NEWS about Botanical Art and for Botanical Artists

Coronavirus: Updating Course Directory for Cancellations and Postponements

16/3/2020

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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New Year and a NEW page - about Pandora Sellars

1/1/2018

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Today I created a BRAND NEW web page about Pandora Sellars (1936-2017)

I've been meaning to do this for some time and decided the NEW Year was a good time to start.

I say start, because this page (like the one for Rory McEwen) is going to take some time to develop to the level I'd like to get it to. Nevertheless I got a lot done today and I'm very pleased with how it looks on a desktop screen.

Pandora Sellars - and bluebells - in 2008 (Photo courtesy Sarah Neill)

It covers:

a summary about Pandora Sellars which explains why she is regarded as one of the best botanical painters ever.
a biographical timeline about her botanical art career and botanical paintings
a review of her botanical art practice - how she painted and why she is memorable (I'd love to hear more opinions about what made her special)
a list of exhibitions (a work in progress)
a list of individual paintings - (a work in progress) I'm developing this over time from various publications and databases. I aim to link these to sites where they can be seen online or viewed by appointment.
tributes following her death
articles and publications in which you can find out more about her and see his botanical paintings

At present the sections devoted to:

exhibitions
the list of paintings
publications

are all off to a good start - but I think they need a lot more work (and more research to identify the sources of data and then digging it out).

Let me know what you think.
Even better - do let me know if you have some information or images to share which are relevant to this page.

and finally....

I wish you and your botanical art and associated activities all the very best in 2018.

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The Best Botanical Art Instruction Books - UPDATED

13/9/2017

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The Best Botanical Art and Illustration Instruction Books is the section on my website which I've devoted to developing a guide to the best instruction / "how to" books available for students and practitioners of botanical art and illustration.

There's an awful lot of books out there.

Some are well known. Others are not.
There are brand new books available at a bargain and out of print books which can only be obtained second hand at a very significant cost
Some new books have overtaken old standards.
Some older books still hold up well against newer ones that challenge their reputation.
Different books will interest different folks.

I hope you'll find my guide useful. Maybe bookmark it for later - or even link to it?

There's more below explaining how this guide to the best instruction books for botanical art and illustration actually works.

A guide to the best "how to" books for creating botanical art and illustration for students of botanical art and and those wishing to develop their knowledge and skills

What does this guide have to offer?

What I've tried to do is:

identify all the main books worth taking a look at - but I've not finished yet.
group these into areas of specific interest (see below)
provide in-depth reviews for some of the books - but I've got more to do!

As a guide I've also included the average ratings out of 5 stars for each book (in the UK and USA). Plus a guide to how to interpret these ratings as they are various factors - detailed in my guide - that influence how many ratings a book has got to date.

Some of my "how to" instruction books

These are the sections on the main page

The Society of Botanical Art Books developed by Margaret Stevens for the Diploma Course students. The three main ones each also have a detailed review on a seperate page - just click the teal coloured button to access this.
Books about botanical art and illustration - using Graphite and Coloured Pencils - four books by Ann Swan, Wendy Hollander, Sue Vize and Katie Lee
Books about Scientific Illustration - and using pen and ink - including the book considered to be the scientific illustration bible; the first book about botanical illustration ever published by Kew - which sets out how to draw for Curtis's and an old but very comprehensive and authoritative handbook
Books by leading Botanical Artists and Educators - including books by Anne-Marie Evans and Coral Guest
Books by Billy Showell - see dedicated page
Books By Rosie Martin and Meriel Thurstan (the Eden Project) - see dedicated page
Books about Botanical Painting in Goauche

I've still to develop sections for books by American Artists and Australian Artists (not otherwise included above).

These are the books or groups of books with a dedicated seperate page
for more detailed reviews

The Art of Botanical Painting by Margaret Stevens
The Botanical Palette by Margaret Stevens
Botanical Sketchbook by Mary Ann Scott and Margaret Stevens
Books by Billy Showell - four very popular books of relevance to botanical artists
Books with the Eden Project (Martin & Thurstan)
Botanical Illustration (Oxley) by Valerie Oxley
Botanical Painting with Coloured Pencils by Ann Swan
Botany for the Artist by Sarah Simblet (also see note below re. botany books)

The Best Botany Books for Botanical Artists and Illustrators can be found in the Botany section of the website. These are books written specifically to help educate artists about botany and include:

Understanding the Flowering Plants: A Practical Guide for Botanical Illustrators by Anne Bebington
Botany for Artists by Lizbeth Leech
A Botanist's Vocabulary by Susan K. Pell and Bobbi Angell

Some of my 'botany for artists' and botanical illustration books

More Books

Books also relevant to those wanting to learn more about botanical art and illustration can also be found in The Best Books about Botanical Art History, Artists & Illustrators.

Besides the dedicated pages, I've also included books about botanical art and illustration - including "how to" books - with appropriate related content on various pages of my website.

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Pandora Sellars - an appreciation of a great botanical artist

16/5/2017

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This is an appreciation of the life of Pandora Sellars and contains many contributions by way of 'thank you' for the life of a great botanical artist

The celebrated botanical artist Pandora Sellars GM died on 9th May 2017, age 80. She is perhaps best known by many for two iconic paintings which contributed to the revival of botanical art in the UK

"Laelia tenebrosa et al" (see below) was the first botanical painting ever bought by Shirley Sherwood. It is #1 in what is now the largest contemporary collection of botanical art in the world. It triggered her interest in botanical art and collecting more paintings...
Pandora's "Blue Water Lily Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea" (see further below) triggered an interest in botanical art across the globe and many artists date their involvement in botanical art to seeing that image.

However during her lifetime she contributed to botanical art in a much more significant way and left a long lasting impression on both botanical monographs and the art of botanical painting and very many botanical artists.

Indeed the lives and careers of many leading botanical artists and teachers in the UK, Canada, USA, Japan and Australia owe much to “the best leaf painter ever”.

This kindly and introverted artist, with the quite remarkable blue eyes and a keen sense of humour, also enjoyed lasting relationships with botanists, archivists and botanical illustrators at Kew Gardens - and across the world.

Read on to find out why... (click link bottom right)

Laelia tenebrosa, Philodendron hybrid, Calatheaomata, Philodendron leichthnii, Polypodiaeceae (1989) watercolour painting signed Pandora Sellars (Shirley Sherwood Collection. First botanical painting acquired by Shirley Sherwood - at Kew Gardens Gallery 1990)

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