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by Lesley Randall, posted by Deb Shaw
Aristolochia gigantea, ink on paper, Lesley Randall, © 2013, all rights reserved.
Lesley Randall will be teaching a two-day workshop on pen and ink for botanical illustration in northern California. Sponsored by the UC Davis Center for Plant Diversity, this workshop is for students of all levels.
Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25, 2015
9:00 am to 4:00 pm
3075 Sciences Laboratory Building
UC Davis
The cost is $170.00 for Davis Botanical Society and ASBA members; $190.00 for non-members. Make checks payable to Lesley Randall and send to her address. Questions? Contact Lesley via email.
Botanical illustration is an art with a long tradition. Although accuracy is the top priority, pen and ink botanical illustrations are art pieces of elegant beauty. Lesley will cover the basics from sketching to transfer and inking techniques. Types of papers and pens will also be discussed. All levels of experience are welcome! Students are encouraged to bring completed sketches so they can focus on inking techniques.
Lesley has been an illustrator for 27 years. Her published work has appeared in The Flora of Yosemite National Park, The Jepson Manual, Invasive Plants of California’s Wildlands and numerous scientific journals. She has exhibited her work in Australia, the United Kingdom, New York City and California.
Plaza de Espana, Seville, © Quench Travel.
by Michael Best, posted by Deb Shaw
There are only 2 spaces left in Margaret’s April/May 2016 workshop in Spain. Non-artist friends, partners or spouses are also welcome.
The workshop accommodation is a beautifully restored 16th century house located in an aromatic garden surrounded by 3000 acres of olive and orange groves. As for all of Margaret’s previous painting trips, this workshop/tour is capably managed on the ground by Kiloran McRae for the Quench Travel Group of Toronto.
The tiled garden view in Alcazar Palace Gardens, © Quench Travel.
Five glorious days of painting will be spent in a spectacular setting high in Sierra Moreno Mountains, just north of Seville in the heart of Andalucía with options to tour the historic sights of Seville and Barcelona. As always, Quench ‘s remarkable local connections will make for an unforgettable, cultural immersion. Tapas, flamenco dancing, sherry bodegas, historical gardens …
Many of the already registered participants have been on three or more of Margaret’s destination workshops. Their enthusiasm for these unique painting opportunities speaks to the quality of their previous experiences. BAGSC member Jan Clouse and her husband Charles of Santa Barbara have this to say about their previous trips with Margaret and Kiloran:
Trasierra interior, © Quench Travel
Margaret knows how much Jan appreciates her guidance and mentoring, but the sustained exposure to her teaching skills provided by these trips is inestimable. We both admire Kiloran’s skills as well. Where do we start? Guide? Translator? Chaperone? Student of Medieval history? Plant identifier? She does it all at breakneck speed — in two, sometimes three, languages. Can’t praise her too highly either.
The food was as always, rave-worthy … impressive botanical gardens, the welcoming horticulturalists, and historical sights as well… Altogether we had terrific experiences as botanical painter, guitarist, and tourists.
For details about this unique painting opportunity and a chance to explore some remarkable art and sites of historical significance in Spain, see Quench Travel’s website.
Previous Margaret Best/Quench workshop destinations have included:
- Tuscany, Italy
- Marrakech, Atlas Mountains, Morocco
- Newfoundland, Canada
- Cotswold’s, England
- Puglia, Italy
by Clara Josephs, posted by Deb Shaw
Here is some helpful information regarding the cost of Olga’s Sunday class at the LA Arboretum. The base cost of the class (through Otis) for noncredit is $435 plus the required amount of $39 for insurance and registration fees. You may deduct up to two $50 ($100 total!) discounts as they apply to you.
Choose from any two of the following:
- Senior, 60 and over: subtract $50
- KCRW member with valid card in your name: subtract $50
- Early bird registration until August 23: subtract $50
- Alumni discount: subtract $50
Take two discounts and the cost of the class is $374 for 8 full days of instruction!
For convenience, here is the basic information posted in a previous BAGSC Blog post:
Graphite for Botanical Illustration. Classes will held for 8 Sundays, from September 13 through November 1, 9:30–4:30 and is appropriate for all skill levels. Register through Otis College 310 665 6950 class # XILU3556. This class is not yet up on the website, but will fill quickly. If you are interested, register soon by phone.
by Clara Josephs, posted by Deb Shaw
Passion Flower study, Olga Eysymontt, © 2008, all rights reserved.
Olga Eysymontt, one of the founding members of BAGSC and the first botanical art teacher to many of us, is returning to the Los Angeles Arboretum to teach her iconic class, Graphite for Botanical Illustration. If you have not had the opportunity to study with Olga, now is your chance. Classes will held for 8 Sundays, from September 13 through November 1, 9:30–4:30 and is appropriate for all skill levels. Register through Otis College 310 665 6950 class # XILU3556. This class is not yet up on the website, but will fill quickly. If you are interested, register soon by phone.
This hands-on drawing course enables teaches students to observe and draw plants with accuracy, develop perceptual acuity, analyze the role of light on form, and use tonal value skills that are essential in drawing any subject. Classes will be held at the LA Arboretum. This course is suitable not only for beginners but also for those students with extensive drawing experience. Course includes demonstration, class discussion, and critique.
First class materials: 14″ x 17” Strathmore Drawing Pad Series 400, Medium (no sketch or recycled paper; you can use another brand), 14” x 17” Medium Weight Tracing Paper (any brand), 3 Drafting Pencil Holders and 1 Sharpener, Leads: 2H, HB and 2B leads (at least 2 each), Eraser Stick, Erasing Shield, Drafting Brush, Mars Drafting Dots (masking tape), Portable Task Light (Ott-Lite). Vis a Vis wet erase fine point marker, Clip, 8″ x 10″ Plexi and 8″ x 10″ format supplied by teacher for $10.00.
by Melanie Campbell-Carter
Nepenthes! The very epitome of Weird, Wild, and Wonderful was the subject of a three-day pre-symposium workshop led by Mieko Ishikawa, a featured artist in the Weird, Wild & Wonderful exhibit currently on view at the Brody Botanical Center at The Huntington and also a Keynote Speaker at our symposium.
Mieko Ishikawa graciously traveled across the Pacific to join us here in Southern California. Her first event of the Symposium was her three-day workshop on Nepenthes. The Huntington botanical gardens staff kindly cultivated and provided living Nepenthes plants for the workshop, and Mieko provided Reindeer Vellum for her students’ paintings.
Meiko Ishikawa and Akiko Enokido unroll Reindeer Vellum to show the class what a whole skin looks like.
First Mieko treated us to a wonderful presentation about her adventures finding and painting the very special plants of Borneo. We then enjoyed a behind-the-scenes tour of The Huntington greenhouse where the Nepenthes were grown. Robert Hori of The Huntington and BAGSC’s very talented Akiko Enokido provided interpretive skills for the workshop.
Meiko demonstrating her techniques.
After three days of intense study, graphite drawing on our vellum, and very careful application of watercolor on our drawings with extremely tiny brushes, we all had a much greater understanding of the stunning talent and achievements of Mieko Ishikawa. Her mastery of the structure of the plants, as well as her breathtaking artistic talent, gave all of us an enormous dose of inspiration to continue learning and painting!
Many, many thanks to everyone who made the workshop possible – including The Huntington gardens’ staff, the ASBA, the amazing BAGSC women who organized the symposium, and especially our tireless and patient instructor, Mieko Ishikawa.
Workshop participants with their Nepenthes paintings.
by Beth Stone
photographs by Gayle Uyehara
An enthusiastic group of artists enjoyed three days with Elaine Searle for her class entitled “Liquid Shine…Sculpting Form with Light and Color”. This was one of two Weird, Wild & Wonderful pre-symposium classes held at The Huntington this week. Gilly Shaeffer searched everywhere until finally her artist’s eye found beautiful Italian peppers for our studies. The class explored the differences between Sheen, Shine and Liquid Shine learning a host of indispensable techniques and tips.
Elaine Searle (back of room) made good use of the projection system in The Engemann Applied Tech Lab for demonstrations. Even Jim Folsom stepped in to help by printing personal photographic pepper portraits (see sample in foreground).
Terri Monroe thoughtfully applying finishing touches to her pepper.
The class joins in a group status check mid way through the third and final day.
Elaine Searle (far left) treated the class to an overview of just a few samples of her beautiful artwork.
by Gilly Shaeffer, posted by Deb Shaw
Gilly Shaeffer, “Camellia,” watercolor on paper, 2015, all rights reserved.
Gilly Shaeffer, long time member of BAGSC, will be holding four Thursday morning classes in July at her home studio entitled “Drawing Basics.” This is a great opportunity for beginners and intermediates to perfect their drawing skills and also a preparation for doing botanical watercolor painting. It is perfect for those who like a small group experience with a lot of individualized attention. It will consist of a cumulative series of exercises to improve observational and drawing skills, as well as, preparing students to create three dimensional form through light to dark shading. Those who complete the drawing exercises with Gilly will move on to the study of botanical watercolor painting. The understanding and skills gained through these classes can be applied when doing all types of drawing and painting.
Visit Gilly Shaeffer’s website to see samples of her work and read her “Bio” to learn about her educational background, teaching experiences and accomplishments in botanical art.
Four Thursdays in July: July 2; July 9; July 16; July 23
Fee:$160
Locations: Gilly’s Home Studio
For address, directions, and answers to any questions, please Gilly’s email address.
by Suzanne Kuuskmae, posted by Deb Shaw
Cristina Baltayian will be teaching a day-long (10 am – 4:00 pm) botanical colored pencil techniques class on July 11, 2015 at Destination: Art in Old Torrance. The cost will be $90 for the day; you can bring your lunch or we will order out.
Contact Suzanne Kuuskmae to sign up or get further information. Come enjoy our comfortable, co-op studio/gallery for the day.
We will have a second session on August 8!
Destination: Art is located at:
1815 West 213th Street, Suite 135
Torrance, California 90501
(310) 742-3192
Destination: Art Map and Directions
by Michael Best, posted by Deb Shaw
Fiji flower.
This botanical art retreat ticks all the right boxes . . . tropical location, abundance of exotic flowers and fruit, acclaimed teacher, great accommodation, all meals, great facilities dedicated to the arts, lots to see and do — and all at a great price!
Getting there couldn’t be easier with Fiji Airways flying directly from LAX.
Imagine seven days in this tropical paradise where the biggest challenge is going to be selecting a specimen from among the exotic native orchids, colorful ginger plants and fascinating tropical fruit. Work in water color or colored pencil for three hours each morning and then relax or sight-see in the afternoon. Or, if you prefer, paint all day — your choice.
Take a non-painting partner if you wish. There is more than enough for them to see and do while you paint.
One of many beautiful beaches on Fiji.
This 19th to 26th September, 2015 retreat is being organized by Paradise Courses of Sydney. All the details, including the schedule and reservation information, can be found on their website.
Find out more about Margaret’s art and teaching at www.bestbotanical.com and the retreat at www.dakuresort.com. A PDF brochure about the resort can be downloaded here: Daku Resort Savusavu eBrochure.
Imagine . . .
One view from the Daku Resort in Fiji.
by Tania Norris, posted by Deb Shaw
Anne-Marie Evans.
Anne-Marie Evans will be returning to the Virginia Robinson Gardens in March, 2015 to teach Drawing, Aerial Perspective, and Composition to artists in all mediums. Drawing, aerial perspective and composition will be covered in depth and every student of botanical art will benefit from Anne-Marieʼs expertise and will be given the knowledge to advance their future botanical works.
Monday, March 23 – Friday, 27, 2015
The basics of drawing botanically correct specimens
Saturday, March 28, 2015
A one-day session with Anne-Marie to help students with their unfinished paintings
Monday, March 30 – Friday, April 3, 2015
Aerial perspective and composition for botanical art
Virginia Robinson Gardens and BAGSC Members: $595.00 per week. Non-members: $625.00 per week.
Saturday, March 28th: Virginia Robinson Gardens and BAGSC Members: Members $100.00. Non-members $125.00.
A $100.00 deposit is non-refundable.
Classes will be held daily from 9 am – 3:30 pm in the Pool Pavilion, Virginia Robinson Gardens, 1108 Elden Way, Beverly Hills, California, 90210.
Payment may be made by check, payable to Friends of the Robinson Gardens; by phone, 310-550-2068; or online. A materials list will be sent to all participants. Coffee, tea and water will be provided, but please bring your own lunch.
Anne-Marie Evans is known throughout the world as a master teacher of botanical art. Her classes are filled with the most thoroughly researched methods of giving information so that students can benefit to the fullest from their attendance.
by Deb Shaw
Our dear Jill Berry at the Los Angeles Arboretum will be retiring shortly. BAGSC sends out a BIG THANK YOU to Jill for all your years of help, service, and support.
Many of us got our start in botanical art at the LA Arboretum, in classes taught by Olga Eysymontt. Jill was a big part of our experience there, and we will miss her. Jill, congratulations on your retirement, and we wish you all the happiness and fulfillment in the years ahead. Thank you!
Our collaboration and support of the Arboretum will continue, of course. The schedule for Cristina Baltayian’s classes has been announced for January – June, 2015 at the Arboretum. These classes will be exploring color pencil, graphite, pen and ink, and watercolor on various papers, vellum and other surfaces. The emphasis will be on plant observation, drawing, composition, color theory and matching, and medium techniques.
Tuesdays, 2015 (10 am – 2 pm)
January: 6, 13, 20, 27
February: 3, 10, 17, 24
March: 3, 10, 17, 24
April: 7, 14, 21, 28
May: 5, 12, 19, 26
June: 2, 9, 16, 23
Cost: $275 Arboretum members per month; $295 non-members per month (includes Arboretum admission)
To register: Pre-registration required; please call the Class Registration line at 626.821.4623. Class participation is limited to a minimum of five students and a maximum of 12. A supply list will be provided upon registration. You may bring your lunch or purchase it at the Peacock Café.
Additionally, this year continues the “Arboretum Plant Introduction Project.” Cristina’s students, along with BAGSC members will be studying and portraying many of the Arboretum plant introductions from the last 50 years. The goal is to build a collection of paintings that will celebrate and document the invaluable contribution of the Los Angeles Arboretum to the state of California.
About the Instructor
Cristina Baltayian has a background in drawing (graphite, charcoal, pen and ink), two-dimensional design, watercolor, and colored pencils. Her work has been shown at Filoli, the Los Angeles County Arboretum, and Chapman University Leatherby Libraries. She is a member of the American Society of Botanical Artists, and The Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California.
by Deb Shaw
Exhibition catalog cover, “Following in the Bartrams’ Footsteps”
ASBA’s traveling exhibition, Following in the Bartrams’ Footsteps has arrived at its final venue in Northern California, in the beautifully restored Julia Morgan-designed Girton Hall at the University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley. The exhibition will be on display from December 15, 2014 – February 15, 2015. Consisting of 44 original works shows the native plant discoveries made by father and son, John and William Bartram throughout the Eastern United States from the 1730s through the 1790s. This exhibition at UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley is the only West Coast showing.
View the artwork on the website and see a list of the artists and artwork in the exhibition. The Garden is also offering three notecards from the exhibition in mixed packages of six or individually, sold in their Garden Shop. All proceeds benefit the Garden.
Three lectures are being offered as part of the outreach around the exhibition: Carol Woodin, ASBA Exhibitions Director, is giving a lecture today, December 19 about The Legacy of the Bartrams. Dr. Peggy Fiedler will present Fathers & Sons: A Journey with the Bartrams, Hookers and other Famous Families in Western Botanical Science, Art and Exploration on Saturday, January 31, 2015 from 1 pm – 3pm. The third lecture, titled Maria Sybilla Merian: A Passion for Plants & Insects will be given on Thursday, February 5, 2015. To register, and for more information, visit Bartrams events page on the garden website. Additionally, Catherine Watters will teach An Introduction to Botanical Art with graphite, colored pencil and watercolor on Thursday, January 22 and Friday, January 23 from 10 am – 4 pm each day. All levels are welcome. Registration for this workshop is also located on the Bartrams events page.
Catherine Watters, ASBA Director, developed a fundraising campaign that enabled the exhibition to come to California. A catalog of the exhibition may be purchased from ASBA’s website through ArtPlantae.
Exhibition hours for Following in the Bartrams’ Footsteps are 10 am – 4pm daily during days when the garden is open. Driving directions, admissions information and other information are available on the garden’s website. The University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley is located at 200 Centennial Drive, Berkeley, CA 94720-5045. Phone: 510-643-2755.
While you’re visiting the Bartrams’ exhibition, be sure to stop in and see Plants Illustrated: Following the Garden’s Path, the 6th Annual exhibition of botanical art, featuring work by the Northern California Society of Botanical Artists. This year’s exhibition focuses specifically on plants in the Garden’s collection. The exhibition will be on display January 7 – February 15, from 10 am – 4 pm. There is an opening reception on Saturday, January 24 from 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm where you can sip wine, meet the artists, and see the show. Registration is required, and can also be found on the Bartrams events page on the garden website.
by Deb Shaw
We’re pleased to confirm the locations for Eileen Sorg’s BAGSC-sponsored workshop, “COLORED PENCIL STEW.”
“A Bug In Your Ear,” mixed media by Eileen Sorg, © 2014, all rights reserved.
The workshop on Monday, March 9–Tuesday, March 10, 2015 will be held at the Los Angeles Arboretum.
The workshop on Thursday, March 12–Friday, March 13, 2015 will be held at the Santiago Nature Center, in the Santiago Park Nature Reserve, freeway-close off of Memory Lane in Santa Ana, Orange County (near the Main Place mall).
Leslie Walker reports a good number of deposits have already come in, so for those of you who were waiting to see which location matched which dates, it’s time to send in your deposit. Maps, times and materials lists will be emailed once full payment has been received.
For convenience, here’s the “save-your-place” deposit information:
Costs will be $250.00 for a two-day workshop for BAGSC and Colored Pencil Society members, $275.00 for non-members. Please send a $50.00 non-refundable deposit, made out to BAGSC, to Leslie Walker and be sure to indicate whether you would prefer the March 9 − 10 dates at the Los Angeles Arboretum, OR the March 12 − 13 dates in Orange County at the Santiago Nature Center.
Want to take both workshops? Please send a $100.00 non-refundable deposit and let Leslie know that as well.
by Anita Walsmit Sachs and Deb Shaw
Anita Walsmit Sachs will be offering a 5-day botanical drawing and painting workshop, “Hortus atelier” in cooperation with The Hortus botanicus, Leiden, in 2015.
About the Hortus
The Hortus botanicus Leiden is a green oasis in the center of Leiden.
The Hortus botanicus Leiden is the oldest botanical garden in the Netherlands and one of the oldest in the world. It is located in the historical centre of Leiden. Sitting behind the academy building of the Leiden University, the garden is a green oasis with a large collection of plants native to Southeast and East Asia, Southern Europe and South Africa. The Hortus is a haven within the city centre, a historical monument and a meeting place full of character.
People go to the Hortus to relax, enjoy the seasons or to learn more about the diversity of the plant kingdom.
In 1590 the Hortus was founded by the University of Leiden. In 1594 Carolus Clusius (1526-1609) turned it into a medicinal herb garden. But Clusius introduced the tulip and many other plants like tobacco and potato to the Hortus. These flowers and plants became known throughout Western Europe.
The Hortus botanicus Leiden is the oldest botanical garden in the Netherlands, and one of the oldest in the world.
Many famous international scientists such as Clusius, Boerhaave, Linnaeus and Einstein were connected to the Hortus botanicus in Leiden.
In the 19th century, the German physician Philipp Franz von Siebold (1796-1866) brought hundreds of plant species with him from Japan to the Netherlands and 15 of these original introductions can still be found in the Hortus today.
The Hortus atelier program
The purpose of a botanical illustration is primarily a scientifically accurate drawing. The artistic input is reflected in the sensitivity in which the subject is displayed and in the composition.
PROGRAM: from April 12 to April 16, 2015
First day, the class starts at 10, with coffee and presentation, who is who and info, followed by a guided walk through the garden.
Lunch 12.00 – 12.30
Afternoon 12.30 – 15.45 Instruction about the subject to draw. Pencil drawing, including light and dark values.
Second day, instruction about material, paper, paint and colour mixing and composition.
Third day, transferring the drawing to the watercolour paper and painting.
Fourth and fifth days, continuing the process. Every day there will be a discussion about the progress of the drawing. The education is individually focused to gain an optimal result.
Gloriosa, watercolor by Anita Walsmit Sachs, 2014, all rights reserved.
Costs
The fee will be € 375,00 including morning coffee, brasserie lunch and afternoon drinks. Information about payment will follow after subscription as well as information about lodging possibilities. A small optional assignment will be given before the course starts. Sign ups for the class are through Anita directly via email.
About the Artist
Anita Walsmit Sachs in her studio.
Anita initially trained in fashion design at the Royal Academy of fine Arts in The Hague. Fifteen years ago she became a scientific illustator at the National Herbarium of Leiden University, now Museum Naturalis. She has won two RHS Gold medals and a second prize medal at the RBG show in Sydney, Australia. Anita has participated in the Highgrove Florilegium of HRH Prince Charles. She is passionate about painting and teaching.
by Suzanne Kuuskmae, posted by Deb Shaw
Botanical colored pencil artist and sought-after teacher, Wendy Hollender will be here for a two-day workshop:
April 1 – 2, 2015
She will be stopping in Torrance at Destination: Art on her way back from her two-week class in Kauai. The cost will be $200 for the two days, and as space is going to be limited so that we can really get her full attention, please send a deposit check of $100 made out to Destination: Art to Suzanne Kuuskmae.
This will hold your spot with the balance due 30 days before the workshop. Her last class here a few years back was a sellout and very popular.
BAGSC News 