NEWS about Botanical Art and for Botanical Artists

Guide to Botanical Illustration using Pen and Ink - in Portuguese

23/2/2018

Rogério Lupo has produced another Guide to Botanical Illustration - this time using pen and ink. The Portuguese title is Apostila Bico de Pena. (© Rogério Lupo 2018 - All rights reserved. Sale prohibited. Free distribution.) The title contains the link to the page where you view it and download it.

His scientific illustration guide to equipment and materials comments on the use of a dip pen nib - which Google translate insists on calling a "feather beak" - but basically a nib which flexes when pressure is used so as to produce fine lines of different thickness and character.

HOWEVER it is not yet translated into English. I think he's hoping to get this done later this tear

So if you can read Portuguese you're fine.

If you're prepared to use Google Translate to read a bit at a time it's also fine (you can see what I made of it below!). It's a bit odd - but you can get the gist of what he's saying.

Apostila Bico de Pena de Rogério Lupo

Below are the two descriptions of the Guide in Portuguse and Google Translate English.

Guia de curso com informações completas sobre os bicos de pena mais especializados para traços precisos usados na ilustração científica. São tratados assuntos como marcas de bicos, de tintas e papéis, procedimentos para seleção do material na hora da compra, restauração, cuidados, exercícios e tudo que se precisa saber para começar a conhecer e praticar.

Course guide with complete information on the most specialized pen nozzles for precise strokes used in scientific illustration. Subjects such as nozzle marks, paints and papers, procedures for material selection at the time of purchase, restoration, care, exercise and all that one needs to know to get to know and practice are treated. (according to Google Translate)

Note that Google Translate takes the portuguese he uses and translates the word as

"nozzle" which is a term we more usually associate with a technical pen
or "beak" - it comes up sometimes a "feather beak"

rather than a specialist nib which is typically used with a dip pen holder. This is just Google Translate rather than Rogério!

20 of the 40 practice strokes using pen and ink recommended by Rogerio Lupo and provided as examples at the end of his Guide ( © Rogério Lupo 2018 )

What I like about the Guide

Note - this was all identified using Google Translate!)

What I like about this Guide is that he discusses:

buying a pen nib and very precise detail about what to look out for to get a good nib which will behave well
different brands by name and how he finds them
the best brands of paper to use for pen and ink illustration - and he comments on Bristol (plate) paper he likes and those he does not (the ones which are too abrasive on the end of the nib).
the best quality ink to use - and his recommendations plus how to keep the ink hydrated
how to protect the point of the nib
how to preserve the nib on good condition - and the use of alcohol for cleaning and the purpose of a pen wiper
how to test nibs before purchasing them - including how to test for blade crossing - this is the truly fastidious bit for the real pen and ink fan. There's a nice bit where he displays how to detect splay in the end of the nib and whether the cut is central or not.
how to sand and polish nibs to improve the flow or restore their use
what to do when the ink won't flow (the "departure problem")

He then moves on to the use of the pen

how to train yourself to deliver parallel strokes - which includes tips on breathing!
he provides some examples of pen strokes to practice. His list of 40 pen strokes is precisely explained as to what each demonstrates

All in all it's a lot more information than is often available - written by somebody who is fastidious about the use of the kit he uses for illustration. I'm a huge fan of those who really care about the quality of the materials they use - and want to share what they know with others.

You can obtain the Guide from Slideshare (as with his Graphite for Scientific Illustration Guide) - just click the link in the title. As before to access the free download you will need to be logged in to an account with Slideshare or a Linked In account also gives you access to download

You can also follow his announcements about new classes and guides on Facebook by following his Facebook Page Rogério Lupo - Ilustração Científica.

Read more about Botanical Illustration Tips: Pen and Ink on this website

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Works in Paper Art Fair features botanical art

3/2/2018

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The Works on Paper Art Fair attracts those who like buying watercolours, drawings and fine art prints. It's also possible to find botanical art amongst the various art gallery stands. Botanical artists would do well to do their research on which galleries like botanical artists and which galleries - and fine art dealers - exhibit botanical art at art fairs! The Fair also gives you an idea about what sort of values are attributed by galleries to the work of the top botanical artists by dealers and galleries. As in an artist can come up with a number but the value listed on the label has to be approved by the gallery or dealer!

The Works on Paper Art Fair continues at the Royal Geographical Society in Exhibition Road today and until 6pm tomorrow and, if you visit, you can see the following.....

Two watercolour paintings by Kate Nessler

These two paintings by American botanical painter Kate Nessler date back to 1995 and their provenance indicates they were originally sold by the Jonathan Cooper Gallery (where Nessler continues to be listed as one of the gallery artists).

The ones on display are:

(top) Phalaenopsis Equestris (signed and dated '95) £2,500
(bottom) Phragmipedium: Schroederae Roseum (signed and dated '95) £5,500

(tap the links to see more details)

They are being exhibited by the Sarah Colegrave Fine Art who is Fine Art Dealer and Consultant dealing in 19th and 20th century art who sells via art fairs and by appointment. The online catalogue for the Works on Paper Art Fair 2018 also lists two more works by Kate Nessler.

Paintings on the Coombe Gallery Stand (214)

Rosie Sanders regularly exhibits with Coombe Gallery, based in Dartmouth, Devon. The rose displayed above is A Rose in Winter (Watercolour on Arches 640 gsm paper)
102 x 124 priced at £14,000 - and apparently somebody is very interested in it!

I do like her paintings of dishevelled flowers (see below) - after all we see less than perfect flowers at least as much as we see perfect ones!

"The Morning's Light" (watercolour, H:99.5 x W:77cms) by Rosie Sanders £9,000

Coombe Gallery is also exhibiting drawings by another of its gallery artists Georgia Jennings Moors who last year exhibited a drawing of a field of artichokes and was given the Best Contemporary Picture 2017.

Below is her drawing of Achillea - and you can see a better image of this on her website. The stand also included a fascinating drawing of Burnt leptospermum scoparium.

I think she ought to be developing a suite of six drawings on a theme for the RHS Botanical Art Show!

Achillea (August 2017, graphite and pencil on Yuki Gampi, 61x85cm) Georgia Jennings Moors

Achillea (August 2017, graphite and pencil on Yuki Gampi, 61x85cm) £2,950 - Georgia Jennings Moors

Near the entrance to the Fair is the Kevis House Gallery (Stand 401) who are exhibiting Louisa Crispin's graphite nature studies. You can see a much better image on their website as well as other images of work by Louisa. This is a gallery based in Petworth which also lists Liz Shippam as a gallery artist.

Lichen on Hawthorn III (Graphite on Bristol Paper) Louisa Crispin

Lichen on Hawthorn III (Graphite on Bristol Paper) £975 Louisa Crispin

Finally, for those who like Ellsworth Kelley's lithographs and line drawings in pen and ink of plants, the art book stand has a very fine catalogue of his drawings and prints in a slip case - and I had a good long look. Unfortunately it was £400....

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Awards at the 20th International Exhibition in New York

11/11/2017

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The awards presented at the 20th International Exhibition of Botanical Art, organised by the American Society of Botanical Artists (ASBA) and the Hortifcultural Society of New York, are listed below.

You can also:

SEE images of all the artwork included in the 20th International on the ASBA website
READ about the stories behind them by clicking on the image of the artwork
VIEW photographs of the artists' presentation of their artwork to their fellow artists on the ASBA Facebook Page

20th International - Awards

The Hort’s Best in Show Award of $500: Mariko Ikeda (Screw Pine)
This continues the series of paintings of the Pandanus utilis that Mariko first displayed at RHS earlier this year when she won a Gold Medal and the Best Exhibit in Show (see my interview with her and also my post about that display) . Mariko paints in watercolour on vellum and also has a wonderful method for displaying her work. She has also visited both Micronesia and Guan to collect fruit to paint. Her painting demonstrates its complex structure and dissections which display the inside and outside of the fruit.

Below is an image of Mariko explaining her painting to the rest of the artists.

ASBA Eleanor Wunderlich Award of $500: Annie Patterson (Cardoon Seedhead) - Annie is an American artist who now lives in France. This particular cardoon comes from her garden and the painting is one of a series which portrays every stage of growth and development.

Helen Gray Garber Award of $500: Monika deVries Gohlke ('Blackcurrant Swirl’ Datura) - This is 24" x 18" fine art print produced using Aquatint copperplate etching and chine colle with hand-colouring for the subtle colours used for the outer surface of the Datura flower petals. It's always a pleasure to see one of Monika's prints. I always think it's such a pity that there are not more botanical artists who are also printmakers.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden Award for Print or Drawing of $250: Martha Kemp (Ornamental Gourd 2) This is NOT one of the two original works by top botanical artist Martha Kemp that the jurors selected for the exhibition. Her original graphite drawings - and her home and all her other art - were burned to the ground in the recent fires in Northern California. ASBA has produced two high quality prints to hang in the exhibition from the digital images submitted for the exhibition. (see image below). I cannot imagine what it must be like to not only lose your home but all your art as well (although I do know somebody else that this also happened to). My best wishes to Martha and I'm hoping she got out with a digital archive....

Richmond and Lili Bates Award for Excellence of $300: Linda Medved Lufkin (Sunflower x 2) In recognition of an Artist by a Fellow Artist - I'm not quite sure of the explanation of the story behind the designation of this award. However the story by Linda of how she came to paint a very old sunflower head - and the huge challenge it presented - is fascinating and well worth reading by anybody thinking of attempting doing something similar!

Honourable mentions

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Recording Ancient and Heritage Trees

25/10/2017

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WINNER OF THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD: "The 4,000 year old Cypress of Abaruh, Sarv-e Abarkuh, Cupressus sempervirens var. horizontalis" by Sandra Doyle

Sandra Doyle has been awarded the 'People's Choice Award after the votes were counted following the close of the Society of Botanical Artist's Annual Exhibition 2017.

Her acrylic ink and coloured pencil drawing of "The 4,000 year old Cypress of Abaruh, Sarv-e Abarkuh, Cupressus sempervirens var. horizontalis" impressed many visitors and topped the vote by those visiting the exhibition.

It was drawn to my attention at the PV by Heidi Venamore who pointed out that it was not only a very fine drawing but also clearly highlighted that Cypress trees in the Middle East grow in a completely different way to the ones in the UK. I then highlighted it in my Review: Society of Botanical Artists Annual Exhibition 2017 - Changing Seasons

It was also unusual for the media chosen and I was left wondering how many people might not try using acrylic ink with coloured pencils for their artwork after seeing how effective the two can work together.

I was entirely unsurprised it sold so fast at the beginning of the exhibition as it's a very impressive work.

Section of the drawing showing how meticulous attention was paid to the growth pattern of the tree's foliage and bark.

It was also wonderful to see somebody tackle a whole tree. Too often we see only parts of those plants that grow large - or even very large - and we never ever see what the whole habit of growth looks like.

Recording Heritage Trees

There's been a development in the recording of heritage trees in recent times.

Within the UK, two artists spring immediately to mind.

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Alcatraz Florilegium Returns to The Rock!

29/9/2017

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A new exhibition of botanical drawings and paintings documenting the plants of the Gardens of Alcatraz has been announced - and opened last week!

Details are below and you can see more pictures of the exhibit on the Facebook Page of the Northern California Society of Botanical Artists who organise the development of the Florilegium

The exhibition includes 127 works of art depicting a variety of “survivor” plants growing on the island. They were created by 77 NCalSBA artists and selected for the exhibition by a jury.

Alcatraz Florilegium
Venue: Prison Band Rehearsal Room, Alcatraz Island
Dates: September 16th 2017 - January 17th 2018
Organised by: a project of Northern California Society of Botanical Artists (NCalSBA) in collaboration with the Garden Conservancy

Below is the Alcatraz Island Florilegium Committee - Catherine Watters, Sally Petru, and Lyn Dahl

The Gardens of Alcatraz were restored by three organisations working together with much support from dedicated volunteers. In 2003, the Garden Conservancy, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy and National Park Service began their collaboration to restore the historic gardens. As every gardener knows the work to plant and prune, compost and weed, restore and maintain the gardens never ends!

REFERENCE:

The Gardens of Alactraz - website
The Gardens of Alcatraz - a pdf file about the restoration of the
The Gardens of Alcatraz Florilegium

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