You are currently browsing the tag archive for the ‘Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California’ tag.
by Lesley Randall (reporting from the conference) and Deb Shaw
First place winner, Joan Keesey, Salvia spathacea, watercolor. © 2014, all rights reserved.
The California Native Plant Society (CNPS) held their Conservation Conference in San Jose, California this past January 15 – 17, 2015. BAGSC members Joan Keesey won first place in the Botanical Art Exhibition with her watercolor of Salvia spathacea, and Lesley Randall took third place with her pen and ink drawing of Malva assurgentiflora. CNPS awards cash prizes of $500 for first place; $300 for second place; and $200 for third place, plus publication in the CNPS magazine, Femontia.
The CNPS conference was attended by about 1200 people—all of whom are passionate about California’s native plants. Bernard Halliwell and Kristin Jakob worked very hard to put the botanical art exhibit together and did a magnificent job. Although they had only a small space with which to work, the exhibit flowed very nicely. As always the standard of work was exceptionally high.
Third place winner, Lesley Randall, pen and ink of Malva assurgentiflora. © 2014, all rights reserved.
This year, the conference also included botanical art talks and demonstrations. Pria Graves gave a talk about The History and Tradition of Botanical Art; Lesley Randall taught a workshop on Pen and Ink Drawing of Plants; Nina Antze taught a workshop on Drawing Plants with Color Pencils; and Maria Cecillia Freemen taught Getting Started in Botanical Drawing and Painting.
Watch the blog as more images and information about the conference comes in. Congratulations to all for a successful conference, and kudos to Joan and Lesley!
by Deb Shaw and Diane Daly
Caesalpinia pulcherrima, Red Bird of Paradise, or Mexican Bird of Paradise, watercolor by Diane Daly, © 2013, all rights reserved.
We’re updating our list of who is painting which Legumes for the Chapman University Exhibition in the Leatherby Libraries. [Just updated New Year’s Day — keep ’em coming and Happy New Year!]
The Legumes Exhibition follows closely on the heels of the Camellia Show at Descanso! (Each year, January seems to get busier and busier for BAGSC members!) Don’t forget that the entry forms for the Legume Exhibition are due the same day, Friday, January 16, 2015 that the Camellia Show will be staged and hung. Entry forms should be emailed or mailed, on or before that date to Diane Daly.
The list below are the Legume subjects BAGSC members have painted, are painting, or are thinking about painting. Don’t panic if you see something you’ve painted (or are thinking of painting) on the following list. This is only a preliminary list, and it’s always fun to see the same subject painted by different people. If you haven’t sent your subject to Diane Daly, please do so. We will be using our subject list to develop educational outreach materials with Dr. Jennifer Funk’s students.
- Cristina Baltayian: Coral Tree, Papago Beans, Tamarind Pods
- Melanie Campbell-Carter: Snail Vine (Viga caracalla)
- Diane Daly: Mexican Bird of Paradise (Caesalpinia pulcherrima), Calliandra Eriophylla
- Cynthia Jackson: Knife Acacia (Acacia cultriformis)
- Clara Josephs: Desert False Indigo with Dogface Butterfly, Carob Tree
- Joan Keesey: Wisteria, Coral Tree, Lupine
- Suzanne Kuuskmae: Lupine, Wisteria, Vicia sativa
- Pat Mark: Hyacinth Bean
- Arillyn Moran-Lawrence: Shelling Pea, Green Arrow, Pisum sativum (Heirloom), plus hopefully one more
- Robyn Reilman, Acacia Stenophylla
- Mitsuko Schultz: Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus)
- Janice Sharp: Western Redbud (Cercis occidentalis), Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus), and Australian native
Wistera Hardenbergia violacea - Deborah Shaw: Castanospermum australe (if it gets done!), Acacia seed pod (Wattle Bush)
- Patty VanOsterhoudt: Desert Museum x Parkinsidium Parkinsonia x Cercidium (Palo Verde)
- Leslie Walker: Delonix regia
Need inspiration for your artwork? (There’s still time!) See some of Dr. Funk’s suggestions in our prior BAGSC News Blog article.
by Beth Stone, posted by Deb Shaw
Camellia japonica ‘Guilio Nuccio’ with Camellia japonica ‘Horkan’ and Camellia wabisuke ‘Sukiya’, watercolor by Beth Stone, © 2104, all rights reserved.
The winter months are Camellia show season. This year, BAGSC members will have a Camellia Painting Exhibition at Descanso Gardens, Saturday, January 17 and Sunday, January 18, 2015.
The BAGSC Camellia Painting Exhibit will take place in Van de Kamp Hall, just inside the main entrance, in conjunction with the first Camellia flower show of the 2015 season. Camellia shows are exhibitions of hundreds of individual Camellia blooms presented for judging by amateur Camellia growers. Blooms are placed into classes based upon Camellia Species and characteristics such as nominal bloom size and culture conditions.
Each show has about 25 individual classes. Each class is judged by one of several teams of three judges. The teams select first place blooms of each cultivar entered in the class. They also choose multiple first place blooms from each class that merit further judging. All judges present, typically about 20, then vote for the top blooms in each class, evaluating the first place cultivars against one another. The ballots are tallied and a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place from each class is determined. Winners may choose crystal “trophies” or may accumulate points throughout the show season, which are then converted into a gift certificate redeemable at Nuccio’s Nurseries.
Camellia Grand Prix, by Janice Sharp, colored pencil, © 2014, all rights reserved.
Southern California has a consortium of five different Camellia Societies which conduct Camellia flower shows nearly every weekend from mid-January to mid-March each year in locations ranging from Bakersfield to San Diego. The January 17 and 18, 2015 exhibition at Descanso is the Pacific Camellia Society’s 50th annual show.
The Camellia Painting Exhibit and Flower Show will be open to the public:
Saturday January 17, 2015 1:00 PM (pending completion of the flower show judging) to 4:30 PM
Sunday January 18, 2015 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Admission to the Camellia Painting Exhibit and Flower Show is included with admission to Descanso Gardens. General admission is $9. Seniors 65 and over and students are admitted for $6. Children (5 to 12 years) are $4. Descanso members and children under five are admitted for free. There is ample parking at Descanso and you can also get a quick, easy and tasty lunch at their café.
Descanso Gardens is located near the intersection of the 210 and 2 freeways at 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge, California, 91011. It is a 20-minute drive from downtown Los Angeles, depending on traffic.
Allow time on your visit to Descanso Gardens to take a walk through the Camellia Forest and visit the Camellia room in the Boddy House. You may also want to explore the newly opened natural Oak Woodland.
Minato-no-haru Camellia, by Clara Josephs, watercolor, © 2014, all rights reserved.
More information about the Camellia Societies and Camellia culture can be found at http://www.socalcamellias.org.
Nuccio’s Nurseries will also have an exhibit in Van de Kamp hall for the duration of this show which will be packed with examples of everything currently blooming in their Nursery. If you haven’t been to Nuccio’s, you owe it to yourself to see one of Southern California’s nursery treasures. Everything Camellia and Azalea can be found at Nuccio’s.
Want to volunteer to help with the Camellia Exhibition?
BAGSC volunteers are needed to help
- Stage and hang the show on Friday, January 16, 2015.
- Stay with the exhibit all weekend while it is open to the public on Saturday and Sunday, January 17 and 18, 2015. BAGSC volunteers supporting the exhibit will provide information to the public about BAGSC and our art form and will handle any sales. [There will also be at least one Camellia Society volunteer on hand at all times while the exhibit is open to talk with the public about the Camellias on display.] All BAGSC members are invited to volunteer and help support the show; you may volunteer regardless of whether or not you have work in the exhibition.
- Help with taking down and packing up the exhibit on Sunday, January 18, 2015.
An email blast went out to all BAGSC members with a call for volunteers. If you’re interested in volunteering, please contact Beth Stone.
See you there!
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 Diane Daly, Dr. Jennifer Funk, and Deb Shaw
Caesalpinia pulcherrima, Red Bird of Paradise, or Mexican Bird of Paradise, watercolor by Diane Daly, © 2013, all rights reserved.
If you’re looking for additional “legume” inspiration during the holidays, we have two lists for you. The first was developed for us by Dr. Jennifer Funk, Associate Professor in the Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University. This is a brief list of just a few representative legumes, showing the wide variety of plants in this fascinating family:
Agricultural legumes
- Glycine max (soybean)
- Medicago sativa (alfalfa)
- Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean)
- Pisum sativum (pea)
Legumes in desert and semi-arid ecosystems
- Acmispon – dozens of species including Acmispon glaber (deerweed) which is an early colonizer following fire, and the very beautiful Acmispon wrangelianus, which can tolerate harsh serpentine soils
- Astragalus – dozens of beautiful milkvetch species, including rare natives like Astragalus claranus, Astragalus clevelandii, and Astragalus funereus
- Caesalpinia pulcherrima
- Calliandra eriophylla
- Dalea mollissima
- Hosackia – many species with spectacular flowers including Hosackia stipularis
- Lathyrus – many species including the lovely beach-goer Lathyrus littoralis
- Lupinus – many species with yellow or purple flowers, and slender herbs to large shrubs
- Pediomelum californicum
- Pickeringia montana (chaparral pea)
- Psorothamnus – several species with spectacular flowering stalks
- Trifolium – a diverse genus of clovers including my favorite Trifolium depauperatum (cowbag clover)
Weedy and invasive legumes
- Acacia dealbata
- Genista monspessulana (French broom)
- Medicago polymorpha (burclover)
- Melilotus officinalis
- Spartium junceum (Spanish broom)
- Trifolium hirtum
- Vicia sativa
Leguminous trees
- Acacia dealbata
- Acacia koa, Hawaiian tree used for beautiful reddish wood
- Bauhinia species (can be found at arboretums)
- Cercis occidentalis (western redbud)
- Erythrina – many species can be found at arborteums
- Olneya tesota (ironwood)
- Prosopis glandulosa (mesquite)
- Sophora chrysophylla (mamane), a Hawaiian tree that provides food for the endangered Palila bird
The second list is of “Artist’s Choices,” legume subjects BAGSC members have painted, are painting, or are thinking about painting. Don’t panic if you see something you’ve painted (or are thinking of painting) on the following list. This is only a preliminary list, and it’s always fun to see the same subject painted by different people. If you haven’t sent your subject to Diane Daly, please do so. We will be using our subject lists to develop educational outreach materials with Jennifer’s students.
- Melanie Campbell-Carter: Snail vine (Viga caracalla)
- Diane Daly: Pink trumpet tree (Tabebuia impetiginosa), Mexican Bird of Paradise (Caesalpinia pulcherrima)
- Clara Josephs: Desert false indigo with dogface butterfly, Carob tree
- Joan Keesey: Wisteria, Coral Tree, Lupine
- Suzanne Kuuskmae: Lupine, wisteria
- Pat Mark: Hyacinth bean
- Mitsuko Schultz: Sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus)
- Deborah Shaw: Castanospermum australe, Papago Bean/seeds, Acacia (wattle bush)
- Patty VanOsterhoudt: Desert Museum x Parkinsidium Parkinsonia x Cercidium (Palo Verde)
- Leslie Walker: Delonix regia
Happy painting!
by Estelle DeRidder, posted by Deb Shaw
Invitation to “The Flora of the Madrona Marsh,” original artwork by Estelle De Ridder.
The reception time for the opening of my show on
December 7, 2015
has changed to 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
due to Pearl Harbor Day.
Some Madrona Marsh members who are interested in attending the opening had a conflict with the later afternoon times, and we are doing our best to accommodate everyone’s schedule during this busy time of year.
I am at the Madrona Marsh on Saturdays and Sundays, and interest is brisk. Hope to see you there!
[Read our original posting about Estelle’s project and opening at: https://bagscblog.com/2014/09/29/estelle-de-ridder-exhibition-of-the-flora-of-the-madrona-marsh/]
by Deb Shaw
It seems like it should be far away, but next year will be here before we know it!
As announced in the “Save the Date” article on the BAGSC blog, and in the email blast that went out to BAGSC members on November 26, 2014, Eileen Sorg will be teaching a BAGSC-sponsored workshop, “COLORED PENCIL STEW.” We are anticipating a lot of interest from BAGSC and Colored Pencil Society Members, and expect the workshops to fill quickly. We have made arrangements to potentially hold two, two-day workshops (same content for each) if enrollments warrant.
Dates:
Monday, March 9 and Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Thursday, March 12 and Friday, March 13, 2015
A Bug In Your Ear, mixed media by Eileen Sorg, © 2014, all rights reserved.
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, OR the March 12 − 13 dates. Please understand that we cannot guarantee dates until deposits are made for the minimum numbers for each section.
Want to take both workshops? Please send a $100.00 non-refundable deposit and let Leslie know that as well.
We are finalizing plans for one location in the Orange County area and one in the Pasadena area. Details about locations and final payment due dates will be available and publicized soon.
by Janice Sharp and Deb Shaw
Camellia japonica, taken by
fir0002, flagstaffotos.com.au, from Wikimedia Commons. Licensing/copyright: This image is not in the public domain. Under the CC BY-NC: free to copy, distribute, transmit and adapt this work provided that correct attribution is provided.
As posted in previous BAGSC News blog articles, BAGSC will be holding an exhibition on Camellias at Descanso Gardens, in conjunction with the flower show of the Camellia Societies in Southern California (for more information go to www.socalcamellias.org).
This wonderful opportunity is a two-day event in Van de Kamp Hall, coinciding with the Camellia show and judging, on Friday, January 16, 2015 – Saturday, January 18, 2015. This is not a juried show, however, we have been offered the opportunity to extend the show until October, 2015, in the Boddy House. While the initial show is not juried, the Boddy House will not accommodate all the paintings expected and therefore, a selection process will be used when the show is moved to the Boddy House. All accepted artists will have the choice as to whether they would like to have their artwork exhibited until October in the Boddy House.
All current BAGSC members in good standing (dues paid) are eligible to enter up to three (3) original works of art of botanical specimens of Camellias (no prints). There is no size limitation, and works may have been shown in previous BAGSC, ASBA, Filoli or other exhibitions.
Download the PDF Entry Form by clicking this link: bagscDescansoCamillas15f. Questions? Contact Janice.
by Deb Shaw
Detail of Cucurbita Maxima, watercolor by Deborah Shaw, © 2014, all rights reserved.
The Ultimate Color Mixing Workshop has moved to Wednesday, January, 14 – Thursday, January 15, 2015 at the Virginia Robinson Gardens.
The workshop details are the same, as posted on a previous BAGSC News Blog article. You may find it at: https://bagscblog.com/2014/10/12/deborah-shaw-to-teach-the-ultimate-color-mixing-workshop-at-the-virginia-robinson-gardens/
9:30 am – 3:30 pm
Cost: $225 for Virginia Robinson Gardens members and Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California (BAGSC) members; $275 for non-members.
$50 deposit is non-refundable.
The Virginia Robinson Gardens has just installed online registration! Register for this workshop by going to: http://www.robinsongardens.org/product/ultimate-color-mixing-class/
You also can still make reservations by calling (310) 550-2068; or mail a check, made payable to: FRIENDS OF ROBINSON GARDENS. The Virginia Robinson Gardens are located at 1008 Elden Way, Beverly Hills, California 90210.
by Deb Shaw
The presentations from ASBA Grant Recipients is always one of my favorite sessions at the ASBA conference. It’s inspiring to hear the many different ways members reach out into the community using botanical art as a vehicle.
Jan Boyd Haring presents Estelle De Ridders project during the Grants presentation at the ASBA conference. Photo by Deb Shaw.
This year was no different. Moderator Jan Boyd Haring presented for our own BAGSC member Estelle De Ridder. As we know here in Southern California, Estelle’s project is to assist with the creation of reusable plant identification cards featuring illustrations of plant life cycle phases for the top 35 native plant species of the Madrona Marsh Preserve in Torrance, California. [See our previous blog posting about Estelle’s exhibition and opening in December of this year.]
Jody Williams presented her project: extending the reach of ASBA’s “Following in the Bartrams’ Footsteps” exhibition to the St. Francois Mountains of Southeastern Missouri. Jody documented and illustrated the plants listed by the Bartrams in the diverse habitats of the St. Francois Mountains by finding, drawing, painting and lecturing about the plants.
Lisa Coddington went from her home base in New Mexico to teach botanical art workshops to elementary students, K – 6 on the island of Grenada with a support partnership involving the Peak Institute. She overcame teacher wariness and students’ shyness to have a final art exhibition created by enthusiastic students, many of whom hadn’t known about their local plants and fruits, or how they grew.
Marsha Bennett with members of the Southwest Society of Botanical Artists funded a five minute video highlighting their Citizen Scientist project, scientific identification and documentation of the flora of the Phoenix Mountains Preserve, a permanent rotating exhibition of artwork of the flora, and public education outreach.
Thank you all!
by Deb Shaw
Some of our BAGSC members are lucky to stay for the post-conference workshops, but many of the rest of us have gotten home. We had a great response to our “Live from the Conference” postings; many sent emails letting us know how much they enjoyed the posts. I’m sorry I was struggling with a technology meltdown and couldn’t get all of them up sooner. I believe I now have the technology (mostly) behaving, and will get things posted as quickly as possible.
![[Brush holder] The Rocky Mountain Chapter made (yes, HANDMADE) pine brush holders for each of the conference attendees. Photo is of my new brush holder, happily ensconced in its new home on my work table. Photo by Deb Shaw.](https://bagscblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/brushholderfront.jpg)
[Brush holder] The Rocky Mountain Chapter made (yes, HANDMADE) pine brush holders for each of the conference attendees. Photo is of my new brush holder, happily ensconced in its new home on my work table. Photo by Deb Shaw.
Thank you to the Rocky Mountain Society of Botanical Artists and ASBA for all your hard work. And thank you to the roving BAGSC reporters who sent in stories and photos. If you have any more, keep ’em coming and I’ll get them posted. For readers; lots more to come.
See you next year at the Weird, Wild & Wonderful Symposium at the Huntington in the Summer, and at the ASBA Annual Meeting and Conference in Miami in October.
Happy painting!
![[Brush holder back] Susan Fisher explained that the wood came from pine trees harvested after being killed by Mountain Pine Beetles (Dendroctonus ponderosae), native to the forests of western North America. The blue color of the wood is the result of staining from the beetle infestation. Libby Kyer designed the logo on the back, which was also on the water bottles donated by Libby and her husband. Photo by Deb Shaw.](https://bagscblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/brushholderback.jpg)
[Brush holder back] Susan Fisher explained that the wood came from pine trees harvested after being killed by Mountain Pine Beetles (Dendroctonus ponderosae), native to the forests of western North America. The blue color of the wood is the result of staining from the beetle infestation. Libby Kyer designed the logo on the back, which was also on the water bottles donated by Libby and her husband. Photo by Deb Shaw.
by Deb Shaw
Tania Marien’s James White Award
The ASBA announced their annual awards last night at the closing banquet. Tania Marien was presented with the James White Service Award for her dedication to botanical art, in recognition of her distinguished support of botanical art.
Lesley Randall’s ASBA Award for Scientific Botanical Illustration
Lesley Randall was presented with the ASBA Scientific Illustrator Award for Excellence in Scientific Botanical Art, in recognition of her outstanding achievements as a scientific illustrator.
George Olsen was presented with the ASBA Diane Bouchier Artist Award for Excellence in Botanical Art, in recognition of his outstanding acheivements as a botanical artist.
Unfortunately, the three award winners were not present to receive their awards in person. When Tania and Lesley’s names were announced, however, the BAGSC table cheered loud enought to hear back in Southern California. Congratulations to the award winners for richly deserved recognition!!
by Lesley Randall, posted by Deb Shaw
Watercolor by Clara Josephs, © 2014, all rights reserved.
The San Diego Botanic Garden and the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California (BAGSC) will be holding an exhibition titled, Artists’ Favorites. These beautiful and unbelievably detailed works of art depict different plant species—several of which are found in the San Diego Botanic Garden. Forty-three works representing 18 different artists were carefully selected for this juried show. Each of the plants and paintings hold a special place in each artist’s heart.
Artists include: Cristina Baltayian, Melanie Campbell-Carter, Diane Daly, Estelle DeRidder, Linda Ericksen, Cynthia Jackson, Susan Jackson, Clara Josephs, Joan Keesey, Suzanne Kuuskmae, Lesley Randall, Kirsten Rindal, Mitsuko Schultz, Gilly Shaeffer, Deb Shaw, Janice Sharp, Gayle Uyehara, and Leslie Walker.
The exhibit will run from:
September 21, 2014 – November 16, 2014
at the San Diego Botanic Garden
in the Ecke Building
The exhibition is open for viewing daily, 9 am – 5 pm
Cost: Free with paid admission or membership
An Artists’ Reception will be held
Sunday, September 21, 2014
San Diego Botanic Garden, Ecke Building
4:30 pm – 7 pm
The Artists’ Reception is free, and is open to the public. Members, friends and family are welcome. Come and meet some of the BAGSC artists at the reception.
The San Diego Botanic Garden is located at 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas, California 92024. The phone number is 760.436.3036.
by Leslie Walker and Deb Shaw
Salvia spathacea, Hummingbird Sage, watercolor by Joan Keesey, © 2013, all rights reserved.
The Theodore Payne Foundation will be hosting an opening reception for the exhibition “The Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California, The Art and Science of Native Plants” on
January 11, 2014
2:00 pm – 4:30 pm
The exhibition is open for viewing from January 11 – March 15.
This juried exhibition was created by the Theodore Payne Foundation (TPF) in recognition of the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California (BAGSC) and the continuing importance of botanical art in the service of both science and art, knowledge and beauty. Jurors were: Olga Eysymott: Artist and teacher; founder of BAGSC; Bart O’Brien: Director Special Projects, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden; Co-author of “California Native Plants for the Garden”; and John Wickham: Past president of the board, Theodore Payne Foundation; native plant gardener.
The exhibition consists of 23 artworks by 14 BAGSC artists, including: Nina Antze, Diane Daly, Estelle DeRidder, Clara Josephs, Joan Keesey, Patricia A. Mark, Arillyn Moran-Lawrence, Lesley Randall, Mitsuko Schultz, Gilly Shaeffer, Janice Sharp, Deborah Shaw, Gayle Uyehara, and Jude Wiesenfeld.
The show encompasses a range of styles and media: from scientific illustration to plant portraits. Works effectively use pen and ink, watercolor on paper and vellum, colored pencil on paper and film, and mixed media to depict California native plants — many with their pollinators.
The Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers & Native Plants is located at 10459 Tuxford Street, Sun Vally, CA 91352. Hours are Tuesday – Saturday. 8:30 – 4:30. The Theodore Payne Foundation is closed Sundays and Mondays. For information, call (818) 768-1802 during business hours.
BAGSC News 