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by Deb Shaw
Hunt 15th International Exhibition of Botanical Art and Illustration
Every three years the American Society of Botanical Artists (ASBA) holds its annual conference in Pittsburgh, PA to coincide with the Hunt Institute’s International Exhibition. This year is no exception: the 15th International Exhibition will open on September 15, and will run through December 15, 2016.
The Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation established the International Exhibition in 1964 with the purpose of supporting and encouraging contemporary botanical artists. The upcoming exhibition features 43 works by 43 different artists from 15 different countries. A few selected works from the exhibition can be viewed on the website.
![Cover of the Hunt 15th International Exhibition Catalog. Cover art: Soft Tree Fern, Dicksonia antarctica [Dicksonia antarctica Labillardière, Dicksoniaceae], watercolor on paper by Laurie Andrews (1936–), 2008, 76.5 × 56.5 cm, HI Art accession no. 8078, reproduced by permission of the artist.](https://bagscblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/hibd-15th-international-title.jpg?w=300&h=476)
Cover of the Hunt 15th International Exhibition Catalog. Cover art: Soft Tree Fern, Dicksonia antarctica [Dicksonia antarctica Labillardière, Dicksoniaceae], watercolor on paper by Laurie Andrews (1936–), 2008, 76.5 × 56.5 cm, HI Art accession no. 8078, reproduced by permission of the artist.
The opening reception on October 13, from 6 pm – 9 pm is open to the public, and also is a highlight of the ASBA conference. The curators of the exhibition will give a short introduction to the exhibition in the gallery at 6:30 pm. Catalogues will be available for sale at the opening.
The Hunt Institute is located at: 4909 Frew Street, 5th Floor, Hunt Library. The exhibition will be on display on the 5th floor of the Hunt Library building at Carnegie Mellon University and will be open to the public free of charge. Hours: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–noon and 1–5 p.m.; Sunday, 1–4 p.m. (except 20 November and 24–27 November). Because the Hunt’s hours of operation are occasionally subject to change, please call or email before your visit to confirm. For further information, contact the Hunt Institute at 412-268-2434, or email.
Early Bird Registration for the 22nd Annual ASBA Meeting and Conference CLOSES AUGUST 7, 2016!
The deadline for early registration discounts for the 22nd Annual ASBA Meeting and Conference closes on August 7, 2016. Early registration fees (on or before August 7) are $360. Register now online. After August 7, registration jumps to $425. Registration closes September 4, 2016, no exceptions.
Join ten other BAGSC members who have registered for the conference so far. See old friends, meet new friends from all over the world, learn new techniques and get inspired.
The conference will be held at the Wyndham Pittsburgh University Center, just a few blocks from Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Garden, The Carnegie Museum of Natural History, The Carnegie Museum of Art, and the Cathedral of Learning at the University of Pittsburgh. And, of course, there is the Hunt 15th Annual International Exhibition—one of the world’s most prestigious exhibitions of botanical art and a must-see.
BAGSC member Margaret Best will be teaching a one-day workshop on watercolor, “From the Ground Up.” BAGSC member Deborah Shaw will be giving an up-to-the-very-minute lecture about how to protect your images on the web, along with some tips and tricks and a list of helpful and fun apps.
There are still openings in various workshops, including graphite, colored pencil, and pen-and-ink. There are many fascinating lectures available at no additional charge. And there are openings available for a field trip to visit Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater.
Read about the conference, sessions and instructors on ASBA’s website, make your selections, then go to the online registration site to register.
There are 193 ASBA members who have registered so far. Come join us in Pittsburgh!
by Deb Shaw

“Fragaria x ananassa ‘Fragoo Pink’,” Strawberry, watercolor by Mitsuko Schultz, © 2013, all rights reserved.
Submission deadlines for the The BAGSC exhibition “Cornucopia” at The San Diego Botanic Garden, Ecke Building are roaring up soon. Complete submission of up to three (3) artworks, forms, digital images and $35 entry fee are due by August 12, 2016.
“Cornucopia” will focus on all plants consumable. All life depends on plants, so let’s celebrate the diversity of plant life used in food, beverages and to enhance flavor. Draw or paint the weird fruit or vegetable found in the grocery store, the prize tomato from your backyard garden, an exotic spice or the essential ingredient of a beverage (such as hops!). If you can, include a recipe using your plant subject, or some information about how the plant is used. Submitted artworks can include any traditional media, including watercolor, colored pencil, graphite and pen and ink.
All current BAGSC members in good standing (dues paid) are eligible to enter up to three (3) two-dimensional artwork(s). High quality prints are acceptable, but no photos or digital enhancements please. We are encouraging all BAGSC members, of all experience levels to enter at least one piece.
This is not a juries show. Though not a juried show, if space becomes an issue, selections will be made to show a diversity of subjects and to include as many artists as possible.
The “Call for Entries” packet was sent via email blast to all BAGSC members. If you did not receive it, or have problems with the file, please contact Deb Shaw or Janice Sharp.
Looking forward to seeing your incredible edibles!
by Bonnie Born Ash, photos by Janice Sharp, posted by Deb Shaw
On Saturday afternoon, July 16, 2016, a festive opening reception for “Capturing the Arboretum: the Art of Botanical Illustration” was held in the newly renovated Arboretum Library. Participating BAGSC artists were Cristina Baltayian, Bonnie Born Ash, Diane Nelson Daly, Estelle DeRidder, Nancy Grubb, Cynthia Jackson, Arillyn Moran-Lawrence, Marilyn Parrino, Mitsuko Schultz, Janice Sharp, Deborah Shaw, and Beth Stone.
Artists and guests enjoyed viewing twenty-three fine works of art depicting plants of the Arboretum. Individual works were enhanced by comments from Jurors James Henrich, Arboretum’s Curator of Living Collections; Arboretum Librarian Susan Eubank; and Olga Eysymontt, Botanical Art Teacher. In addition, artwork signage gives the specific location in the reference library to find additional information on each plant illustrated.
Throughout the reception, Estelle DeRidder and Mitsuko Schultz demonstrated botanical art techniques. Additional artist demonstrations are planned in the Library on two Saturdays, August 27 and September 24. The exhibition continues through December 29. Many thanks to our jurors, volunteers, and congratulations to all participating artists!
Library Location
The Arboretum Library is located within The Arboretum. Go straight through the double doors on the left (east) of the entrance rotunda.
Library Hours
Tuesday-Friday 8:30 am to 5:30 pm
Saturday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Susan Eubank, Librarian
Phone: (626)821-3213
Fax: (626)445-1217
The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden is located at 301 North Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007.
Click on an image below to enlarge and view through a slide show format.
By Tania Marien and Estelle DeRidder, posted by Deb Shaw

Patricia Mark at the opening reception “For the Love of Botanicals.” Photo credit: Tania Marien, © 2016.
This month BAGSC President Patricia Mark shared her passion for plants, gardens and art in her solo exhibition For the Love of Botanicals.
Twenty drawings and paintings adorned the walls of Bunny Gunner Gallery, a bright and airy gallery located along the quaint tree-lined streets of the historic Claremont Village, in Claremont, California.
The exhibition opened with a very successful reception on July 2. The gallery filled immediately with admiring and enthusiastic guests. Guests included members of the public, friends and current and former Guild members.
Patricia’s paintings were rendered on archival cotton rag in watercolor, colored pencil and graphite. The paintings range in size from approximately 10″ x 10″ to 16″ x 20″. With good street exposure, the artwork is clearly visible from outside the intimate gallery, which attracted members of the public who might not have had intentions of visiting a botanical art exhibition. During the reception the guests spent time examining the artwork up-close and admiring the detail. Many of the pieces have sold.

BAGSC members at Patricia Mark’s opening reception included (from left to right): Melanie Campbell-Carter, Patricia Mark, Marilyn Parrino, and Nancy Beckham. Photo credit: Tania Marien, © 2016.
Patricia earned a Botanical Art Certificate at Filoli. Her work has been shown at Filoli, Descanso Gardens, Chapman University Leatherby Library, Roger’s Garden, the Pasadena Showcase House, the Theodore Payne Gallery and the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden.
This exhibit has been extended till August 3rd, with an additional Artists’ Reception on Saturday, July 30 from 6 pm – 9 pm.
The Bunny Gunner Gallery is located at 230 West Bonita Avenue, Claremont, California, 91711, 909.624.7238. The gallery is open:
Tuesday: 12 – 6 pm
Wednesday – Friday: 10 am – 6 pm
Saturday: 12 am – 4 pm
by Deb Shaw

Leucospermum cordifolium, Pincushion protea, colored pencil by Estelle DeRidder, © 2015, all rights reserved.
“The Beauty of Botanicals” exhibition has opened at OA Gallery in Kirkwood, Missouri (St. Louis area). Open exclusively to ASBA members for submissions, the juried show runs from June 3 through June 30, 2016. The Gallery is donating a portion of the proceeds from the sale of artwork in the exhibition to ASBA.
BAGSC members Estelle DeRidder, Joan Keesey and Deborah Shaw had work accepted into the exhibition, and Estelle received an “Award of Merit” (see below).
Photos of the exhibition space can be found on ASBA’s website.
ASBA President Jody Williams gave a lecture at the Gallery about botanical art on Sunday, June 5: “More Beautiful Botanicals from Art, Nature, History and the Economy: a look at contemporary botanical art from recent exhibitions of the American Society of Botanical Artists.”
Congratulations to the award winners selected by Lisa Ober and Shawn Cornell, OA Gallery partners:
“Best in Show” went to Robert McNeill for his “Protea magnifica”.
“Awards of Excellence” went to Jeannetta vanRaalte for “Sunflower Awakening” and Dorothy Depaulo for “Aspen in Winter”.
“Awards of Merit” went to BAGSC member Estelle DeRidder for “Pincushion protea”, Karen Kluglein for “Two Narcissus Bulbs”, Lizzie Sanders for “Rhododendron ‘Waxen Bell'”, and Denise Walser-Kolar for “Hyacinth”.
Carrie Di Costanzo’s “Pussy Willows” received the “President’s Award,” selected by Dr. Peter Wyse Jackson, President of the Missouri Botanical Garden who was one of the jurors for the exhibition.

Solanium melongena, Ophelia and Calliope Miniature Eggplants, watercolor on vellum by Deborah Shaw. © 2016, all rights reserved; protected by Digimarc.
Congratulations to all of the artists whose work was accepted: milly acharya, Beverly Allen, Bobbi Angell, Victor Blakey, Monika De Vries Gohlke, Jeanne Debons, Dorothy Depaulo, Estelle DeRidder, Carrie Di Constanzo, Margaret Ellen Duarte, Margaret Farr, Ingrid Finnan, Pauline Goldsmith, Carol Hamilton, Ann Hoffenberg, Rose Marie James, Joan Keesey, Ku-mie Kim, Karen Kluglein, Patricia Luppino, Joan McGann, Robert McNeill, Carrie Megan, Deborah Montgomerie, Keiko Nibu Tarver, Hillary Parker, Sally Petru, Kelly Radding, Dick Rauh, Lizzie Sanders, Susan Sapanera, Deborah Shaw, Faye Van Wert, Jeanneatta van Raalte, Denise Walser-Kolar and Kerri Weller.
OA Gallery is located at: 101A W Argonne, Kirkwood, Missouri, 63122, 314-821-6241. Hours are Wednesday through Saturday, noon – 5 pm, or by appointment.
by Janice Sharp, posted by Deb Shaw

Download a PDF of plant introductions by the Los Angeles Arboretum, beginning in 1957 by clicking the link in the article.
Starting in 1957 and continuing through to the present, The Arboretum has been responsible for the introduction of plants from around the world to Southern California. Many of these plants are now indispensable elements in our Southern California Gardens.
Download a list of 116 plants that have been introduced by The Arboretum by clicking this link: Arboretum Plant Introductions. Of course, this list of plant introductions doesn’t even come close to identifying all the plants in the Garden, but BAGSC members may find it useful for creating artwork for the upcoming exhibition at The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens newly renovated library, “Capturing the Arboretum: The Art of Botanical Illustration”
This list was originally posted in our blog article some years ago about the Arboretum note card project. It contains the currant names of the introduced plants, the year of introduction, and the accession number. The form also includes whether the plant is from a cutting (“C”), a seed (“S”), a graft (“G”) or a scion (“Scion”). Plants in bold type and underlined happen to be favorites of Richard Schulhof, CEO of the Arboretum.
In addition to the plant listing is a list of botanical names, common names and where the plants are found around the world.

When you first click on the link in the story to the Google map of the locations of Arboretum introductions, this is what you’ll see; a list of all the plants with their locations as dots on the map. Click on “Satellite” view in the upper right corner of the map to see the information displayed over a photographic map.
If you want to find any of these plants while at the Arboretum, we have a link to a Google map of the locations of Arboretum introductions throughout the Arboretum grounds (thank you Frank!) which also was previously published on the BAGSC Blog in conjunction with the note card project.
This data is about nine years old, so some plants from the list may be missing from the maps, and vice versa, but it’s a start to the treasure hunt. When you open the site, click on “satellite” view and zoom in to see the paths and roads in the Arboretum to use as landmarks, and to find your way around.

“Satellite” view of the Google map of the locations of Arboretum introductions. Keep zooming in to see the paths, roads and landmarks in the Arboretum grounds.
Questions? Contact Janice Sharp.
Happy painting!
by Teri Kuwahara, posted by Deb Shaw
BAGSC members Suzanne Kuuskmae and Teri Kuwahara have botanical paintings in the 2016 Annual Juried Show of the South Bay Watercolor Society. A reception was held on May 15. BAGSC members Melanie Campbell-Carter and Nancy Grubb drove to Torrance to lend their support.
South Bay Watercolor Society includes all water media. The 2016 show was juried by Williellyn McFarland, former President of the National Watercolor Society and Signature Member of Watercolor West.
Sue Kuuskmae has two of her beautiful works, “Magnolia Tree” and “Red Lanterns” in the show.

Teri Kuwahara with her prize-winning painting of a French Breakfast Radish, photo by Alvin Takamori, © 2016.
Vegetables grown in the Torrance Memorial Medical Center Learning Garden were the subjects for both of Teri Kuwahara’s paintings: “Purple Pole Bean” and “(French Breakfast) Radish” which received an Honorable Mention Ribbon and cash prize.
The show continues through June 24 at South Bay Lexus located at 24777 Crenshaw Boulevard in Torrance. Their gallery showroom is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and closed on Sundays.
By Clara Josephs
The June 4 BAGSC quarterly meeting is approaching! We will meet at 9:45 am at the San Marino home of BAGSC member Cordelia for a tour of her unique and amazing garden. The tour should last about an hour. Please RSVP to Alyse, our secretary. She will send you additional details about the day.
After the tour we will travel to the Los Angeles Arboretum for the business portion of our meeting. We will meet under the library, down the ramp, in the Bamboo Room. We plan to start the meeting no later than 12 noon. Please bring a sack lunch and drink. Food is available at the Peacock Cafe, however, lines can be long on the weekend.
Your tour of Cordelia’s garden will be greatly enhanced by reading her article that explains the inspiration for the garden and some of the construction specifics that went into its creation. You should have received a blast email with the article, address and specifics. If not, please email Deb.
The last BAGSC quarterly meeting, with the tour of the UC Riverside Botanic Garden was cancelled due to rain. We have a lot to cover at this meeting. Looking forward to seeing you on June 4!
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 Beth Stone
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.
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.
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.
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!
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 Patricia Kernan, posted by Deb Shaw
Unfortunately, the “Focus on Nature” (FON XIV) on-line submission form was not working today. Due to the cyber problems, the entry deadline for FON XIV will be extended until midnight on Thursday, March 17, 2016. The issues with the form are supposed to be resolved Thursday, but if anyone wishes to enter and has a problem with the form, please email Patricia Kernan directly to make sure your entry is recorded.
We appreciate your patience and apologize for the situation.
If you have already entered, you should have received an acknowledgement.
[Read the initial post about the “Focus on Nature XIV” on our BAGSC News blog at: https://bagscblog.com/2016/03/04/call-for-entries-focus-on-nature-natural-and-cultural-history-illustration-exhibition/%5D
by Deb Shaw

Aristolochia californica, California Pipevine, watercolor by Lee McCaffree, © 2016, all rights reserved. This painting by Lee was part of the “Weird, Wild & Wonderful” exhibition.
The schedule for Lee McCaffree’s workshops, A Painting! What do you See? and Completing a Painting have been changed: both workshops have been rolled into one day, one workshop, on Saturday, March 19. The workshop will still be held at the Los Angeles Arboretum, from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm.
There are still a few seats available. If you would like to take the workshop, but have not yet registered, please email BAGSC Treasurer Janice Sharp to let her know and make arrangements to send a check and/or bring it to the workshop on Saturday.
Cost: BAGSC members, $100.00/non-members, $120.00
Maximum number of participants (in each class): 15
You can see the original BAGSC News blog posting about the class here, including materials list and Lee McAffree’s bio. Don’t miss this great opportunity to take this rare workshop.



















































