGSC member Estelle DeRidder was awarded an education grant from the American Society of Botanical Artists (ASBA) to assist with creating sets of reusable plant identification cards featuring native plant illustrations from the Madrona Marsh Preserve in Torrence, California.
The Madrona Marsh Preserve, in collaboration with the ASBA has announced the opening of an exhibition of Estelle’s completed artwork, “The Flora of the Madrona Marsh” on Sunday, December 7, 2014, from 2 pm to 5 pm.
The exhibition will run from November 19, 2014 – January 9, 2015. Estelle also will make two presentations at the Madrona Marsh Preserve, one on Saturday, December 6, 2014 and another on Sunday, December 14, 2014, discussing botanical illustration and its importance in our world.
Information about Estelle’s project will be presented at the ASBA Annual Meeting and Conference in Denver, Colorado during the ASBA Grant Presentations on Friday evening, October 17, 2014 from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm.
The exhibition will then travel to the La Crescenta Public Library in La Crescenta, California from January 24 – February 28, 2015.
The Nature Center at the Madrona Marsh Preserve is located at: 3201 Plaza del Amo, Torrance, CA 90505. Phone: (310) 32-MARSH. The Madrona March is open Tuesday – Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm.
Congratulations Estelle!
Quercus Agrifolia, Coast Live Oak, by Estelle De Ridder, © 2014, all rights reserved.
Invitation to “The Flora of the Madrona Marsh,” original artwork by Estelle De Ridder.
by Deb Shaw
Joan Keesey, Heteromeles arbutifolia, California Holly, Watercolor on Paper. © 2013, all rights reserved.
The 17th Annual International American Society of Botanical Artists opened on September 17, 2014 at The Horticultural Society of New York. The exhibition will run from September 17 – November 26, 2014.
Jurors Patricia Jonas, Marco Polo Stufano, and Catherine Watters selected 42 artworks out of 215 submissions from around the world. The exhibition includes works by artists from the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Israel, Japan, and the United Kingdom. BAGSC members Joan Keesey, Lesley Randall, and Deborah Shaw have artwork in the exhibition. A full-color catalog with all of the artwork is available at ArtPlantae for $20, plus shipping.
Lesley Randall, Ma’o hau hele, Hibiscus brackenridgei, pen and ink on board. © 2014, all rights reserved.
The ASBA has posted the artwork and the artists’ stories behind each piece. Click on the artists’ names in this posting and on the ASBA website to see the artwork and read the artists’ stories.
Congratulations to all of the artists in the exhibition and to the following artists who received awards at the opening reception:
The Horticultural Society of New York Best in Show: Annie Patterson
Eleanor Wunderlich Award for Excellence: milly acharya (Purple Passionflower)
Helen Gray Garber Award: Constance Scanlon
Susan Frei Nathan Fine Works on Paper, LLC Award: Asuka Hishiki
Brooklyn Botanic Garden Award for Drawing & Prints: Lesley Randall
Honorable Mentions: Ingrid Finnan (Yellow Dahlia), Haruyo Kawashima, Carrie DiConstanzo, and Tomoko Ogawa
Deborah B. Shaw, Cucurbita maxima, Buttercup Squashes and Section, watercolor on paper. © 2013, all rights reserved.
Botanical art workshops are being held in conjunction with the exhibition, and a “Last Look” reception with featured artists and jurors will be held on Wednesday, November 19, 2014 from 6-8 pm.
The Hort is free and open to the public Monday through Friday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. For further information, please contact Chris Murtha at The Hort, 212-757-0915 (x121) or cmurtha@thehort.org, or Carol Woodin, Director of Exhibitions, ASBA, exhibitions@asba-art.org, 866-691-9080.
By Arillyn Moran-Lawrence, posted by Deb Shaw
Arillyn Moran-Lawrence, “Elegant Syrah,” pen and ink on paper. © 2014, all rights reserved.
BAGSC member Arilyn Moran-Lawrence’s pen and ink drawing titled “Elegant Syrah” has been juried into the Lloyd Library and Museum fall exhibition. The Lloyd Library and Museum is one of the premier botanical libraries in the United States. The exhibition is titled “If Wine is Sublime.” The show runs from September 13, 2014 to December 12, 2014.
Can’t make it to the show? View the artworks online. The exhibition includes works in diverse media, including watercolor, oil, hand-woven tapestries, video, lithography and cast aluminum tile. Many of the participants are ASBA members.
The Lloyd Library and Museum is located at: 917 Plum Street, Cincinnati OH 45202. If you would like further information about the Lloyd Library and Museum, please contact Anna Heran, Exhibit Curator, 513 721 3707, or curator@lloydlibrary.org.
Congrats Arillyn!
by Deb Shaw
Lupinus succulentus, or Foothill Lupine, watercolor by Joan Keesey, © 2013.
The Irvine Fine Arts Center is holding an opening reception for “Paper Farm: Works on Paper” this Saturday, June 14, from 1–3 pm. Admission is free.
The exhibition runs from Saturday, June 14 through July 12, 2014, and features 47 artists’ works in ink, paint, pencil and watercolor of Southern California farm life and regional plants and animals.
BAGSC members Diane Daly, Clara Josephs, Joan Keesey, Terri Munroe, Mitsuko Schultz, Janice Sharp, and Deborah Shaw have artwork in the exhibition. Joan Keesey’s painting of Lupinus succulentus (Foothill Lupine) was used for the promotional materials for the show.
The Irvine Fine Arts Center is located at:
Heritage Park
14321 Yale Avenue
Irvine, CA 92604
Hours are Monday – Thursday, 10 am – 9 pm, Friday from 10 am – 5 pm, and Saturday from 9 am – 5 pm. The Center is closed on Sundays. Admission and parking are free to the public.
For more information, visit the website by clicking on the link above, or call 949-724-6880.
by Deb Shaw
Joan and John Keesey took the Great Park Hot Air Balloon Ride the day they dropped off Joan’s artwork. This is their report and picture from the Hot Air Balloon. Honorary BAGSC member John wrote, “The art galleries are just above the balloon shadow with the palms in between. I think your show is going to be in the one closest to the balloon shadow, but what do I know?”
The Orange County Great Park is pleased to announce the opening reception for “Paper Farm: Works on Paper” to be held:
Sunday, May 4, 2014
12:00pm—3:00pm
Great Park Artists Studios
The exhibition will continue from May 4 until June 8, 2014.
ARTISTS STUDIOS HOURS
Saturdays & Sundays
10:00am—4:00pm
“Paper Farm: Works on Paper” is an exhibition illustrating Southern California farm life and detailing regional plants and animals using ink, paint, pencil, and watercolor. BAGSC members Diane Daly, Clara Josephs, Joan Keesey, Terri Munroe, Mitsuko Schultz, Janice Sharp, and Deborah Shaw have artwork in the exhibition.
A lot will be happening at The Great Park on that same day, May 4, including The Groves Antique Market and the Certified Farmers Market.
The Groves Antique Market has antiques, fine art and collectibles for sale, and is located on the runways behind the Great Park.
The Certified Farmers Market features fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables, handcrafted artisan products, live music and entertainment, car shows, and a selection of gourmet food trucks. You can also explore the Farm + Food Lab and talk to UCCE Master Gardeners about home gardening tips. The Farmers Market will be open early May 4, at 8 am, and is dog and pet-friendly, too.
The Living Room Talks program will also take place in the Gallery at 1:00pm on that Sunday. The Living Room Talks at the Great Park Gallery provide a community gathering place for engaging conversations with local artists. Sunday’s artists include Bianca Barragan, a writer and one of five co-founders of the LA Zine Fest, and Yumi Sakugawa, a comic book artist.
Field trips for 1st grade students have been ongoing since March, and have included the art exhibition. The students have enjoyed the show and are inspired by the creativity.
Directions can be found on the website, and on each of the linked pages listed above. Parking and admission are free. And yes, there will be balloon rides, soaring 400 feet above the park. Availability to fly is on a first-come, first-serve basis and dependent on wind and weather conditions. Prices for balloon rides are: Adults (19 and older), $10.00; Children (18 and younger with paid adult), free; Children (12 – 18 years old, without paid adult), $5.00.
by Deb Shaw
The New York Botanical Garden/ASBA Second Triennial Exhibition entitled “Weird, Wild & Wonderful” announced the medal winners for the show. The Gold medal went to Asuka Hishiki for her watercolor of Eutrema japonica (Wasabi Root); silver was awarded to Beverly Allen for Taca integrifolia (White Bat Flower); and Julia Trickey took the bronze for her Polystichum sp. (Fern Crozier).
The awards jury included: Shirley Sherwood, D. Phil, Caroline A. Wamsler, Ph.D., and Jean Emmons, who met on April 16 to select the medal recipients.
See the ASBA website and The New York Botanical Garden website for more about the exhibition. Catalogs can be ordered through ArtPlantae. Be sure to include your ASBA member discount code at checkout.
Congratulations to all!
by Deb Shaw
Pinus ponderosa, Ponderosa Pine by Carrie DiConstanzo. Winner of the 2013 Roth Award for distinction with an emphasis on traditional botanical art presentation. © 2014, all rights reserved.
BAGSC members Nina Antze, Joan Keesey, Patricia Mark, Mitsuko Schultz, Gilly Shaeffer, and Deborah Shaw have been accepted into the 16th Annual Botanical Art Exhibition at Folili in Woodside, California. There were 167 entries submitted this year from 68 artists and the jurors selected 65 for this exhibition.
The Exhibit will be on display from Tuesday, April 8 through Sunday, June 8, 2014. In addition to the 65 contemporary works displayed in the Visitor and Education Center, select pieces from Filoli’s three major florilegia collections, the Filoli, the Banks’ and the Highgrove will be on display in the historic House during the same period.
The Artists’ Reception is scheduled for Thursday, April 10 from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Artists will be on hand to share their expertise and experiences. Prints, matted originals and note cards will be for sale. An after-hours Garden visit will be available that evening as well. The reception is free, but reservations are required by Friday, April 4. Register online or by calling Member Services at 650-364-8300 x 508.
Additionally, a lecture titled Plant Portraits: The California Legacy of A.R. Valentein will be presented Thursday, April 10, 2014, 3:00 pm–4:30 pm by Margaret Dykens, Director of Research at the San Diego Natural History Museum. A nominal fee of $25.00 for Filoli members; $30.00 for non-members will be charged. A book sale of the 212-page catalog by the same name and book signing will follow the presentation.
Register online for the lecture, or for both the lecture and the reception, or by calling Member Services at 650-364-8300 x 508.
Congratulations to all! From the list of participating artists and works, it promises to be a wonderful exhibition.
by Deb Shaw
Watercolor by Sally Jacobs, © 2014, all rights reserved.
BAGSC member Sally Jacobs has a new exhibition at the TAG Gallery, “Up Close: Plant Portraits.” The show will run from April 22 through May 17, 2014.
Artist Reception: Saturday, April 26, 5 – 8 pm
Mother’s Day Chocolate, Champagne & Art: Saturday, May 10, 12 – 5 pm
Artist Panel: Saturday, May 10, 3 pm
The TAG Gallery is located at Bergamot Station, D3, 2525 Michigan Avenue, Santa Monica, California, 90404. The phone number is 310.829.9556. Gallery hours are Tuesday – Saturday, 11 am – 5 pm; Sunday, 12 – 4 pm.
Congrats Sally!
BAGSC News 