NEWS about Botanical Art and for Botanical Artists

ABBA: Beginner's Botany for Botanical Art

17/6/2020

The Association of British Artists is developing a resource about Beginner's Botany for Botanical Art. This post highlights what is available.

It's part of a new series of articles and videos associated with promoting learning amongst those new to botanical art.

A still frame from the ABBA video "Three B's Episode 2 - Complex Flowers"

Elaine Allison, the new President, has produced two excellent videos which started off as a live streaming event - plus two blog posts. The focus of both is on The three B's.... Beginner - Botany-Botanical Art

You can find the videos on the BRAND NEW ABBA Channel called - ABBA for All. It's worth subscribing to this with your Google account if you want to follow what they produce.

I think it's an excellent idea. In my opinion, it's also something that more botanical art societies should do - although in order to emulate what ABBA is doing it does take

knowledge of both botany and botanical art
plus experience and expertise in both teaching and presenting on video.

Let's hope that there are some more botanical art societies out there prepared to develop similar resources.

Episode 1: Simple Flowers

There is something more important than knowing what parts of the plant are called and that is what does it really look like. This requires detailed anatomical observation. Where possible, it is really useful to see the plant growing in the wild. Get to know the habitat, location with respect to other plants and if it is the same species, how the form can change depending on where it grows.

The FIRST module focuses on simple flowers and provides a short introduction to basic descriptive botany

this is the blog post
this is the video - The 3 B's Episode 1- Simple Flowers (24 minutes) - which you also watch below. However you'll enjoy the big screen version on YouTube more.

Using a common native plant, the Geranium, the module considers

The botanical knowledge needed to produce an accurate botanical illustration
What you need to know about your plant specimen before you start drawing
Equipment that might be useful when studying the morphology of your plant
Examination of a single plant in terms of:
- scientific name
- environment in which it is found
- the genus of Geranium
- a diagram of the important parts of the plant
- an exploded diagram of the Inflorescence - with an analysis of what is shown

Episode 2: Complex Flowers

Understanding how the flower is put together is the first step in producing a great piece of artwork that is botanically accurate.

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Botanical Art Education: planning considerations re. coronavirus

4/6/2020

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Botanical art teachers have been asking me for my advice in recent days about things they need to think about when planning for future courses / workshops / tuition for students of botanical art and illustration.

This post follows on from my previous posts about:

BELOW is a summary of the advice I have offered and have to offer about:

what are the best options
what's the best timescale for starting up again.

[Today's planned post about selected artists re Plantae 2020 is taking longer than anticipated - hence this replacement!]

photograph courtesy of Fiona Strickland

RISK FACTORS

The one thing that is certain is that the virus is not going away any time soon.
All that is happening right now is that the reproduction rate is being cut - but a very small percentage of the community has been infected and the virus is still in the community.

Other than that we know that:

the coronavirus is still not fully understood
it's clear that some underlying conditions pose more risk for some people - covering both teachers and students
there is no vaccine
we have not yet reached the stage where we know if some people are immune (or not)
some people are super-spreaders - and this tends to happen in the context of group activities
obviously risk varies depending on where you live.

Bottom line it's still dangerous - particularly for older students of botanical art.

I doubt if any sensible person would book and attend courses unless you can demonstrate in an explicit way what you are doing to keep people safe.

Overall, I think most botanical art teachers need to consider that special arrangements may need to prevail for a year or more. It could be longer - but we just don't know at this stage.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

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Best Botanical Art Instruction Books - major reboot!

16/4/2020

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My page about The Best Botanical Art and Illustration Instruction Books on this webite has been completely redesigned to make it more accessible and informative.

The Page (in the Education Section) was getting very, very long. I was concerned people were missing really useful books towards the bottom. In the end I decided that it needed a completely new approach - to accommodate all the new books that need a proper listing. So it's had a REBOOT!

It now has four NEW pages which comprise the following sub-sections (see below):

Best Books by Botanical Art Societies - currently covering books by SBA and ASBA
Best Books about Botanical Drawing Instruction - for all those using graphite and coloured pencils for botanical drawing
Best Botanical Illustration Instruction Books - about the professional standards and techniques of those concerned with scientific botanical illustration
Best Books by Top Botanical Artists / Teachers - for those that deserve to be highlighted and don't fit in the other categories

This page introduces this section and

how the books are organised
who the authors are
how book reviews and ratings work
what I focus on when sorting the "wheat from the chaff"
how you can help support my website when you buy a book - at no cost to you
PLUS an introduction for each new sub-section and NEW PAGE. These are identified below.

The Best Instruction Books by Botanical Art Societies

The Best Instruction Books by Botanical Art Societies is a brand new section for books by botanical art societies. At present this is:

the Society of Botanical Artists (in the UK)
the American Society of Botanical Artists

However it could also include instruction books by other botanical art societies if these are developed in the future.....

The biggest major new book in 2020 will be the 400 page / 900 images "Botanical Art Techniques" book by ASBA - edited by Robin Jess and Carol Woodin - which is being published in September. This leads this new section.

It's followed by summaries of four of the five books written by Margaret Stevens the Past President of the SBA and the first Director of its Distance Learning Diploma Course. Three of these have deailed book reviews which can be accessed via the "buttons" on this page.

I'm beginning to think the SBA may well want to ponder on whether the existing books need a second edition going forward.

The Best Instruction Books
about Botanical Drawing (for Pencil Artists)

The Best Instruction Books about Botanical Drawing (for Pencil Artists) page is dedicated to all pencil artists!

Books featured and summarised on this page include:

Botanical Painting with Coloured Pencils by Ann Swan
Botanical Drawing in Colour by Wendy Hollender
NEW BOOK in 2020: The Joy of Botanical Drawing by Wendy Hollender
Botanical Drawing using Graphite and Coloured Pencils by Sue Vize
Fundamental Graphc Techniques by Katie Lee
Botanical Drawing by Penny Brown.

I'm expecting in due course to add in books about drawing in pen and ink (unless they are scientifically biased - in which case they will go in the next section!)

The Best Instruction Books
about Botanical Illustration

The Best Instruction Books about Botanical Illustration focuses on books written by
those who have worked as professional botanical illustrators and/or worked closely with botanists.

Books featured and summarised on this page include:

How to Draw Plants: The Techniques of Botanical Illustration by Keith West - an old and authoritative handbook
Botanical Illustration from Life: A Visual Guide to Observing, Drawing and Painting Plants by Işık Güner - a very new and contemporary handbook. One of the best I've seen in terms of standards required and making content accessible
Botanical Illustration Books by Bobbi Angell (separate dedicated page) - two books published 30 years apart
The Kew Book of Botanical Illustration by Christabel King
Botanical Illustration by Valerie Oxley
The Guild Handbook of Scientific Illustration (2nd Edition) edited by Elaine R. S. Hodges

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The Best Instruction Books
by Top Botanical Artists / Teachers

The Best Botanical Instructions by Top Botanical Artists / Teachers are associated with notable botanical artists and/or leading botanical art teachers - and not otherwise listed elsewhere.

Books featured and summarised on this page include:

An Approach to Botanical Painting by Anne-Marie and Donn Evans
Painting Flowers in Watercolour: A Naturalistic Approach by Coral Guest
Botanical Painting Books by Billy Showell (separate dedicated page)
Botanical Illustration Books with the Eden Project (separate dedicated page)
Botanical Illustration - The Complete Guide by Leigh Ann Gale
Botanical Art with Scientific Illustration by Sarah Jane Humphrey
Botanical Painting in Gouache by Simon Williams (Author)
Drawing and Painting Plants by Christina Brodie

NOTE: Very many thanks to Polly O'Leary who reviewed the pages for me before I went "public". She spotted a number of small typos and duplicate words! Thanks Polly - I owe you!

What do you want to know?

My advice and information on the Online Botanical Art Courses page was very much driven by what you needed to know. It's generally helped improve the information available about onine courses.

We can do the same thing for books.

After you've had a look at the new pages I'd be interested to hear your views on what aspects of this part of the website might be improved to provide better value to you as both a reader and a consumer.

EXAMPLE: I'm thinking of introducing some symbols to indicate if a book is more suited to: beginners | improvers | advanced artists.

Leave a comment below or contact me with your thoughts

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Coronavirus: Updating Course Directory for Cancellations and Postponements

16/3/2020

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Over the weekend - and following recent announcements about travel restrictions and border closures - I started to update the International Directory of Classes, Courses and Workshops in Botanical Art & Illustration on my Botanical Art and Artists website.

As a result:

the Europe and USA pages have been updated for
- notices about travel restrictions
- notifications of cancellations or postponements - where I've seen these or been informed about them.
the UK and Australasia pages to date have minimal updates

The notice is typically along the lines of the following.....

CORONAVIRUS: Courses indicated below may be subject to cancellation or postponement.
Please contact the organiser for the latest situation. It's possible courses will be rescheduled for a later date.

IF YOU TEACH A COURSE - THIS IS WHAT YOU CAN DO...

If you know for definite that the course you are teaching is:

either CANCELLED
or POSTPONED

I'd very much appreciate it if you could use the form at the bottom of the relevant page and let me know. I will then amend the directory - and will ALSO indicate the rescheduled date for you as and when this happens.

The pages are:

A reminder about law and regulations

I'be begun to hear one or two stories relating to art teachers (generally) cancelling workshops but with little regard for their legal obligations in relation to

contract law and
regulations relating to distance selling (online).

I'm sure this is happening because people are unaware of the standards they need to follow when trading generally or online and the application or otherwise of force majeure.

FORCE MAJEURE

"Force majeure" is normally defined as unforeseeable circumstances that prevent someone from fulfilling a contract.

It's important to note that the concept of force majeure in relation to contracts varies from country to country.

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Coronavirus, Courses and Cancellations

27/2/2020

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The extensive coverage of the Coronavirus by news media and responses locally, nationally and internationally might suggest that it's time to panic.

I absolutely disagree.

Below are CHECKLISTS for both course providers and students of some of the sensible things you can do to ensure your course goes ahead and you avoid problems with both bookings and cancellations.

Digital rendering of the 2019-nCoV coronavirus protease as a target for antiviral drugs.

I'm hearing stories about nervous individuals deciding that they don't want to travel - who are cancelling bookings for art courses.

I would argue that proper preparation is infinitely preferable to panic - for all concerned.

Firstly a bit of perspective is needed.

This is NOT a pandemic.
Although this virus is nasty, over 80% of people only experience a mild illness for a few days and 98% recover.
The virus is only marginally nastier than the flu viruses we have every winter.
Like flu, those most at risk are those who are very young and very old and frail.
Scientists expect the coronavirus will start to disappear as the weather warms up - in the same way that flu does.
It's extremely unlikely that the whole world is going to go into "lockdown"!

Next if everybody is following sensible booking practices as both instructors and students then there is absolutely no reason for panic.

Might I suggest that now is the time for some calm and sensible reappraisal of

HOW you plan for and book botanical art courses and botanical art holidays
BY both course providers and students

Below are my suggested checklists of practical actions and precautions to promote continued bookings!

For Botanical Art Teachers / Instructors / Tutors

Potential students need helpful communication in order to feel confident about booking.

If you are an independent Course Provider and you don't already have a very clear and explicit set of Terms and Conditions for your courses / classes / workshops / holidays covering Cancellations by either provider or student can I suggest you get one sorted ASAP!

If you do have one, you might want to reflect on whether it is really obvious on all relevant pages of your website and/or communication with course participants.

BASIC POINTS

A booking is a contract
- Contracts all need terms and conditions. These govern disputes.
- These should always be documented and not just verbal.
Terms and Conditions:
- It's good practice when communicating details of courses to provide a pdf file of Terms and Conditions for download - and to make this obvious on your website.
- If your Term and Conditions are only included as a footer, I recommend you make this much more obvious if you want to continue to encourage bookings. I'd suggest you have a downloadable pdf copy available on every course page.
- Do you also send a copy of Terms and Conditions to all those enquiring about courses - and record when this was sent?
- Do you date Terms and Conditions - so you know who has got the current statement?
- Do your Terms and Conditions provide for these to be updated?
Terms and Conditions MUST cover Cancellations and Refunds - specifically:
- basis for refunding deposits and/or whole cost of course. Provisions need to be spelt out in terms of written notification in relation to a defined time period - in terms of a precise number of days or weeks
- the basis for refunding deposits is usually different to that for refunding the whole cost of a course. These can vary. They should be reasonable.
- Terms cannot be imposed or changed after the booking (i.e. contract) has been made - unless both parties agree or unless the contract (Terms and Conditions) provides for this to happen (i.e. arbitrary change is not allowed and provides scope for legal challenge)
- Students should be advised about THEIR need to ensure that they have personal insurance to cover the cost of cancellation and curtailment of the course BEFORE they complete a booking.
Booking Forms: Does your booking form ask students to confirm that
- they have read the Terms and Conditions relating to the Booking - including the stated provision re cancellations and/or curtailment of courses?
- they have taken out personal insurance re cancellation / curtailment etc (it always helps to remind students yet again of their own responsibilities re insurance and covering costs of cancellation!)

We strongly recommend that at the time of booking a comprehensive travel insurance policy is purchased which includes cancellation and curtailment cover.
A prominent statement on one tutor's courses website

For Botanical Art Students booking instruction

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Two NEW Directory Pages for Botanical Art Teachers and Courses and how to get listed

29/10/2019

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International Director of Botanical Art Teachers, Tutors and Instructors

International Directory: Botanical Art Teachers Tutors and Instructors

Instead of having one International subsection for both tutors and courses, my website now has two separate Directories. I have:

created a brand new page for the International Directory: Botanical Art Teachers Tutors and Instructors - which is now separate from the Education sub-section about Courses - and
created a brand new page as an introduction to International Directory: Classes, Courses and Workshops in Botanical Art and Illustration. This now provides an easy way to review what is available on the website and eases navigation to the page you want to review for where you live - or where you want to visit. Just click the title of each page to go to that page.
All the places where you find botanical art classes, courses or workshops in different continents, countries, regions, states and provinces around the world are listed on the Introduction Page - under the title of the various individual course pages

International Directory of Classes, Courses & Workshops in Botanical Art & Illustration - in UK, Europe, North America & Australasia in 2019-20

Want to get a listing for a teacher?

How to get listed as a teacher (teachers only)

go to the bottom of the International Directory of Botanical Art Teachers
review the information required
complete the form

Recommend a teacher (students only)

go to the bottom of the International Directory of Botanical Art Teachers
review the information required
complete the form

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Want to get a listing for a course?

How to get a class / course / workshop listed

EITHER go to the bottom of the relevant page
OR go to the bottom of the International Courses Directory
review the information required
complete the form

PLEASE NOTE: I only list educational activities taught by experienced botanical artists who are teaching in INDEPENDENT premises and not in their own homes.

This is because of

the Regulatory requirements relating to all businesses - including teaching - which involve contact with the public. (e.g. third party liability and public liability insurance for public access, mandatory Health & Safety Certificates; approved planning permission etc, tax status as business premises etc.)
if your venue is a reputable third party venue, then I can be reasonably assured all regulatory and legal requirements for premises admitting the public have been considered and covered - and I am not exposing students to any risk.
Independent business premises on the same land as your home - with independent access - do qualify for listing - on the basis that such premises comply with ALL legal and regulatory requirements of ALL relevant bodies.
domestic house insurance does NOT cover you for the liabilities associated with conducting a business involving the public in your own home. Domestic house insurance is invalidated if you conduct a business in your home without advising your insurer AND obtaining appropriate insurance. (Indeed if you read any legal agreement relating to your home, you will normally find that business activity is specifically excluded). In such circumstances, if a member of the public has an accident in your home, YOU are personally liable, YOU can be sued for damages and are NOT covered by your domestic insurance - and YOU may be prosecuted. So, on the basis of my extensive experience that not all artists know "everything they need to know about business requirements", limiting venues to those which comply with all mandatory business requirements keeps both artists and students safe from any potential nasty experience for either party.

Want to know more about regulatory requirements?

If you want to know more about the legal and regulatory requirements for conducting your art business at home - involving the public - please refer to my page about Selling Art from Home - on my Art Business Info for Artists website which covers most of the requirements - but is NOT the final word.

YOU are always responsible for making your own checks of what regulations and laws are relevant to where you live.

EXAMPLE: Lots of artists get a very limited period extension of their domestic home insurance to cover their art business when having an annual "open studios" event in their own home. One-off events of a very limited duration can be accepted by home insurers but more regular events of a business nature (such as giving lessons) are not.

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NEW Guide to Online Botanical Art Courses & Tuition

27/11/2018

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A NEW GUIDE to Online Botanical Art Courses

Today I'm announcing the launch of my BRAND NEW WEB PAGE Guide to Online Botanical Art Courses and Tuition

Before today, there was nowhere on the internet that offered a comparative analysis and evaluation of the available online tuition and tutorials for those wanting to learn more about botanical art and illustration - in different art media - but now there is!

Online tuition for botanical art is a growing marketplace because

people are becoming more used to using technology routinely in their daily lives
it's possible for a tutor anywhere in the world to deliver tuition to a student living the other side of the world.
it's very often cheaper than some of the alternative courses available - which is really good news for students!
some online courses also allow people to have more control over the pace of a course - and to stop and start when life has a habit of getting in the way

This page covers:

OVERVIEW of Online Botanical Art Courses - indicating different types of tuition and course and providers
CHECKLIST of questions for prospective students - to be used when evaluating alternative options. It's really important to know what you're buying before you hand over the money - and to know whether you can get your money back if it doesn't suit you.
LIST of Online Providers of Botanical Art Tuition - a summary of information about the course tutor, course delivery and pricing. This is based on the information provided on the various websites.

The online providers of botanical art tuition and courses are split into THREE GROUPS:

Recognised Institutions - providing distance learning courses using web-based instruction. They vary enormously in terms of levels and sophistication of teaching delivery.
Online Tuition via Video Tutorials - these are essentially subscription based step by step video based courses with support materials (and a support group). The providers have generated a LOT of videos. Note that access to these videos is almost always for streaming i.e. you do got get to download and keep them. Access lasts for as long as you pay your subscription.
Online Tuition via individual tutors - these are more course based with more emphasis on written guides and/or worksheets/ebooks with videos used as support for learning - and the use of Skype for feedback. Generally it's a more individualised and personal approach

It's important to say that all courses - although similar - are also different.
One of the main purposes of my new page is to try and tease out those differences.

There is a Stage Two Development planned for this page where I assess each website and public information provided and cost against a standard set of questions - but that's for 2019. There's a lot of new websites for online tuition planned for a launch in 2019 so better to do it after these have bedded down!

At the present time, I'm still tweaking the context so if you spot any typos and mistakes please give me a shout-out!

Your Feedback

Your feedback is very important to me. Many of you helped me build this page - by telling me what you wanted to know about the courses and how they are provided. I've tried to develop the page based on that feedback.

I'd now very much appreciate if it you can help me develop it further by telling me how it can be improved. Let me know what you think.

Does it satisfy your needs?
Do you need to know more?

Anything you like - just leave a comment or contact me

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