NEWS about Botanical Art and for Botanical Artists

40th Anniversary of the School of Botanical Art & Illustration at Denver Botanic Gardens

9/11/2020

This is a lovely video about the activities of the School of Botanical Art & Illustration at Denver Botanic Gardens. It was made to celebrate:

its 40th anniversary
the 30th anniversary of its certificate program.

I think it must be the oldest botanical art school in the world. I'm hard put to think of one which is older. (Any suggestions?)

Below is the video on the (public) Facebook Page for the SBAI but if you prefer to view on YouTube this is the link

The video highlights how the School is only the third group to win an RHS Gold Medal (in 2017) in the history of the Royal Horticultural Society - and I was extremely pleased to be able to photograph Mervi Hjelmroos-Koski, Ph.D., D.Sc. at the time. Mervi led the School as Manager for the last 13 years until her retirement earlier this year. Much of what I have admired about the School has been down to initiatives by Mervi.

I'm looking forward to meeting up with her again when Covid lets her husband and her embark on their retirement tour of Europe!

Mervi Hjelmroos-Koski, Ph.D., D.Sc. with the RHS Gold Medal winning exhibit

Subscribe to this news blog to find out more
about botanical art and illustration and associated instruction
Blog posts are emailed to you when you
Subscribe to Botanical Art & Artists - News by Email
You can also follow Botanical Art and Artists on Twitter

Find out more about Botanical Art Education and Diplomas & Certificates

REFERENCE LINKS: The School of Botanical Art & Illustration at Denver Botanic Gardens

If you'd like to know more about the School these links tell you a lot.

WEBSITE: https://www.botanicgardens.org/education/school-botanical-art-illustration
FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/SchoolOfBotanicalArtAndIllustration/
BLOG: Botanical Illustration - which has always been open access in the past but now seems to be open to invited people only. (I'm rather surprised as I always thought his blog did the most amazing job of marketing both the school and its Diploma in Botanical Illustration and Foundation Certificate.

For educational organisations interested in submitting an exhibit to the RHS Botanical Art Show as a Group, can I refer you to:

0 Comments

The 15th Biennial Art of Botanical Illustration Exhibition at RBG Melbourne

26/9/2020

0 Comments

The 15th Biennial Exhibition of The Art of Botanical Illustration 2020 (TABI) is presented by The Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.

This year for the first time it is a Virtual ONLINE Exhibition. I guess, whichever country we live in we're now getting used to these in the age of the Pandemic.

The Friends are to be congratulated on producing a well constructed and beautiful online exhibition. I particularly like the fact that we get a profile for each artist included in the exhibition. It not only helps the artist with raising their profile - it also helps the buyers who often want to know more about "who painted this?"

About the 15th Biennial TABI Exhibition

The Virtual Exhibition is online from 19 September – 31 December 2020. All artworks are for sale and all profits from this exhibition assist the Friends to support the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.

You can:

download the catalogue to see the full list of artwork selected for the exhibition. (Vicki Philipson painted the Agapanthus Seed Head used for the front cover)
view the exhibition online
review artists profiles and artwork per artist
purchase artwork in the exhibition
read about the History of the Art of Botanical Illustration Exhibitions

If you click the image of the artwork it takes you to a seperate page which lists more details about the artwork and includes the price. Postage is not included - but a link provides more information. All transactions are between the artist and the art collector.

Selection, Participating Artists and Prizes

SELECTION

Artwork is selected for the exhibition by a panel which includes a botanist, an artist and the head librarian at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne to ensure that the highest standards are met.

All artwork exhibited must adhere to the following criteria:

it must provide an accurate representation of the form and botany of the chosen subject;
the characteristics of the species or variety must be adequately conveyed;
the representation should be an artistically pleasing, balanced and a considered work of art;
it must be identified and named accurately according to standard botanical practices; and
it must have been completed within the previous two years.

Below is a video of the opening of the exhibition and the announcement of the awards.
The awards and the artworks purchased for the State Botanical Art Collection are detailed below - against the artists name.

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS

The artists whose artwork was selected for the exhibition are as follows. Links in their name got to the exhibition website.

Amanda Ahmed
Haya Alketbi - Celia Rosser Honourable Mention for Pyrus sp
Beverly Allen - Celia Rosser Honourable Mention for Corymbia ficifolia cv.
Sally Armfield
Kelly Bassett
Amanda Blake-Sutterby Amyema linophylla - Buloke Mistletoe - purchased by the RBG Victoria for the State Botanical collection
Ila Blyth
Marie Bogoyevitch
Helen Burrows
Lucy Chapman
Brian Cheung
Deb Chirnside
Pratistha Chitrakar
Thea Clark
Niki Coates
Simon Deere
Sue Dixon
Rosemary Donnelly
Dianne Emery - Celia Rosser Award Winner for Amanita muscaria - fly agaric (SEE BELOW)

0 Comments

Rosane Quintella (1959 - 2020)

13/9/2020

4 Comments

Brazilian botanical illustrator and teacher Rosane Quintella passed away on Friday 11th September age 61.

Rosane Quintella in 2018 at the Worldwide Exhibition of Botanical Art in Brazil.

Rosanne was born on 25th February 1959 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Her studies included:

Graduated in Plastic Arts at Escola de Música e Belas Artes do Paraná (the School of Music and Fine Arts of Paraná) - EMBAP, 1982.
Bachelor and Degree in Biology from Biologia PUCPR (the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná - PUC), 1992.
Botanical Illustration Course at the Illustration Center of Paraná - CIBP

In 2005, she travelled to London to became the 17th Margaret Mee Fellow in Botanical Illustration at Kew Gardens in 2005. (see her below with some of her fellow "Fellows")

One of her works completed in 2005 forms part of the Shirley Sherwood Collection.

Rosane Quintella front second from left - with her fellow Margaret Mee Scholars in in Curitiba, Brazil: Back row: Maria Alice Rezende, Alessandro Cândido, Gustavo Marigo, Marcos A. Silva-Ferraz, and Paulo Ormindo. Front Row: Carol de Bassi, Rosane Quintella, Diana Carneiro and Fatima Zagonel

When she returned to Brazil she became a permanent member of the teaching staff at Centro de Ilustração Botânica do Paraná (CIBD) and taught botanical illustration there for the next 14 years - and was apparently much loved by her students and peers.

She also continued to complete her own scientific botanical illustration works in ink and watercolour and was affiliated to UNIC - National Union of Scientific Illustrators.

Rosanne passed away on Friday 11th September 2020. There are tributes to her on:

her Facebook account https://www.facebook.com/rosane.quintella.7 - I'm very sure any teacher would be proud to read the comments left
the Centro de Ilustração Botânica do Paraná website is also carrying a tribute to Rosane (see below)

O Centro de Ilustração Botânica do Paraná está de luto.
Uma grande amiga nos deixou hoje pela manhã.
Querida Rosane, que falta vamos sentir daquela sua risada contagiante!
Um caminho de muita luz é o que nós, seus amigos, desejamos pra você.
Vá em paz, Flor do Dia!

Rosane Quintella (1959 - 2020)

The Paraná Botanical Illustration Center is in mourning.
A great friend left us this morning.
Dear Rosane, we will miss that contagious laugh from you!
A path with lots of light is what we, your friends, wish for you.
Go in peace, Flower of the Day!

Note: Photographs of Rosanne Quintella:

4 Comments

An Art Fair for Botanical Artists!

22/8/2020

0 Comments

I've been thinking for some time that it's about time somebody started running art fairs for those interested in artwork involving plants.

Not necessarily an art fair which is strictly botanical - because a wider range of quality artwork about plants brings in more people - and that, in turn, enables more potential art collectors to see and appreciate botanical art.

It would seem The Garden Museum in Lambeth had the same idea.....

Super Nature is London’s first fair for art inspired by plants
Dates: Saturday 10th - Sunday 11th October 2020
Hours: 10:30 am - 5:00 pm).
Tickets: £5 online and £7.50 at the door.
I'm also guessing there will be a limit on numbers so 'first come, first served"?

It includes artwork being exhibited by 25 participating artists and three workshops. for more details see below

UPDATE: I understand from Sarah Jane Humphrey that she is not now participating and I've written to the Garden Museum seeking clarification re events and artists.

UPDATE 2: The page on their website has now been updated and the ONLY artists participating in this art fair are:

Anita Gwynn
Fiona Wheeler
JamJar Edit
Julia Patience
Kate Friend
Kevin Dutton
Kit Boyd
Laura Gee
Mary MacCarthy
Natasha Coverdale
Tessa Pearson

which is a CONSIDERABLE REDUCTION on those originally listed when tickets were being sold.

Artists

I didn't see a Call for Entries so I'm guessing that the participating artists may have been invited as there are a limited number and a fairly eclectic mix (including established still life artists) - but all sound artists using a variety of media and approaches to portrait plants.

I also noticed that there were some names I recognised - from the Society of Botanical Artists - and another artist who has work included in my book!

The artists are listed below. Click the link to see their website. I've split them into botanical artists - or at least those who draw accurately and the remainder who are more impressionistic

0 Comments

The first ever Virtual GNSI Conference!

15/7/2020

0 Comments

The Guild of Natural Science Illustrators is this year holding its first ever Virtual Conference. This offers the opportunity for scientific illustrators from all over the world - - to attend the conference without needing to fly or pay hotel costs!

What is the GNSI?

The Guild of Natural Science Illustrators is an association of individuals who communicate science visually and clarify scientific ideas. GNSI brings together these individuals and provides networking and professional development opportunities.

What is the GNSI Virtual Conference?

The normal (52nd) Anniversary Annual Conference has been postponed until 2021because of covid-19

Instead, GNSI have organised a one-of-a-kind gathering of science illustrators.
This offers the opportunity to:

discuss working in this new environment in the coming months and years.
present thought leaders and practitioners wrestling with the challenging new landscape of the covid world
a chance to experiment with different ways of doing science communication so that everybody can learn and grow.
PLUS an unprecedented opportunity to share our vibrant annual conference with a global audience.

Who can attend?

The GNSI Virtual Conference is open to anyone with an interest in visual science communication, including GNSI members, non-members, illustrators, animators, science artists, researchers, writers, publishers, and more.

Basic Details

Conference Dates August 8th & 9th, 2020
Cost: $50/member | $80/non-member**
Registration is now open for the first-ever GNSI virtual conference!
Those who register by July 31st are guaranteed a seat to all events.

Main Sessions: 2 days of presentations and interactive activities

Session 1: Creativity in the Time of Covid: 12:00 - 3:00 pm EDT, Saturday, August 8th on Crowdcast.
Session 2: Science Communicators, Where Next?: 5:00 - 7:00 pm EDT, Saturday, August 8th on Remo.
Session 3: Adaptive Practices for Visual Creatives: 12:00 - 3:00 pm EDT, Sunday, August 9th on Crowdcast.
Session 4: Online Teaching and Learning: 5:00 - 7:30 pm EDT, Sunday, Aug 9th on Crowdcast.

PLUS After party: 8 pm EDT, Sunday, August 9th.

Subscribe to this news blog to find out more
about botanical art and illustration
and associated artists and illustrators, education and exhibitions
Blog posts are emailed to you when you
Subscribe to Botanical Art & Artists - News by Email

REFERENCES:

0 Comments

2021 Botanical Artists in Residence at Oak Spring Garden Foundation

8/7/2020

0 Comments

You have until Wednesday 12th August 2020 to apply:

for the 2021 Botanical Artists in Residence Program (BAiR)
offered by the Oak Spring Garden Foundation - in Upperville, Virgina, USA.

The OSGF Botanical Art Residency Award

This program supports exemplary botanical artists working nationally and internationally who can create beautiful and scientifically accurate depictions of plant species. Residents selected for this award will reside at Oak Spring when spring is underway and the gardens and landscape are in bloom. This residency provides botanical artists time and space to work on their own projects, utilizing materials from our formal garden or the broader 700-acre landscape, and to visit our rare book library that includes many exquisite examples of historical botanical art.
from the "More" button after you click the "apply now"

The opportunities offered by BAiR and the requirements for applications are detailed below, followed byhow to find out more about the Oak Spring Garden Foundation and its gardens, library and botanical art.

The Botanical Art Residency Award 2020 includes:

a 1 – 3 week residence at the Oak Spring estate in Upperville, Virginia - with
- accommodation in nicely appointed homes where they will have a private bedroom and bathroom, and share a living room and kitchen.
- Botanical artists will also have a dedicated 24-hour access to studio space in close proximity to their accommodation.
a $1,000 individual grant (to cover expenses)
an offer to purchase one final work on paper for $500 that will be accessioned into the OSGF Florilegium, and
Residents who complete this program will be able to apply to our annual Alumni Residency.
This is the website https://www.osgf.org/
This is a copy of the 2020 OSGF Residency Handbook
This is a link to the Oak Spring Foundation's page on Google Arts and Culture which demonstrates some of the artwork in the Library.

If successful you will need to arrange and pay for transportation to Dulles International Airport. Oak Spring will then arrange and pay for ground transportation to/from Oak Spring (from either Dulles Airport or Union Station).

The Oak Spring Foundation website

Criteria for applications

WHO CAN APPLY?

You can apply if you are a botanical artist with

an established track-record and
a well-developed body of work.
with a visa to travel to the USA (if a non-resident/citizen)

Our residents are selected through a competitive process by relevant specialists. We recognize that individuals may be at different stages in their lives when they arrive at a point where a dedicated period of focused activity may be helpful for their work. Our goal is to support individuals who pursue excellence and who can become preeminent in their chosen field. Through our residencies, we are building a network of individuals who know the importance of humankind's relationship to the natural world and appreciate the need for responsible earth stewardship.

0 Comments

NEW: Distance Learning Courses for Botanical Drawing and Painting

7/7/2020

1 Comment

There has been so much change since March in relation to teaching botanical art and illustration that I'm reorganising and revamping my Education pages - with the aim of making them more informative and accessible.

As a result, I've created a NEW page about longer Distance Learning Courses for Botanical Drawing and Painting for those who:

either cannot access courses which involve use of a computer
or prefer to digest their instruction on the written page and use post rather than computers - although some may be happy to use email.

This page will be dedicated to structured modular courses which are

NOT face to face in a classroom and
may take 12 months+ or more to complete.

Introduction to the Distance Learning Page

Distance Learning is method of studying without the student needing to attend a school or college.
Lessons are normally conducted via correspondence.
Dialogue with the student is normally written communication in terms of guidelines/assignments provided
Artwork is normally submitted by post or email with feedback via post or email
Face to face contact is typically either limited or non-existent.
(Introduction)

The page covers the following:

Responses to Frequently Asked Questions about Distance Learning Courses
- Can I learn about how to produce botanical art without a computer?
- What are the main benefits of distance learning courses?
- What's expected of me / what do I need to do to complete the course?
Listing of providers of distance learning courses (long and structured NOT short courses)
- note re. accreditations of courses
- list of organisations
- list of individuals

If the course is offered by an organisation, this must be an organisation which is a legal entity which has its own website

If the course is offered by an individual artist the criteria for listing are as follows:

reserved for those EXPERIENCED teachers of botanical art and illustration who
- develop a LONG and WELL STRUCTURED course of instruction in botanical art and illustration
- develop a formal prospectus (documentation) - which includes a Statement of Learning Outcomes
- deliver the course via distance learning (ie either via post or email).
- are explicit about all fees and terms and conditions.

requirements for distance learning courses

From the new website page about Distance Learning Courses for Botanical art - by post and email

1 Comment

<<Previous