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by Janice Hoiberg
Dudleya greenei, Greene’s Live-Forever, Watercolor on paper by Ellie Yun-Hui Tu, © 2015.
This year ASBA celebrates its 25th Anniversary! Founded 1994, with 200 original members, it has grown to the vibrant organization of over 1700 botanical artists from around the world.
As part of the celebration a special ASBA 25th Anniversary art catalog, “Celebrating Silver,” will be published. Each ASBA member in good standing is eligible to submit a scanned image of an artwork on the ‘silver’ theme. You may use the media of your choice, including Silverpoint, but all subjects must be of a plant with silver in its scientific or common name, or have a silvery appearance. Examples are Silver Birch (name) and Dusty Miller (appearance). For further information, see the Call for Entries page on the ASBA website. The catalog will not be juried. Submission deadline is June 10, 2019. The catalog is to be published October, 2019.
In addition to the Catalog each of the Chapters and Circles have been asked to plan an event as part of a rolling series of celebrations held across the country on the theme of “Celebrating Silver.” BAGSC members are encouraged to submit a scan to be included in the catalog. Plans are in the works for a BAGSC art show of “Celebrating Silver.” Stay tuned!
by Deb Shaw
Kokia drynarioides, Hau hele ‘ula. Lesley B Randall, color pencil and graphite on cold press illustration board. Scale 1:1 and various for enlarged details, © 2015, all rights reserved.
BAGSC’s exhibition “Totally Tropical,” opens Saturday, November 3, 2018, at the San Diego Botanic Garden (SDBG) in the Ecke Building. “Totally Tropical” celebrates the opening of the San Diego Botanical Garden’s tropical conservatory this past summer.
Seventeen BAGSC members are exhibiting 32 paintings of plants that grow in tropical climates in this non-juried exhibition. Originals and archival giclée prints will be shown. Artists include Natalia Alatortseva, Margaret Best, Melanie Campbell-Carter, Diane Nelson Daly, Catherine Dellor, Steve Hampson, Janice Sharp Hoiberg, Mary Jansen, Suz Landay, Arillyn Moran-Lawrence, Terri Munroe, Marilyn Anne Parrino, Lesley B Randall, Veronica Raymond, Kirsten Rindal, Deborah B Shaw, and Leslie Walker.
A casual reception will be held from 2:30 to 5:00 pm, Saturday, November 3, to celebrate the opening!
November 3 – November 30, 2018
November 3, 2018, from 11 am – 2 pm
Potluck Reception:
November 3, 2018, from 2:30 – 5 pm
Some of the artwork is for sale; ten percent of all sales will be donated to support SDBG.
Nepenthes ventricosa Blanco, watercolor on paper, Kirsten Rindall. Scale 1:1, © 2017, all rights reserved.
As usual for SDBG exhibitions, BAGSC will install the exhibition the same day as the opening. All BAGSC members are welcome to come join in the installation, assist with the hanging, and see the amazing gardens. BAGSC members, friends, family, SDBG staff and the public are all welcome to join us for the opening reception.
The San Diego Botanic Garden is located at 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas, CA 92024. The garden covers approximately 35 acres; hours, admission, and information can be found on their website.
Looking forward to seeing everyone there!
by Jan Rasmussen, posted by Deb Shaw
Flyer for “Drawing Nature” exhibition in Long Beach, California.
“Drawing Nature,” an exhibition of artwork created in Nina Antze’s colored pencil classes at the El Dorado Nature Center will close on October 31, 2018.
Come see colored pencil drawings by 15 artists of native and non-native plants.
The exhibition can be seen at 7550 E. Spring Street, Long Beach, California 90815. The Museum hours are Tuesday–Sunday, 8:30 am–4pm. Vehicle parking fees range from $5–$8, depending on the day; directions and general information can be found here. A portion of the sales proceeds supports the Friends of El Dorado Nature Center.
by Deb Shaw
Midnight (Eastern Daylight Time), August 31, 2018 is the last day to register for the American Society of Botanical Artists 24th Annual Meeting & Conference in St. Louis!!
Come spend time with fellow botanical artists, take workshops, and attend lectures. Spend quality time at the Missouri Botanical Garden, one of the world’s top botanical gardens. Founded in 1859, the Missouri Botanical Garden is the nation’s oldest continuously-operating botanical garden and a National Historic Landmark.
The Foundry Art Centre in St. Charles, Missouri will host “Out of the Woods: Celebrating Trees in Public Gardens, the Third New York Botanical Garden Triennial” exhibition of botanical art along with a companion, adjunct exhibition “Out on a Limb.” A reception for conference attendees will be held Thursday, October 11, and will also feature the slideshow of artwork from the 25-country Botanical Art Worldwide exhibitions.
To register, look at the descriptions and information on the ASBA website. Then go to the Conference Registration website to register. Scroll down on the registration site to see openings remaining in various workshops and presentations. There are a lot of openings left in wonderful workshops!
If you’ve already registered but would like to add a class, contact the conference registrar to request the additions to your registration.
by Deb Shaw
Signage with artwork by Esmée Winkel, Leiden’s 300-Year-Old Tulip Tree in Autumn (2016), Liriodendron tulipifera. Hortus Botanicus Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands. Watercolor on paper. © Esmée Winkel. Courtesy of the American Society of Botanical Artists and the New York Botanical Garden.
The Los Angeles Times joined The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens and BAGSC in letting everyone know that the “Out of the Woods” exhibition will be coming to a close soon. See the article: http://www.latimes.com/home/la-hm-out-of-the-woods-20180822-story.html?outputType=amp
Make it a day at The Huntington: see “Out of the Woods,” organized by The New York Botanical Garden and the American Society of Botanical Artists, and “Amazing Trees,” the adjunct exhibition by BAGSC members in the Brody Botanical Center, Flora Legium Gallery. Then pop next door to the Rose Hills Foundation Conservatory for Botanical Science to see the blooming Corpse Flowers!
The exhibition closes Monday, August 27, 2018. The traveling exhibition will then go to the Foundry Art Centre in St. Charles, MO where it will be on display October 5 – December 28, 2018, including during the American Society of Botanical Artists annual meeting and conference.
In the beginning of next year, the exhibit will travel to the Tucson Botanical Gardens, Tucson, AZ, January 25 – April 13, 2019, and then on to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chaska, MN, May 9 – August 13, 2019.
by Deb Shaw
Li’l Stinky decided not to bloom after all, but provided a wonderful dissection opportunity! The Huntington team and the public got to see what’s inside!
We were all disappointed when Li’l Stinker, Amorphophallus titanum, or “Corpse Flower” failed to bloom last week at The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. The failed bloom, however, gave Jim Folsom, John Trager, and Brandon Tam the opportunity to dissect the bloom on Facebook Live to create an herbarium sheet (watch the dissection here on Facebook Live.
Then, lo and behold, not one but THREE more Corpse Flowers stepped up to the plate. Quickly dubbed the #TitanTriplets! All three plants, “Stink,” “Stank,” and “Stunk,” #CorpseFlowers can be seen in the Rose Hills Foundation Conservatory for Botanical Science at The Huntington, along with a corm and a plant with a leaf. Daily updates, photos, and FAQs are being shared on The Huntington’s website.
“Stink” suddenly decided to bloom today! See it during public hours: 10 am – 5 pm. The two other #CorpseFlowers, “Stank,” and “Stunk” look like they have a few more days to go. But who knows…they might change their minds and bloom any time.
For more stinky resources (from The Huntington) #StinkyatTheH:
- Watch: the Botanical team dissect the last Corpse Flower, Li’l Stinker on Facebook Live
- Read: The Secret Life of Stinky
- Read: A Stinky Family Tree
- Watch: Corpse Flower’s 2014 bloom Timelapse
The Corpse Flower inspires creativity. Lindsay Brennan made (delicious!) Corpse Flower Cake Pops and brought them to Jim Folsom’s Orchid Lecture for BAGSC members.
The bloom (and smell) only lasts a day or so. If you’re coming to The Huntington this weekend to see and smell, be sure to stop by the Brody Botanical Center, Flora-Legium Gallery to see “Out of the Woods: Celebrating Trees in Public Gardens,” The Third New York Botanical Garden Triennial, American Society of Botanical Artists, and “Amazing Trees,” the adjunct exhibition by the Botanical Artist Guild of Southern California (BAGSC). BAGSC artists will be on hand all weekend with drop in family activities and botanical art demonstrations. The exhibitions go through to August 27, 2018.
Another view of the chocolate Corpse Flower Cake Pops.
Deborah Shaw (L) and Tania Norris (R) took a few minutes to sketch Li’l Stinky.
BAGSC member Tania Norris with her Li’l Stinky sketch.
by Deb Shaw
The wonderful botanical art exhibitions at The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens Brody Botanical Center are in their final month of display.
Out of the Woods: Celebrating Trees in Public Gardens, The Third New York Botanical Garden Triennial and American Society of Botanical Artists will be on display until August 27, 2018, along with BAGSC’s adjunct exhibition “Amazing Trees.” BAGSC members will continue to have drop-in family botanical art activities and botanical art demonstrations every Saturday and Sunday through that time as well.
These exhibitions have been a whirlwind of wonderful opportunities. A few highlights have included:
, The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. Read the article here.
Deborah Friedman was interviewed and videotaped by Aric Allen, Video Producer, The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens about her development of her painting of the California Sycamore, Platanus racemosa in “Out of the Woods.” See the insightful video interview on YouTube here.
Steve Hindle, Interim President of The Huntington, “President’s Message: The Gentle Giants Among Us,” July/August “Calendar.” Read a PDF of the Message: huntington-pres-ltr-OOTW
“Out of the Woods” has been featured in all kinds of publicity and outreach from The Huntington, including the “President’s Message: The Gentle Giants Among Us,” by Interim President Steve Hindle in the July/August issue of The Huntington’s “Calendar.”
BAGSC participated in a Huntington open house and reception for The Huntington Fellows on Tuesday evening, May 22, 2018. BAGSC members Catherine Dellor, Estelle DeRidder, Suz Landay, Patricia Mark, Veronica Raymond, Olga Ryabstova, Gilly Shaeffer, Deborah Shaw, and Jude Wiesenfeld demonstrated at the well-attended reception. BAGSC members Susan Bartow, Teri Kuwahara, Tania Norris, Mitsuko Schultz, Beth Stone, and Leslie Walker attended too. Concurrent with the botanical art demonstrations that evening in the Ahmanson at the Brody Botanical Center, the ASBA Worldwide exhibitions were on display on the large screen, including the US exhibition (currently on display at the US Botanic Gardens) and exhibitions from 24 other countries. (See information about the ASBA Worldwide exhibition here. Information about the participating countries in the botanical art Worldwide Exhibition can be found here. Be sure to see the gallery slideshows and instructions on ordering exhibition catalogs from the US and other countries.)
Click on any of the images below to see in slide show with captions.
Some of the signage for The Huntington’s Fellows reception and open house, with Esmée Winkel’s Leiden’s 300-year-old Liriodendron tulipifera in Autumn Liriodendron tulipifera Hortus Botanicus, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Phaleonopsis from The Huntington’s collections in luxurious display.
The open house/reception flowed from the demonstrations in the Ahmanson through the courtyard into the Brody Botanical Center.
Seating area just outside the Flora-Legium gallery, where “Out of the Woods” was on display.
L to R: Jim Folsom with BAGSC members Jude Wiesenfeld, Teri Kuwahara, Beth Stone.
Guests enjoying the “Out of the Woods” exhibition.
Guests enjoying the “Out of the Woods” exhibition.
Jim Folsom remarks.
Robert Hori remarks.
Tania Norris remarks.
Andrew Mitchell who hung “Out of the Woods” and “Amazing Trees”, with BAGSC member Leslie Walker.
Mitsuko Schultz, with her artwork in “Out of the Woods,” Sweet Gum Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Burgundy’ Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, Arcadia, California.
Jim Folsom, always on the move.
The open house included displays with microscopes for guests to view specimens, as well as tours of the Herbarium, labs, and other research and library spaces in the Brody.
Kathy Musial, curator of living collections at The Huntington found a fruit of the Sausage Tree on The Huntington grounds. The tree was painted by Melanie Campbell-Carter for the “Amazing Trees” exhibition. As in every office, but especially necessary at The Huntington, it’s important to label what is food and “not food.”
Signage for the BAGSC artists who demonstrated botanical art during the evening.
Patricia Mark setting up for the botanical art demonstration, with Leslie Walker.
BAGSC members setting up for the botanical art demonstrations. L to R (seated): Estelle DeRidder, Jude Wiesenfeld, Olga Ryabstova; (standing) Teri Kuwahara.
BAGSC members (L to R) Veronica Raymond and Suz Landay, demonstrating botanical art.
BAGSC member Deborah Shaw demonstrating botanical art.
Jude Wiesenfeld demonstrating botanical art.
Guests viewing the botanical art demonstrations, with images from the ASBA Worldwide exhibition in the background.
The calm before the crowds: (L) BAGSC member Tania Norris and Robert Hori ready the tables for the drop-in family botanical art activities.
BAGSC members have provided drop-in family botanical art activities every weekend throughout the summer, including leaf-rubbings; botanical art demonstrations; a segment in cooperation with The Huntington’s education department for their “avocado day,” and lots more! Additionally, BAGSC members have been on hand to answer questions from the public about botanical art and artworks in the exhibitions. It has been wonderful (and inspiring) to find many visitors to the exhibitions who have not only returned to see them multiple times, but have brought others to see them as well.
BAGSC members also used the weekend demonstration opportunities to paint orchids generously supplied from The Huntington’s collection by Brandon Tam, orchid collection specialist at The Huntington. Look for these paintings and drawings in our next exhibition at The Huntington in the fall, entitled “Diversity of Orchids.”
In early June, BAGSC members had the good fortune to be able to have Carol Woodin, ASBA Exhibition Chair at our quarterly meeting. Carol was in Southern California presenting at the American Public Gardens Association Conference with Devin Dotson from the US Botanic Gardens. Carol spoke to BAGSC members about painting orchids, followed by an audience-requested tour through the “Out of the Woods” exhibition. Click on any of the images below to see an enlarged slide show of the images with captions.
BAGSC’s quarterly meeting at The Huntington was filled to capacity. BAGSC President, Janice Sharp, got the meeting started.
BAGSC members and guests at the meeting.
BAGSC members and guests at the meeting.
Carol Woodin reviewing her notes before her presentation about orchids. Carol discussed what she looked for in an orchid subject, as well as composition issues that orchids may present.
BAGSC Treasurer Beth Stone giving her report.
Jim Folsom documenting the meeting.
Tania Norris reporting about the BAGSC drop-in activities each weekend in conjunction with “Out of the Woods” and “Amazing Trees.”
“Out of the Woods” didactic inside the exhibition.
Carol graciously gave an impromptu tour of the “Out of the Woods” exhibition.
BAGSC members and guests attending the meeting had time to spend with the artworks.
Carol Woodin talking about the artwork in the “Out of the Woods” exhibition.
Carol Woodin talking about the artwork in the “Out of the Woods” exhibition.
Carol Woodin talking about the artwork in the “Out of the Woods” exhibition.
Mitsuko Schultz spoke about her artwork, Sweet Gum Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Burgundy’ Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, Arcadia, California.
Olga Ryabstova spoke about the print-making process, as well as her piece in “Out of the Woods,” Roxburgh Fig Ficus auriculata San Diego Botanic Garden, Encinitas, California.
On Sunday, July 29, 2018, The Huntington hosted a stellar reception for the exhibitions for around 70 BAGSC members, family, friends and guests. Click on any of the images below to see a slideshow and read the captions.
BAGSC members and guests enjoyed “Out of the Woods” and “Amazing Trees.”
A few words from Jim Folsom.
L to R: BAGSC members Bonnie Born Ash and Tania Norris.
“Amazing Trees” is placed throughout the Brody atrium walls in a delightful display.
Time to visit with members and guests.
Time to visit with members and guests.
Lee and Chuck McAffree came down from Northern California.
Jim Folsom, cooked up an amazing reception spread. Jim, Robert Hori, Danielle Rudeen, and Melanie Thorpe staged an awesome reception.
Jim Folsom, cooked up an amazing reception spread. Jim, Robert Hori, Danielle Rudeen, and Melanie Thorpe staged an awesome reception.
Esmee van Winkel’s painting of Leiden’s 300-Year-Old Tulip Tree in Autumn, Liriodendron tulipifera, Hortus Botanicus Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands has graced all the signage, large and small, and the printed marketing materials produced by The Huntington. The signage is everywhere throughout the campus. Click on any of the images below for a small sampling, and to read the captions.
Signage at the front entrance of The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Digital signage in the front entrance courtyard area.
Digital signage above the ticket booths at the front entrance.
Table-top advertisements in the Café.
Large banner on the corner of the Brody Botanical Center.
Graphic just outside the Flora-Legium gallery where “Out of the Woods” is on display.
One of many free-standing signs in the Conservatory.
“Out of Woods” catalogs on display in The Huntington Store, along with a selection of notecards by BAGSC members in the “Out of the Woods” exhibition. Five of the six cards are shown here; The Huntington Store sometimes has them all together, other times they are grouped with like subject areas in the store.
“Out of the Woods” exhibition catalogs are on sale in The Huntington Store for $12.00 US. The Store also is carrying a limited edition of notecards with artwork by BAGSC members in the “Out of the Woods” exhibition, including Margaret Best (Screw-Pine, Pandanus utilis, Bermuda Arboretum, Bermuda), Akiko Enokido (Swamp Cypress, Taxodium distichum, Kobe Municipal Arboretum, Kobe, Japan), Deborah Friedman (California Sycamore, Platanus racemosa, detail from original, The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens, San Marino, California), Asuka Hishiki (Black Pine Half-cascade Style Bonsai, Pinus nigra, The Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, Saitama, Japan), Olga Ryabstova (Roxburgh Fig, Ficus auriculata, The San Diego Botanic Garden, Encinitas, California), and Mitsuko Schultz (Sweet Gum, Liquidambar styraciflua, ‘Burgundy’, Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, Arcadia, California).
Asuka Hishiki’s notecard in The Huntington Store on display in the Bonsai area of the Store.
A heartfelt thank you is due to too many to list here, but a special thank you to The Huntington’s Jim Folsom, Robert Hori, Danielle Rudeen, Melanie Thorpe and Andrew Mitchell, along with The Huntington’s Exhibition, Communications, Video, Education, Store and Graphics departments. Another special thank you to the BAGSC artists in “Out of the Woods,” who generously supported our test into The Huntington Store, and to all the other members who worked to make these exhibitions a success. And, last but not least, a heartfelt thank you to Tania Norris for all her work on the exhibition and coordinating the weekend botanical art activities.
by Melanie Campbell-Carter, posted by Deb Shaw
Aloe broomii hybrid, Melanie Campbell-Carter, watercolor on paper, © 2018. Image protected by Digimarc.
BAGSC member Melanie Campbell-Carter is returning to Texas wearing her Botanical Artist hat! As fellow members know, in 2014 Melanie relocated to Southern California from Texas to study botanical art.
Melanie was thrilled to see an article in the March 2018 issue of The Botanical Artist about a new ASBA Circle in north Texas. The Circle’s first juried exhibition, Botanical Art: Flowers, Fruit and Fungi, will take place June 14 – August 9, 2018, at the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) in Fort Worth.
Now living and painting full-time in Tucson, Melanie will be exhibiting two new paintings in Fort Worth, Aloe broomii hybrid and Caesalpinia pulcherrima.
Contact Denis Benjamin for more information about the Botanical Art Collective (BAC) in Texas, or if you would like to join. BAC also has a public Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1502598476445397/.
Caesalpinia pulcherrima, Melanie Campbell-Carter, watercolor on paper, © 2018. Image protected by Digimarc.
by Janice Sharp, posted by Deb Shaw
Please be aware that when you deliver artwork to a local BAGSC exhibition, the BAGSC members who are hanging the exhibition will be collecting everything together and transporting artwork to the exhibition location. This is usually done by one or two people who will be carrying the art into the location.
Mitsuko Schultz’s packing box showing the interior box and artwork. Photo by Janice Sharp, © 2018.
To do this efficiently—and safely for the artwork—it is best to have all the art in portfolios with good carrying handles, clearly labeled with the artist’s name and contact information.
Facilities where we hang art often do not have convenient places to pack and unpack art. Therefore, delivery in a portfolio allows the art to be simply slipped out of the portfolio or slipped back in.
Art in the portfolio can be protected with Foam-Core or cardboard. Plexiglass is notorious for scratching easily. Foam-Core or cardboard across the front that does not touch the surface of the plexi will help protect it. Please see the sample photos of Mitsuko Schultz‘s portfolio to the left which contains an interior box made of cardboard to support and protect the framed artwork.
The box is sufficiently wide to accept at least two pieces of art. An additional sheet of cardboard could be used between the frames if two were inserted into the box. This kind of a system makes it extremely easy (and safe) to unpack and repack art.
Mitsuko Schultz’s packing portfolio showing the interior box and artwork. Photo by Janice Sharp, © 2018.
We ask that all BAGSC members exhibiting use a similar system to make it easy for those who are hanging and taking down exhibitions.
Of course it is expected that people mailing art will do so in a suitable mailing container instead of a portfolio!
We thank everyone for their attention to these important details.
by Deb Shaw
Deborah Shaw will be having a one-person exhibition at Chez Shaw Gallery—no relation 🙂
Entitled “Botanical Portraits,” the exhibition will run from May 12 – July 31, 2018. Deborah’s watercolors and graphite drawings feature California native plants as well as other fascinating specimens of the plant kingdom.
The opening is May 12, 2018 from 6 – 9 pm, and is open to the public. Visiting the Gallery on other days is by appointment only, 562-708-3803. Chez Shaw Gallery is located at 1836 Nipomo Avenue, Long Beach, California 90815.
Opuntia spp., Fruit, Prickly Pear “Tunas,” Watercolor on calfskin vellum, © 2016, Deborah Shaw. Digital image protected by Digimarc.
by Kat Powell, posted by Deb Shaw
Some of the workshop participants getting ready for a final critique with Carrie Di Constanzo. L to R: Mary Jo Newman, Carrie Di Costanzo, Suzanne Bassani, Janice Sharp, Carol Readhead, Melanie Campbell-Carter, Kathlyn Powell. Missing from photo: Patricia Mark, Alyse Ochniak. Photo by Teri Kuwahara, © 2018.
What a fabulous experience! We were honored to have the awe-inspiring Carrie Di Costanzo for a workshop on the use of gouache in botanical art. First of all, Carrie’s work is beyond exquisite — I suspect I was not alone in getting goosebumps while gazing at her originals. They are miraculous in their refinement and perfection. Although Carrie works her magic in other media such as egg tempera and watercolor as well, it is her masterful handling of gouache that we focused on for those wonderful three days.
We all had a choice of working on a large deodar cedar cone, kumquats on a branch, loquats on a branch, or tulips. One participant requested a cactus as a subject, and The Huntington very kindly supplied that subject as well.
Reviewing artwork with Carrie Di Constanzo. L to R: Teri Kuwahara, Carrie Di Costanzo, Suzanne Bassani, Janice Sharp, Carol Readhead, Mary Jo Newman, Melanie Carter-Campbell. Missing from photo: Patricia Mark, Alyse Ochniak. Photo by Kathlyn Powell, © 2018.
Carrie demonstrated several ways of using gouache, as the medium is quite versatile. She showed her favored method of laying down a pale “wash” of her mixed paint that consisted of a highly controlled stippling using her amazingly fast feathery stroke of dilute gouache on a dry brush. Texture was instantiated from the start and retained throughout with this technique. Subsequent layers were laid down with generally successively more concentrated pigments with the occasional unifying dry brush wash over. She worked from light to dark in this method, somewhat reminiscent of watercolor.
She also demonstrated an approach using titanium white mixed to varying degrees into her colors to opacify and smooth the deposition of color and it had a depth and richness rivaling oils while retaining the luscious velvety matte surface of gouache. Indeed, in this approach, the handling is more like that of oils or acrylics and many renowned artists such as James Gurney use this method. [See some of James Gurney’s favorite gouache artists here.] Lights do not necessarily need to be retained and working dark to light is possible. Highlights and light structures such as Melanie’s cactus spines can be directly added on top.
Carrie showed us that gouache is like watercolor in re-solubility but has a higher pigment load, yielding greater opacity. It can be used in a watercolor way with wet, dilute translucent washes retaining the light of the paper, building up to a gorgeous matte depth of color. It can also, again, be used somewhat like oils or acrylics, with light pigments over dark. This allows for going over sections with many layers until one is satisfied, without harming the surface or looking overworked. Thus, you can push a painting further. One can also use gouache to exquisite effect on toned papers, like botanical artist Albert R. Valentien did. Carrie showed us how she creates a toned sheet for such an approach.
Carrie encouraged us to use the method that we felt most comfortable with and everyone had their own unique look to their paintings, and all were lovely. The medium was adaptable to each person’s individual style of painting.
A Little About Gouache:
Gouache has a history that goes back to the 9th Century. Illuminated manuscripts and Persian and Mughal miniatures were painted using opaque watercolors mixed with white or on white priming. Chinese white was also freely used in Western watercolors in the nineteenth century as “body colors”, distinguished by their beautiful precision (see, for example, the watercolor and body color work of William Trost Richards). For many subjects, such as landscapes, body color made it possible.
Zinc white (Chinese white) as a pigment had become available in Europe in the mid-19th century (although in use in Persia, India and China since at least the 12th century) and thus at least partially displaced the more opaque but very toxic lead white. It is no wonder that artists happily explored the possibilities of this new pigment! (Especially en plein air, once pigments were packed into tubes.) We are lucky to have access to nontoxic, very opaque titanium white (introduced 1921) as well as zinc white.
Gouache was favored by commercial artists during the twentieth century for its beauty, speed of drying, and matte surface which the camera loves — it is renowned for reproducing extremely well. It got a bit of a bad rap because of the fugitive quality of many of the paints then in use — pieces were made for the camera rather than the frame, so archival lightfast pigments were not always employed. Now, however, we have beautiful, fully lightfast gouache pigments available to us from numerous pigmenters. Also, the medium suffered some stigma in the pretentious “Fine Art” vs “illustration” controversy.
Technical instruction in gouache has become very difficult to come by over the last few decades, so I cherish the training we were so fortunate to obtain with a Master Artist like Carrie. I personally have longed for this type and quality of didactics for nearly half a century. Opacity is another dimension of control which enhances the ability to work the magic of mimesis.
Profound thanks to Carrie Di Costanzo, a real treasure both artistically and as a person, to the Education Committee for bringing her, to The Huntington for hosting us, to Patricia Mark for supplying subjects and to BAGSC for everything!
posted by Deb Shaw
Sally Jacobs’ “Buddha’s Hand (Lemon Fingers) Watercolor,” 19×16. Part of Sally Jacobs’ “Sundays at the Farmers Market” exhibition at the TAG Gallery in Los Angeles.
BAGSC Member Sally Jacobs‘ exhibition, “Sundays at the Farmers Market” will be at the tag Gallery in its new location: 5458 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, California 90036: April 17 – May 12, 2018
The Opening Reception is this Saturday, April 21, 5 – 8 pm
Artists’ Talk, Saturday, April 28, 3 – 4 pm
(includes a raffle for a print)
Drawing Class: “How to Draw a Leaf,” Saturday, May 5, 1 – 3:00 pm. Beginners welcome. Class size limited; contact Sally to register.
Jeanette Marantos, LA Times wrote an article about Sally’s exhibition for the Home & Garden section, entitled “This L.A. artist grows luscious fruits and veggies — in watercolor”. Read the article and see a slide show of all Sally’s paintings in the show.
Congrats Sally!
tag Gallery
5458 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036
email: gallery@taggallery.net
310.829.9556
Gallery hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 11 am – 5 pm
Sally Jacobs with an armful of inspiration.
by Teri Kuwahara and Deb Shaw
BAGSC gathered at the Madrona Marsh Nature Preserve in Torrance for the January meeting to feature the ongoing mural project of BAGSC member Estelle DeRidder.
The interior of the meeting room walls in the Madrona Marsh Interpretive Center have been filled with Estelle’s paintings of the plants, animals and insects found in Marsh. She has spent countless hours capturing each plant in its native environment. The meeting was highlighted by featuring Estelle as our guest speaker, adding her wit and wisdom in starting and continuing this ambitious project. In addition to discussing her process and goals, Estelle also spoke about the challenges of creating such a large work, including determining scale, practical techniques, and interesting visitors (of the human, insect and avian varieties).
Estelle was recently honored by the Cultural Arts Commission in Torrance for her work on this mural. [See BAGSC News blog article about the award here.] The Marsh staff and volunteers from the Friends of the Marsh group were also present to support Estelle, a true indication of how much she is respected and admired. A video was made to highlight Estelle’s mural project for the Cultural Arts Awards ceremony and we were fortunate to view it. It has now been posted on YouTube so members unable to attend the meeting can enjoy it, and can be found here: https://youtu.be/zExN3JWTcMY
Our sincere thanks go out to Estelle for bringing BAGSC to the attention of Madrona Marsh. Estelle’s mural can be viewed in the Interpretive Center, Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Additional thanks goes to Tracy Drake, Park Services Manager, Community Services Department, City of Torrance; Hilary and Dave Jamieson; and, Lance Hill for his wonderful photographs of the meeting.
The Marsh is located at: 3201 Plaza del Amo, Torrance, CA 90503.
Click on any image below to see larger images in a slide show format with full captions for each photo.
BAGSC members chatting as they arrive to the meeting. In the photo are: Tania Marien, Tania Norris, Jude Wiesenfeld, Cynthia Jackson, Estelle DeRidder, Terri Munroe, Mary Sinclair, Bonnie Born Ash, Kathlyn Powell, Leslie Walker and Deborah Shaw. BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
Kat Powell at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
Tania Norris at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
Veronica Raymond at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
BAGSC President Janice Sharp at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
Kathlyn Powell (front) and Tania Marien at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
Hilary Jamieson (Madrona Marsh staff member) at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
Tracy Drake, Park Services Manager, Community Services Department, City of Torrance gave a presentation and introduced Estelle at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
Front to back: Leslie Walker, Deborah Shaw, Tania Norris at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
Hilary Jamieson (Madrona Marsh staff member) and her father Dave Jamison, a Marsh volunteer, at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
BAGSC President Janice Sharp presiding over the meeting at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
Jude Wiesenfeld, BAGSC Education Chair, presenting information about upcoming workshops at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
Olga Ryabstova, BAGSC Exhibitions Chair, presenting information about upcoming exhibition opportunities at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
(L to R) BAGSC Vice President Diane Daly, Mary Sinclair and Terri Munroe at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
Andrea Lofthouse-Quesada at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
Incoming BAGSC Education Chair, Teri Kuwahara at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
Janice Sharp (L) and Jude Wiesenfeld (R) at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
Estelle DeRidder and Tracy Drake at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
Diane Daly (L) and Leslie Walker (R) at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
Estelle DeRidder (L) and Olga Ryabstova (R) at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
Terri Munroe (L) and Tracy Drake (R) at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
Kat Powell (L) and Janice Sharp (R) at the BAGSC Quarterly Meeting at Madrona Marsh Nature Center. © 2018, Lance Hill. Editorial or promotional use permitted for electronic or printed media by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the Friends of Madrona Marsh. Please provide photo credit to Lance Hill.
Estelle has pulled the outdoors “in” and the windows frame the view outside as artwork. Photo by Tania Marien, © 2018.
Estelle discussing the challenges of painting the mural. Photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2018.
Detail of the mural, showing Estelle’s work in progress. Photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2018.
Detail of the mural, showing Estelle’s work in progress. Photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2018.
Detail of the mural, showing Estelle’s work in progress. Photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2018.
Detail of the mural, showing Estelle’s work in progress. Photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2018.
Detail of the mural, showing Estelle’s work in progress. Photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2018.
Detail of the mural, showing Estelle’s work in progress. Photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2018.
Detail of the mural, showing Estelle’s work in progress. Photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2018.
After the presentation, BAGSC members enjoyed a tour of the Marsh. Photo by Tania Marien, © 2018.
Signage along the Marsh tour. Photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2018.
Signage along the Marsh tour. Photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2018.
After the presentation, BAGSC members enjoyed a tour of the Marsh. Photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2018.
After the presentation, BAGSC members enjoyed a tour of the Marsh. Photo by Tania Marien, © 2018.
After the presentation, BAGSC members enjoyed a tour of the Marsh. Photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2018.
After the presentation, BAGSC members enjoyed a tour of the Marsh. Photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2018.
After the presentation, BAGSC members enjoyed a tour of the Marsh. Photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2018.
After the presentation, BAGSC members enjoyed a tour of the Marsh. Photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2018.
After the presentation, BAGSC members enjoyed a tour of the Marsh. Photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2018.
After the presentation, BAGSC members enjoyed a tour of the Marsh. Photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2018.
After the presentation, BAGSC members enjoyed a tour of the Marsh. Photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2018.
After the presentation, BAGSC members enjoyed a tour of the Marsh. BAGSC President Janice Sharp points out (?). Photo by Tania Marien, © 2018.
by Lee McCaffree and Deb Shaw
Filoli’s 20th Annual Botanical Art Exhibition is a celebration of spring flowers from their wonderful historic Garden. Artworks in the exhibition are from local and international artists (some of them graduates of Filoli’s Botanical Art Certificate Program) and are depicted in watercolor, colored pencil, pen and ink, oil, and graphite.
Jurors were Peggy Feidler, botanist, and Carol Woodin, botanical artist; curators were Lee McCaffree and Catherine Watters. The exhibition includes 44 pieces by 36 artists, including the curators and juror Carol Woodin, many of them artists who are exhibiting for the first time.
Awards:
Bourn Award for distinction with an emphasis on horticulture: “Sunflower Awakening” by Jeannetta vanRaalte
Roth Award for distinction with an emphasis on traditional botanical art presentation: Paeonia lactiflora, Pink Peony by Miksuko Schultz (and BAGSC member!)
Jurors Award for distinction with an emphasis on botanical art presentation: Papaver somniferum, Poppy by Jean Emmons
Jurors Award Honorable Mention: Tacca chantrieri, Cat’s Whiskers by Stephanie Law
The exhibition runs from February 23 – May 20, 2018.
BAGSC members in the exhibition include: Nina Anzte, Catherine Dellor, Joan Keesey, curator Lee McCaffree, and Mitsuko Schultz. Carrie Di Constanzo has two pieces in the exhibition: Carrie will be coming to teach a BAGSC workshop in April, 2018, to be held at The Huntington Libraries, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens.
Click on any of the images by BAGSC members below to see a larger image. These paintings, as well as all of the artworks in the exhibition can be seen online at OnlineJuriedShows.com
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- Penstemon Firebird, 13 x 11, Colored Pencil, © 2018, Nina Antze
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- Fuchsia ‘Grand Harfare’ 13 x 10, Watercolor, © 2018, Catherine Dellor
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- Vernal Witch Hazel (Hamamelis vernalis) 15 x 11, Watercolor, © 2018, Joan Keesey
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- Hibiscus dasycalyx, Rose Mallow, watercolor, © 2018, Lee McCaffree
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- Paeonia lactiflora, Pink Peony, 16 x12, Watercolor, © 2018, Mitsuko Schultz
In addition to “A Palette of Flowers,” the Filoli Florilegium is on display in its entirety throughout the House.
Filoli Historic House & Garden is A Site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and is located at 86 Cañada Road, Woodside, CA 94062, (650) 364-8300.
Congratulations to the award-winners and all the participants!
by Deb Shaw
Botanical Art Worldwide is listed on the American Express Essentials Culture site as one of 15 Art Exhibitions to see this spring at this link: https://www.amexessentials.com/top-art-exhibitions-events-spring-2018/
Congratulations to Akiko Enokido, her Camellia japonica var. decumbens is included (number 14 of 15 in the slide show). Thank you to the ASBA facebook page for the notification!
BAGSC and ASBA member Akiko Enokido’s, Camellia japonica var. decumbens.
BAGSC News 