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by Nina Antze, posted by Deb Shaw
Sketching Bonsai Workshop May 12, Douglas Charles © 2018.
The Northern California Society of Botanical Artists is holding a workshop taught by Lee McCaffree, “Sketching Bonsai in Pen and Ink.” The workshop has been rescheduled to
Saturday, May 12, 2018, 10:00am -3:00pm
in Menlo Park, California
Enjoy a day of sketching Bonsai trees among an extensive collection of plants in Menlo Park. Learn about the basic structure of this art form, and how to capture the essence of an individual specimen(s) in pen and ink. This workshop is intended to be fun and relaxing—depicting the trees overall design instead of the exact details. Everyone is welcome.
The cost is $30 for NCalSBA members; $40 for non–members. The workshop cost includes a donation to NCalSBA and the Bonsai Garden.
There are still a few seats available. To register, and for more information about the workshop (including a materials list), contact D. Hunter.
By Jude Wiesenfeld, posted by Deb Shaw
Lee McCaffree (left) and Pat Mark (right); photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2017.
BAGSC held a one day class with botanical artist (and BAGSC member), Lee McCaffree, at The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens on May 6, 2017 on “Leaf Detail: Start to Finish, Veins and Edges”.
Susan Jackson, enjoying her leaf studies; photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2017.
Lee stayed with Pat Mark, who also acted as her assistant in the class, arranging for specimens, distributing hand-outs, etc. We brought our lunch, which was a very good idea, as there turned out to be a special film event at The Huntington that took over the Brody side parking lot and added to the crowd.
Lee is a very affable teacher and took time with every student checking their work on the assignments. She began showing us examples of different leaf vein patterns and margin (edges) patterns. We divided our watercolor paper into sections and worked on different techniques in an effort to decide which ones we preferred.
I liked leaving the whites of the veins, rather than “lifting” or “masking” the veins. Lee also suggested tools that would best suit rendering our veins and edges for the best results.
We hope Lee will join us again in future. All of us enjoyed meeting her and enjoyed the class very much.
Class members, © 2017.
Kat Powell (left) and Estelle De Ridder (right); photo by Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2017.
Jude Wiesenfeld, © 2017.
by Jude Wiesenfeld and Lee McCaffree, posted by Deb Shaw
BAGSC will be sponsoring a one-day Leaf Detail workshop with Lee McCaffree, on:
Saturday, May 6, 2017
9:30 am – 4:00 pm
The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, Botanical Education Center
Cost, BAGSC Members: $100
Non-Members: $120
Maximum Registration: 16 students
Roger’s Red Grape, watercolor by Lee McCaffree, © 2017.
Leaves form the background for most botanical paintings. It is important to spend the time to make them accurate. We will work to make the veins and margins realistic in their finishing touches while following the form and texture of several leaves. This workshop will cover leaf-painting techniques using dry brush work, masking fluid, lifting and leaving the white paper.
For more information about the workshop, sign-up, and the materials list, please see the BAGSC website “Classes” and “Class Details” page.
About the Instructor
Lee McCaffree is a botanical illustrator in watercolor. She shares the coordination and implementation of the Filoli Botanical Art Certificate Program and is a primary instructor. She served on the Board of Directors of The American Society of Botanical Artists. She gives regular private classes in the Bay area and instructed at the ASBA Annual meetings and the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden. She supports botanical artists by participating in coordinating teams for art exhibits and jurying.
Lee McCaffree
She began her career in London, England studying under Christabel King of Kew Gardens. She received Medals for showing her “Pinus” series and “Plants in Peril” series at the Royal Horticultural Society exhibitions in London. Her works are in the permanent collections of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew Collection, London, the Filoli Florilegium and Hunt Institute of Botanical Documentation; Lee won Best of Show at the Northwest ASBA Exhibition in Portland, OR. Her showings include juried exhibitions at Contemporary Art Center, MOMA-New York; Longwood Gardens; Hunt Institute, Pittsburgh; Seattle Science Center; Flinn Gallery Greenwich, CT; Horticultural Society of New York; Missouri, Chicago, Denver and UC Berkeley Botanical Gardens; Strybing Arboretum, CA; Arizona Desert Museum, New York State Museum; Johnson & Johnson Headquarters; Oakland Museum; Loveland Museum (Colorado); Filoli exhibits and Florilegium; Northern California Society of Botanical Artist’s Alcatraz Florilegium and other venues. She created the poster for the California Native Plant Sale for the East Bay for ten years. Her work is published in Curtis’s Botanical Magazine, England and Today’s Botanical Artist. Her work was included in “Losing Paradise”, an exhibit of endangered species illustrations which traveled throughout the U.S and to the Shirley Sherwood Gallery at Kew Gardens, London. Currently, she is exhibiting in the Weird, Wild and Wonderful Traveling Exhibit from the New York Botanical Gardens.
Lee’s work concentrates on native plants which she hopes will increase their visibility and use in public and private landscaping. Her skill as a botanical artist allows her to focus her creativity on the finest details of each plant she paints. Her enthusiasm inspires her students to develop their own skills and enjoy the creative process.
by Deb Shaw
Aristolochia californica, California Pipevine, watercolor by Lee McCaffree, © 2016, all rights reserved. This painting by Lee was part of the “Weird, Wild & Wonderful” exhibition.
The schedule for Lee McCaffree’s workshops, A Painting! What do you See? and Completing a Painting have been changed: both workshops have been rolled into one day, one workshop, on Saturday, March 19. The workshop will still be held at the Los Angeles Arboretum, from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm.
There are still a few seats available. If you would like to take the workshop, but have not yet registered, please email BAGSC Treasurer Janice Sharp to let her know and make arrangements to send a check and/or bring it to the workshop on Saturday.
Cost: BAGSC members, $100.00/non-members, $120.00
Maximum number of participants (in each class): 15
You can see the original BAGSC News blog posting about the class here, including materials list and Lee McAffree’s bio. Don’t miss this great opportunity to take this rare workshop.
by Patricia A. Mark, posted by Deb Shaw
Aristolochia californica, California Pipevine, watercolor by Lee McCaffree, © 2016, all rights reserved. This painting by Lee was part of the “Weird, Wild & Wonderful” exhibition.
Do not miss out on two classes coming soon to the LA Arboretum, taught by Lee McCaffree: A Painting! What do you See? and Completing a Painting. I had the opportunity to take these classes from Lee at Filoli, and are excited about taking them again.
These classes are both exceptionally informative! “A Painting! What do you See?” will cover a variety of techniques to view paintings (both yours and others) with objective eyes. Every picture tells a story. As individual artists it’s easy to miss issues related to composition, specimen accuracy, painting skills, light source, focal point, and color. Gentle, kind (and fun) guidance will open your critical eye, enabling you to identify issues and improve your work. Class time will be spent on viewing paintings from the botanical art world, and examining our own works. We will have class time to make adjustments on our works in progress.
Completing a Painting is a “must attend”! As an artist I find myself continuously asking,”is this complete”? “Have I overworked an area? What have I missed? Is the form strong, not only on individual leaves or flowers, but on the painting as a whole? Is the perspective accurate? Do areas transition from light to dark smoothly? Are brush strokes visible, the shadows appropriate, my edges clean? How do I sign and label my work for a juried exhibition or for a commissioned sale? And what are those jurors looking for anyway?” So many questions, all focusing on completing a wonderful painting! There will be class time available during this workshop to work individually on any of your present works-in-progress.
Saturday, March 19, 2016
A Painting! What Do You See?
Sunday, March 20, 2016
Completing a Painting
Both classes will be held at the Los Angeles Arboretum, from 9:30 am – 3:30 pm. Each of these important subjects will be conducted in a friendly, Participants can take one class or both!
Cost: One class: BAGSC members, $100.00/non-members, $120.00, Both classes: BAGSC members, $200.00/non-members, $240.00
Maximum number of participants (in each class): 15
To Register: Send checks, made out to BAGSC, in full, to BAGSC Treasurer Janice Sharp. Cancellations up to two weeks before the class date will be charged a $30.00 cancellation fee.
You can see the original BAGSC News blog posting about the class here, including materials list and Lee McAffree’s bio. Don’t miss this great opportunity to take this rare workshop.
by Lee McCaffree and Lesley Randall, posted by Deb Shaw
Aristolochia californica, California Pipevine, watercolor by Lee McCaffree, © 2016, all rights reserved. This painting by Lee was part of the “Weird, Wild & Wonderful” exhibition.
BAGSC member Lee McCaffree will be teaching two botanical art classes in March: one about how to finish a painting; the other about how to critique a work of art (and self-critique your own).
Both classes will be held at the Los Angeles Arboretum, from 9:30 am – 3:30 pm. Each of these important subjects will be conducted in a friendly, supportive, congenial atmosphere. Participants can take one class or both!
Cost:
One class: BAGSC members, $100.00/non-members, $120.00Both classes: BAGSC members, $200.00/non-members, $240.00
Maximum number of participants (in each class): 15
Saturday, March 19, 2016
A Painting! What Do You See?
We will investigate ways to critique a work of art. Personal experience shapes what we see. By using different techniques to view paintings the observer will have more ways to analyze with objective eyes. We will use many published works as well as class members’ works to practice these methods. Topics will include subject matter, botanical accuracy, painting skills, light source, color, form and compositional structure, balance and space. We will work cooperatively by sharing ideas to make this a positive experience for each artist to learn about their own work. Class time will include individual opportunities for making improvements on work in progress.
Materials list:
- Copies of 2 paintings (not yours) that you like
- 2 paintings (of yours), unfinished or finished, to share in critiques
- Tracing paper
- Your usual art supplies for your paintings, any media
Sunday, March 20, 2016
Completing a Painting
How do you know your art work is finished? Sometimes it is just a feeling that the painting is finished or something isn’t quite right. Good observation helps one see if a painting needs improvement, whether it is nearly finished or in progress. It is important to keep a freshness and avoid overworking. The artist needs to be objective in looking at their images. We will work with each other to see our work through another’s eye. Questions to consider will include: Where is my focal point? Do I have enough value change? Do the plant parts have volume and perspective? Are they botanically correct? Where has the paint or pencil gone astray either on my plant edges or in the negative space?
Class members will apply these observations to their paintings along with techniques in completing details such as dry brush, washes or corrections. This will include ways to change or clean up places to make your painting details more realistic. After identifying ways to finish your painting(s), there will be time in class to work on these details.
We will complete the process by discussing labeling. We will look at ways to present your piece with mats and frames depending on your intended goal for display.
Please bring the following materials:
- 1 or 2 paintings that you want to finish
- Usual art supplies in your media choice, including a magnifier
- Tracing paper
To Register:
Send checks, made out to BAGSC, in full, to BAGSC Treasurer Janice Sharp. Cancellations up to two weeks before the class date will be charged a $30.00 cancellation fee.
Bring your lunch, or purchase lunch at the Peacock Café, on the Arboretum grounds.
The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden is located at: 301 North Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007.
About the instructor:
Lee McCaffree
Lee McCaffree is a botanical illustrator in watercolor. She shares the coordination and implementation of the Filoli Botanical Art Certificate Program and is a primary instructor. She served on the Board of Directors of The American Society of Botanical Artists. She gives regular private classes in the Bay area and instructed at the ASBA Annual meetings and the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden. She supports botanical artists by participating in coordinating teams for art exhibits and jurying.
She began her career in London, England studying under Christabel King of Kew Gardens. She received Medals for showing her “Pinus” series and “Plants in Peril” series at the Royal Horticultural Society exhibitions in London. Her works are in the permanent collections of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew Collection, London, the Filoli Florilegium and Hunt Institute of Botanical Documentation; Lee won Best of Show at the Northwest ASBA Exhibition in Portland, OR. Her showings include juried exhibitions at Contemporary Art Center, MOMA-New York; Longwood Gardens; Hunt Institute, Pittsburgh; Seattle Science Center; Flinn Gallery Greenwich, CT; Horticultural Society of New York; Missouri, Chicago, Denver and UC Berkeley Botanical Gardens; Strybing Arboretum, CA; Arizona Desert Museum, New York State Museum; Johnson & Johnson Headquarters; Oakland Museum; Loveland Museum (Colorado); Filoli exhibits and Florilegium; Northern California Society of Botanical Artist’s Alcatraz Florilegium and other venues. She created the poster for the California Native Plant Sale for the East Bay for ten years. Her work is published in Curtis’s Botanical Magazine, England and Today’s Botanical Artist. Her work was included in “Losing Paradise”, an exhibit of endangered species illustrations which traveled throughout the U.S and to the Shirley Sherwood Gallery at Kew Gardens, London. Currently, she is exhibiting in the Weird, Wild and Wonderful Traveling Exhibit from the New York Botanical Gardens.
Lee’s work concentrates on native plants which she hopes will increase their visibility and use in public and private landscaping. Her skill as a botanical artist allows her to focus her creativity on the finest details of each plant she paints. Her enthusiasm inspires her students to develop their own skills and enjoy the creative process.
by Leslie Walker
Come to this informative class to learn an important skill needed by all good botanical artists. Plant material will be provided, but if you have a subject that is presenting you with a problem, bring it with you so Lee can help you solve it.
Dates: Saturday, June 21 and Sunday June 22
Times: 9:30 am − 3:30 pm
Cost: $210 for BAGSC members, $235 for non-members
Bring your lunch
Send your check to Leslie Walker. Please include your preferred email address with your check, so Leslie can email you the materials list. The materials list will be emailed upon receipt of your payment. Registration is limited, based on receipt of payment.
Questions? Email Leslie.
The workshop will be held in Newport Beach at the Environmental Nature Center (The ENC). The ENC is located at 1601 East 16th Street, Newport Beach, CA 92663. (Click on the address for directions.) There is ample, easy parking at the ENC, and the classroom space and surroundings are beautiful. Hopefully, the butterfly house still will be open at that time too!
by Deb Shaw
Lee McCaffree will be returning to Southern California on Saturday, June 21 and Sunday, June 22 to teach a workshop on foreshortening — a subject we could all study in perpetuity.
The workshop will be held in Newport Beach at the Environmental Nature Center (The ENC). The Environmental Nature Center is located at 1601 East 16th Street, Newport Beach, CA 92663. (Click on the address for directions.) There is ample, easy parking at the ENC, and the classroom space and surroundings are beautiful.
Watch for more details about times, costs and how to sign up, coming out soon. In the meantime, mark your calendars!
Hope to see you there!
by Patricia Van Osterhoudt
(left to right) Lori Fields, Arillyn Moran-Lawrence, Cristina Baltayian, and Gayle Uyehara gather around Lee McCaffree (seated) while she demonstrates a masking fluid technique. Photo by Clara Josephs, © 2013.
Hairs, dots, indentations! It’s enough to make the hairs on your neck stand up and salute! Who can count the hairs on a lime green Icelandic Poppy stem or the odd shaped rectangles on a peanut shell, and more importantly, why would one want to? This is the question all botanical artists wrestle with in the process of drawing and painting from nature, and it is one Lee McCaffree skillfully guided fourteen artists through in a two-day workshop on November 9 – 10, 2013 at the Environmental Nature Center (ENC) in Newport Beach. The classroom is in a LEED Platinum building at the ENC; the space is light and airy, perfect for botanical painting.
Through Lee’s expertise as an artist and teacher, we were encouraged to experiment with several specimens including peanuts, dry grasses, pussy willows, and various types of bumpy leaves. We began with careful observations and then did tracings for form, shape, and texture. From these we did graphite drawings as a reference point to come back to often during the actual painting. Lee continually stressed the importance of an accurate drawing for a successful painting. In the painting process we mixed color and did washes staying within the lines of the pencil lead, which all built up to texture. Many of the artists used color pencils as well. Most importantly, Lee encouraged everyone to move along rather than dally over any one particular part so we could “get the feel” for various types of texture. That nudge kept us all going!
Throughout the workshop, Lee consistently demonstrated the techniques she wished us to attempt. During the demos, she made comments such as the “importance of letting each layer of paint dry so that after several layers the light from other colors could shine through.” Later as we painted and drew, she consistently came around to each student giving constructive and creative comments that helped us move to a new and improved place. As she circled back to see our progress, she made very encouraging comments such as, “Great, see how much better that shading looks now!” As we worked side-by-side with our attention focused completely on the subject at hand (peanuts in the shell), Cristina Baltayian looked up and quietly stated, “We are the Peanut Gallery!”
In our final critique, as each artist laid her many paintings and drawings on the end of each table, Lee asked, “What did you like and not like about creating your art?” Overall, we had a general feeling that we were encouraged to try new and more challenging subjects having learned the techniques for how to get there. I always think of the botanical workshops as “a booster shot,” and I certainly got that from Lee!
A special thank you goes out to Leslie Walker, Deb Shaw, Clara Josephs, and Diane Daly for organizing this fantastic workshop!!
By Leslie Walker, posted by Deb Shaw
Trichostema by Lee McCaffree, © 2013, all rights reserved.
BAGSC is bringing Lee McCaffree to Southern California to teach this November. The subject of this class will be textures. We will explore patterns, textures, and other plant surfaces through color, light and shadow, and negative space. The balance between texture and form will be continually evaluated.
All media are welcome. Graphite will be used to establish a reference subject. Watercolor dry brush techniques will provide a method to represent many different surfaces while maintaining the subject’s form. Colored pencil techniques can be used the same way, but students using colored pencils will be responsible for their own color mixing. This class will develop artist’s confidence to attempt more complex subjects.
The class will be Saturday, November 9 and Sunday, November 10 from 9:30 am – 4:00 pm with a half hour to eat lunch in the classroom. Participants will bring their own lunch; coffee and tea will be provided and will be available all day. The cost for this 2-day class for BAGSC members is $200.00; the cost for non-members is $250.00.
A $50.00 non-refundable, down-payment is required to hold your place, with the final payment due October 12, 2013. All payments should be made by check, made out to BAGSC, with “McCaffree Class” noted in the memo line. Checks should be sent to Janice Sharp (email Janice if you need her address).
The class will be held in the LEED Platinum certified learning center at the Environmental Nature Center, (ENC), 1601 East 16th Street, Newport Beach, CA 92663. The beautiful ENC learning center has plenty of on site and street parking, and is nestled in a 3.5 acre landscape featuring 15 California native plant communities, wildlife habitats, and walking trails. For the past 40 years, the ENC has been a hidden gem in Orange County.
Lee McCaffree is a botanical artist specializing in watercolor. She has studied in London with Christabel King and Capel Manor Environmental College. She has received medals for her “Pinus” and “Plants in Peril” paintings at the Royal Horticultural Society exhibitions in London. Her work is included in the permanent collections of Kew Gardens, the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation and in the Filoli Florilegium, in addition to private collections. Previous exhibitions include: Longwood Gardens, the Horticultural Society of New York, the Denver Botanic Gardens, Strybing Arboretum, the New York State Museum, Oakland Museum, Filoli, and other venues. She teaches botanical art at Filoli and to private groups. She also has served on the Board of Directors for the American Society of Botanical Artists.
BAGSC News 