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by Deb Shaw
Pincushion Protea, watercolor and colored pencil on paper, © 2015 Estelle DeRidder, all rights reserved.
The American Society of Botanical Artists and The Horticultural Society of New York announce the opening of the 18th Annual International at a new venue: the New York Design Center at a new venue. The ASBA’s longest-running collaboration, this prestigious exhibition will be held for the first time in mid-town Manhattan.
The opening reception will be on Wednesday, November 4, 2105 from 6 pm – 8 pm. Awards will be announced at 7 pm.
The evening’s events will begin with a book talk by author Amy Goldman at 5 pm. Limited seating is available. To attend Amy Goldman’s talk, an RSVP is required: scourtade@thehort.org. No RSVP is required to attend the opening reception.
As always, the catalog of the exhibition is available through ArtPlantae, starting November 4th.
BAGSC artists accepted into the exhibition include: Margaret Best, Melanie Campbell-Carter, Estelle DeRidder, Akiko Enokido, Asuka Hishiki, Joan Keesey, and Lesley Randall. Jurors for the exhibition were: Susan Fraser, Director, Mertz Library, The New York Botanical Garden; David Horak, Curator of Orchids and Aquatic House, Brooklyn Botanic Garden; Catherine Watters; Botanical Artist and ASBA Board Member.
The New York Design Center is located at: 200 Lexington Ave. New York 10016, (212) 679-9500.
by Alyse Ochniak, posted by Deb Shaw
Jim Folsom lecturing during the “Weird, Wild & Wonderful Symposium.” Photo by Clara Josephs, © 2015, all rights reserved.
More looking forward to the next New York Botanical Garden Triennial, “Out of the Woods”:
Jim Folsom, Marge and Sherm Telleen Director of the Botanical Gardens, will be teaching two workshops about the structure of trees at The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens, on:
October 24, 2015 (limit 30 students) in the Brody Teaching Lab, from 8:30 am – 12:00 pm, and
January 17, 2016 (limit 20 students) in the Engemann Applied Tech Lab, from 8:30 am – 12:00 pm
Cost is $10.00 each session, payable at the workshop. Reservations are required, however; please RSVP to Alyse Ochniak. Reservations are first come, first served.
Come to one or both! Each session will be a 3-hour demonstration/workshop. Students will use dissection and compound microscopes to examine tree architecture, growth patterns, and structural characteristics using fresh and prepared material (provided by the Gardens). Discussion will include characteristics and terminology used to describe trees, and most useful in identification. Instruction will give particular attention to natural growth patterns and specific details of tree morphology and anatomy that would impact veracity of depiction.
Workshops only require pencil/pen and sketchbooks for taking notes, although artists are welcome to bring whatever materials they would like to use. Attendees are welcome to stay and draw in the Gardens after the class.
For more information about the New York Botanical Garden Triennial “Out of the Woods, Celebrating Trees in Public Places” visit the ASBA website.
The Huntington is located at: 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, California, 91108.
About the instructor:
Jim Folsom, PhD., rides the demographic peak of baby boomers, having been born in southeastern Alabama in 1950. His lifelong love of plants is reflected in a BS in Botany from Auburn University, an MA in Biology from Vanderbilt University, and a PhD in research botany from The University of Texas at Austin. Though his research has centered on the orchid family, with much of the research time spent in Tropical America (including a year in Colombia on a Fulbright Pre-Doctoral Fellowship), Jim’s botanical interests are wide-ranging. As Curator of the Botanical Gardens at The Huntington in San Marino, CA, he dedicates much of his effort to educational programs that increase public interest and understanding of the science, culture, and history of plants and gardens. He lives at The Huntington with his wife, Debra (also a botanist) and children Molly and Jimmy. Jim was recognized as a Friend of the Cactus and Succulent Society of America in 1996, a Member-at-Large of the Garden Club of America in 1998, and presented a Professional Citation by the American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta in 1999. The Garden Club of America awarded him their Medal of Honor in 2007.
by Lori Vreeke, Melanie Campbell-Carter, Diane Daly, posted by Deb Shaw
Lori Vreeke at the “Zoo in Bloom” opening. Photo by Melanie Campbell-Carter, 2015. As Melanie stated, “She’s the little one :-)”
On Saturday, October 3, 2015, the BAGSC “Zoo in Bloom” exhibition opened at the Santa Barbara Zoo. It was a wonderful day and the exhibit received great reviews!
The Zoo reported there were approximately 600 visitors at the beginning of the day for the “Members Morning” and a total of 1,962 Zoo guests for the entire day!
More than 100 visitors voted for the Peoples’ Choice award at the BAGSC exhibition of nine artists, showing 22 artworks in a variety of media. Awards are as follows:
1st Choice: Asclepias fascicularis, Narrowleaf milkweed with
Danaus plexippus by Estelle DeRidder
2nd Choice: Strelitzia reginae, Bird of Paradise by Lori Vreeke
3rd Choice: Heteromeles arbutifolia, Toyon by Gilly Shaeffer
Artists helping throughout the day included: Lori Vreeke, Jan Clouse, Melanie Campbell-Carter, Gilly Shaffer, Barbara Janelle, and Diane Daly.
The show will hang in the Volentine Gallery in the Zoo’s Discovery Pavilion October 3, 2015 — January 3, 2016.
First place Peoples’ Choice award: Asclepias fascicularis, Narrowleaf milkweed with Danaus plexippus by Estelle DeRidder, © 2015, all rights reserved.
Second place Peoples’ Choice award, Strelitzia reginae, Bird of Paradise by Lori Vreeke, © 2015, all rights reserved.
Third place Peoples’ Choice award: Heteromeles arbutifolia, Toyon by Gilly Shaeffer, © 2015, all rights reserved.
Click on any of the circle images to see them large, with captions, in a slide show:
Gilly Shaeffer assisting exhibition visitors who are trying their hand at botanical art in watercolor. Photo by Lori Vreeke, © 2015.
BAGSC member Melanie Campbell-Carter assists an exhibition visitor with a leaf rubbing. Photo by Lori Vreeke, © 2015.
Diane Daly demonstrating botanical art with a fall squash. Photo by Lori Vreeke, © 2015.
The Zoo bear sniffed each painting in the exhibition. Photo by Lori Vreeke, © 2015.
BAGSC “Zoo in Bloom” exhibition in the Discovery Pavilion at the Santa Barbara Zoo. Photo by Lori Vreeke, © 2015.
BAGSC “Zoo in Bloom” exhibition in the Discovery Pavilion at the Santa Barbara Zoo. Photo by Lori Vreeke, © 2015.
BAGSC “Zoo in Bloom” exhibition in the Discovery Pavilion at the Santa Barbara Zoo. Photo by Lori Vreeke, © 2015.
BAGSC “Zoo in Bloom” exhibition in the Discovery Pavilion at the Santa Barbara Zoo. Photo by Lori Vreeke, © 2015.
BAGSC “Zoo in Bloom” exhibition in the Discovery Pavilion at the Santa Barbara Zoo. Photo by Lori Vreeke, © 2015.
BAGSC “Zoo in Bloom” exhibition in the Discovery Pavilion at the Santa Barbara Zoo. Photo by Lori Vreeke, © 2015.
BAGSC “Zoo in Bloom” exhibition in the Discovery Pavilion at the Santa Barbara Zoo. Photo by Lori Vreeke, © 2015.
by Lori Vreeke, posted by Deb Shaw
Hanging the “Zoo in Bloom” BAGSC exhibition at the Santa Barbara Zoo. Photo by Lori Vreeke, © 2015, all rights reserved.
I just wanted to share a few pictures from the Santa Barabara Zoo. The artwork was hung yesterday, and everything looks wonderful!
Please join us on Saturday, October 3 for the opening reception for the exhibition from 10 am – 2 pm. See the posting on the Zoo’s website. The Zoo has offered free entry to our members and families; please wear your BAGSC name badge if you have one, and contact Lori Vreeke for information about free entry.
Hanging the “Zoo in Bloom” BAGSC exhibition at the Santa Barbara Zoo. Photo by Lori Vreeke, © 2015, all rights reserved.
The Zoo is anticipating 600 – 800 members in the morning on Saturday. BAGSC artists will be demonstrating throughout the day, and there will be BAGSC-led activities for kids and families. BAGSC volunteers and demonstrators are welcome!! There are still a few volunteer slots available, and the more volunteers available for BAGSC public activities the merrier. Please contact Lori Vreeke to let her if you would like to volunteer for an hour or so, and please bring any extra paper, colored pencils and pencils to share.
Hanging the “Zoo in Bloom” BAGSC exhibition at the Santa Barbara Zoo. Photo by Lori Vreeke, © 2015, all rights reserved.
Bring a lunch, or enjoy the café right outside the exhibition hall for a beautiful day in a beautiful setting.
The show will hang in the Volentine Gallery in the Zoo’s Discovery Pavilion October 3—January 3. The Santa Barbara Zoo is located at: 500 Ninos Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93103.
(805) 962-5339 main; (805) 962-6310 info line
Looking forward to the exhibit, and hope to see you there!
Hanging the “Zoo in Bloom” BAGSC exhibition at the Santa Barbara Zoo. Photo by Lori Vreeke, © 2015, all rights reserved.
by Gilly Shaeffer, posted by Deb Shaw
Asuka Hishiki demonstrating during the “Weird, Wild & Wonderful” Symposium at The Huntington, July 2015. Photo by Gilly Shaeffer, © 2015.
During the recent “Weird, Wild & Wonderful” Symposium at The Huntington, I watched Asuka Hishiki as she demonstrated how she would paint a segment of an heirloom tomato skin. Here are my impressions of the way she went about developing this small sample of the tomato skin with paint.
- Asuka says every time she approaches her subject it is new for her.
- Asuka starts sketches on tracing paper.
- She uses a wood pencil in a pencil holder which she sharpens with a box cutter.
- She goes over her pencil lines with a lighter color paint or yellow ochre. So she will have thin lines in watercolor for her drawing.
- At this point she erases any pencil lines.
- She covers the entire form with a Chinese white wash. (The Chinese white that she likes is the Holbein brand.) She says one should stay very light when applying the first layer of this white paint. This Chinese white wash acts as a protection for the paper. Much of it gets taken off during the removal of the masking fluid (to be mentioned later).
- Asuka will add more Chinese white paint on the places where she wants the paint to bleed to create soft color transitions. She also mentions the importance of keeping harmony in the colors used as the form develops.
Asuka Hishiki masking fluid technique. Photo by Gilly Shaeffer, © 2015.
- She mixes three colors together in a small amount to be used to develop the form using the dry brush technique. She uses Interlon brand brush #3/0 for her dry brush work.
- In preparing to use masking fluid to prevent certain areas of the paper from getting painted, she would prime the brush to be used with liquid soap. The soap helps to keep the masking fluid brush in good shape for future use. This brush is used exclusively for masking fluid.
- She will use the masking fluid to hold the places that she does not want to get painted—in this case the place where a leaf would be (which looks like a skinny wiggly line in the photos), where the highlights would be and where imperfections would be found on the tomato skin.
Asuka Hishiki masking fluid technique. Photo by Gilly Shaeffer, © 2015.
- Asuka stipples on the masking fluid with a very skinny brush on the section that she has begun to paint.
- She uses tissue to blot any extra paint from her paper.
- Then she adds a second layer of masking fluid. So, this layer of masking fluid dots will have more tone than the first layer of dots that she applied that prevent any paint from getting through to the paper.
- She always makes sure that the paint and the masking fluid that she has applied are absolutely dry before proceeding.
- She says that you can lift paint more easily when you have first applied a Chinese white wash to the paper.
- She applies a layer of Yellow Ochre wash.
- She continues to develop the form through her dry brush technique. At this point the masking fluid remains on the painted area.
Asuka Hishiki masking fluid technique. Photo by Gilly Shaeffer, © 2015.
- Asuka uses Winsor Newton Series 7 brushes, #5 and #3 for the colored washes.
- She adds a third layer of masking fluid dots.
- With WN Series 7 #5 brush, she puts a colored wash on the section that she had previously dry brushed. This makes any lines from dry brushing disappear.
- Now she lifts the masking fluid dots. When she does this she is also lifting the Chinese white paint that was applied to the paper at the very start. The white of the paper now shows through in the places that had masking fluid on them.
- She decides that she wants to apply another layer (this would be the fourth layer) of masking fluid dots. This will make the dots appear lighter and less visible than the layers applied earlier.
- Next more dry brushing with a deeper color paint. Some stippling is used. Then some more wet strokes (colored washes) to further the development of the form.
- When she removes the fourth layer of masking fluid, it is easy to see the section of the heirloom tomato skin developing on the paper with its highlights, its shiny smooth skin, its roundness, its imperfections and its rich colors of orange, red, and purple.
by Clara Josephs, posted by Deb Shaw
Are you looking for a tree to portray for the The Third New York Botanical Garden Triennial, “Out of the Woods”? We have a wonderful opportunity to participate in a guided tour of the unique tree collection of the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, arranged just for pre-registered BAGSC members.
On the morning of Saturday, October 17, Jim Henrich, LA Arboretum Curator of Living Collections will take 20 pre-registered BAGSC members on a one hour, vigorous walk through the Arboretum to see and learn about some of their very special trees. Jim will explain what makes these trees stand out, their history and uses. After the tour you will be free to sketch and take pictures or just enjoy the Arboretum and Peacock café.
So that everyone can hear the discussion, this tour is limited to 20 members. To reserve a spot, email Clara Josephs. Confirmation and additional details will be sent to you by return email.
For more details about the exhibit “Out of the Woods: Celebrating Trees in Public Gardens”, read the Call for Entries in the Exhibitions section of the ASBA website.
The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden:
626.821.3222
301 North Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007
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.
by Lori Vreeke, posted by Deb Shaw
Front of “Zoo in Bloom” invitation postcard, with artwork by Lori Vreeke.
The Santa Barbara Zoo is advertising the opening reception and exhibition for the “Zoo in Bloom” exhibition. The show opening is October 3, 2015, from 10:00am – 5:00pm on Saturday, October 3, 2015, in the Volentine Family Gallery.
The Volentine Family Gallery is located inside the Discovery Pavilion. Zoo admission rates apply, and drinks and snacks will be available for purchase.
BAGSC members will be demonstrating and answering questions all day. Download the PDF invitation postcard by clicking on this link: ZooArtShowInvitation_2015.
Also happening on October 3rd at the Zoo: Member Morning, from 8 am – 10 am; and ZOOs Line is it Anyway?
The Santa Barbara Zoo is located at:
500 Ninos Drive
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
(805) 962-5339 main
(805) 962-6310 info line
sbzoo.org
by Deb Shaw
Gilly Shaeffer, Strelitzia nicolai, watercolor on paper © 2015, all rights reserved.
The Santa Barbara Zoo will be hosting an opening reception for the “Zoo in Bloom” exhibition, in conjunction with the gala celebrating Santa Barbara Zoo Members’ Day. The celebration runs from 9:00am – 5:00pm on Saturday, October 3, 2015.
BAGSC artists will be demonstrating throughout the day in the gardens and will staff an information table to answer any questions about our exhibit and about BAGSC and ASBA.
You do not need to be in the exhibition to volunteer — the more BAGSC members the merrier! Please let Lori Vreeke know when you would like to volunteer and what you would like to do.
Sign up for as many time slots as you would like. Want to carpool to Santa Barbara? Call or email Lori to let her know and to find out who else is coming up from your area.
The Santa Barbara Zoo is located at:
500 Ninos Drive
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
(805) 962-5339 main
(805) 962-6310 info line
zooinfo@sbzoo.org
by Lori Vreeke, Deb Shaw
A view of the gallery at the Santa Barbara Zoo where the “Zoo in Bloom” exhibition will hang.
While making plans for your Labor Day weekend, don’t forget that the submission deadline is September 5, 2015 for “Zoo in Bloom,” the juried BAGSC exhibition at the Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens. Jurors are: Olga Eysymontt, Ann Swan, and Chris Briggs.
All current BAGSC members in good standing are eligible to enter up to two (2) original works of art of botanical flowering specimens grown at the zoo (no prints). Artwork must depict plants that grow at the Zoo. There is no size limitation, and works may have been shown in previous BAGSC, ASBA, Filoli or other exhibitions.
The exhibition will continue through the end of the 2015 and will be open every day to visitors of the zoo. Due to space constraints, this will be a juried show with approximately 30 pieces of art hung. All original artwork must be for sale, prints not allowed.
See previous BAGSC Blog posts with submission details. The submission packet will be sent out again in an email blast to members for convenience.
A view of the gallery at the Santa Barbara Zoo where the “Zoo in Bloom” exhibition will hang.
Questions? Contact Lori Vreeke.
by Alyse Ochniak and Deb Shaw
Please join us for a brief BAGSC Quarterly meeting and a much deserved Celebration(!!), on Saturday, September 12, 2015 as “Weird, Wild & Wonderful: The New York Botanical Garden Second Triennial Exhibition” goes off across the country to the Frost Museum in Florida to coincide with the 2015 ASBA Annual Meeting and Conference.
The meeting will be at Diane’s home and will include workshop announcements and programs for next year! An email blast will be sent out to all BAGSC members with directions. Coffee and tea is at 9:30 am, and the meeting starts at 10:00 am sharp. Please email Diane to RSVP and let her know what you will bring for potluck.
Please bring any artwork you created (or started) at the Weird, Wild & Wonderful Symposium, along with other drawings and paintings you are working on to share as we celebrate a milestone event.
Calling all “Weird, Wild & Wonderful” Stories and Photos
We want to post stories, reviews of lectures and workshops, and photos (of course) from the Weird, Wild & Wonderful Symposium and the BAGSC adjunct exhibition on the BAGSC Blog. Send your stories and images to Deb Shaw, and a BAGSC Blog committee will edit and post them. Be sure to include caption information for your photos, who took the photo (for copyright) and names of the people or plants in the photo if you know them.
Want to learn how to be a BAGSC Blogger? Contact Deb and have your own byline.
You can see images from the WWW Symposium on ASBA’s site under “RECAP“.
Hope to see you at the BAGSC meeting!
by Janice Sharp and Bonnie Born Ash, posted by Deb Shaw
People’s Choice first place award went to Estelle DeRidder’s, Fuller’s Teasel, Dipsacus fullonum, colored pencil on paper, © 2015 Estelle DeRidder, all rights reserved.
During the opening reception for the adjunct exhibition by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California (BAGSC), friends, family and the public were able to vote for their personal favorites. The votes are in and the ribbons have been hung for the last three days of the show, Friday, 7 August – Sunday, 9 August.
People’s Choice second place award went to Lori Vreeke’s, Field Pumpkin, Cucurbita pepo var. ovifera, colored pencil on paper, © 2015 Lori Vreeke, all rights reserved.
First prize went to Estelle DeRidder’s Fuller’s Teasel with 16 votes. Second prize went to Lori Vreeke’s Field Pumpkin with 12 votes and third prize to Asuka Hishika’s Black Daikon Radish with 11 votes.
There were a surprisingly large number of votes cast (191) and the votes were distributed throughout all the artworks in the show. It is clear that there are many different themes and media that appeal to different viewers, but everyone agrees that the chosen works are fabulous!
People’s Choice third place award went to Asuka Hishiki’s, Black Daikon Radish (Kuromaru Daikon), Raphanus sativus, watercolor on paper, © 2015 Asuka Hishiki, all rights reserved.
by Deb Shaw
Close on the heels of the “Weird, Wild & Wonderful” Symposium at The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California (BAGSC), opened their supplemental exhibition of botanical oddities, in the Brody Botanical Center’s Banta Hall at The Huntington.
The reception for the BAGSC adjunct exhibition was packed with family, friends, colleagues and the public. Weird, Wild & Wonderful Second New York Botanical Garden Triennial Exhibition was also open for viewing and enthusiastically received. Photo © Gayle Uyehara, 2015.
The opening reception on Saturday, 1 August was well-attended and great fun. BAGSC members have been rotating shifts, providing botanical art demonstrations and talking with the public all week, including:
- Bonnie Born Ash
- Cristina Baltayian, colored pencil
- Nancy Beckham, colored pencil
- Melanie Campbell-Carter, colored pencil and watercolor
- Jan Clouse
- Diane Daly, watercolor
- Estelle DeRidder
- Kate Gaman
- Cynthia Jackson
- Susan Jackson
- Clara Josephs, watercolor
- Suzanne Kuuskmae
- Tania Marien
- Patricia Mark
- Terri Munroe, graphite and watercolor
- Kathy Morgan, watercolor
- Marilyn Parrino
- Lesley Randall
- Gilly Shaeffer, watercolor
- Mitsuko Schultz, watercolor
- Janice Sharp, metal point and colored pencil
- Deborah Shaw, graphite on vellum
- Beth Stone
- Leslie Walker
- Jude Wiesenfeld
The BAGSC adjunct exhibition features 72 artworks by 37 members, including: Bonnie Born Ash, Cristina Baltayian, Nancy Beckham, Melanie Campbell-Carter, Jan Clouse, Diane Daly, Estelle DeRidder, Nancy Grubb, Asuka Hishiki, Cynthia Jackson, Susan Jackson, Clara Josephs, Joan Keesey, Suzanne Kuuskmae, Teri Kuwahara, Patricia Mark, Lee McCaffree, Arillyn Moran-Lawrence, Kathy Morgan, Terri Munroe, Alyse Ochniak, Marilyn Parrino, Dolores Pope, Kathlyn Powell, Lesley Randall, Veronica Raymond, Robyn Reilman, Norma Sarkin, Mitsuko Schultz, Gilly Shaeffer, Janice Sharp, Deborah Shaw, Beth Stone, Gayle Uyehara, Lori Vreeke, Leslie Walker, Jude Wiesenfeld.
An exhibition of Botanical Oddities, illustrations by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California will continue each day through Sunday, August 9, 2015, 10:30 am – 4:30 pm in The Frances Lasker Brody Botanical Center at The Huntington.
The Weird, Wild & Wonderful: The New York Botanical Garden Second Triennial Exhibition exhibition also will be open each day, Friday – Sunday, August 7 – 9, plus will continue to be open on weekends only until August 23.
Exhibition information and hours posted at huntington.org
Join us before the BAGSC paintings are whisked away!
BAGSC News 