Hunt Institute Presents:
Native Pennsylvania, A Wildflower Walk
2 March–29 June 2012 - Pittsburgh, PA—
click on image below for a pdf with more details!
A Letter From Margaret Saul and Brookside Gardens!
Dear Botanical Artists All,
Brookside Gardens Xperience (hitting mailboxes now) has the class scheduling information for the BGSBAI spring-summer workshops, electives and core classes in its BGSBAI pages. Here anyone interested in botanical art can find a class suited to their level of experience. These are now listed on ParkPASS.org (under "Programs/Activities") with their descriptions, fees and other details, and ready for your online class registrations: for Montgomery County residents, registrations open February 14, and February 15 for all others wishing to register online.
Students in the Fall 2010 and Fall 2011 Streams are finishing core subject classes for the year, so look out for the opportunities in this scheduling that can help you to stay connected and reinforce newly learned drawing or painting techniques: informal painting studios, and workshops. Certificate registrants should look for classes available for course credit. All registrants are directed to the relevant class program information, online for core classes, electives and workshops that includes the relevant list of art materials required. Trudy Nicholson, natural science illustrator extraordinaire is presenting a Scratchboard workshop (elective credit), Developing Scratchboard that accommodates those who have attended “Discovering Scratchboard”. This workshop suits all with experience using pen and ink.
Just starting to paint and wanting to gain more confidence with painting suited to this level? Painting Studio (Kathy Lutter) and Daffodils workshop (Kelly Sverduk) is scheduled for you in March.
Feel privileged! Two new Guest Teachers are presenting workshops for the more “advanced level." April: Kate Nessler - Botanicals on Veiny Vellum is a three day workshop and offered twice, either a weekend or, three days from Tuesday – Thursday. June: Libby Kyer Succulents in Colored Pencil. Libby is a trained illustrator, colored pencil artist and super instructor who will have you using colored pencils to create a strong sense of 3-D and a special method for mixing colors, using techniques that can be applied to other subjects. We are flying in these teachers and so need to have registration deadlines.
A reminder that the two day, midweek or weekend, Botanical Art Intensive is a now a core subject, but open to all with intermediate to advanced level experience in botanical drawing and painting. Three subject teachers present this review of the core curriculum instruction. NB: Just two electives are now required for class credit.
Change of schedule: Botany for Artists – Open to all (some drawing experience beneficial). We are sorry the midweek classes have had to be cancelled and are only scheduled for two (all day) Saturday classes with Kelly Sverduk, April 28 and May 12. Our sincere apologies for any disruption this may cause.
WELCOME TO OUR NEW or returning CERTIFICATE REGISTRANTS – Elena, Deborah, Susan, Robert, Cynthia, Emma, Gouri, and Tonya (returning from Nebraska!) May your hard work reap its rewards as you learn how to see through the eyes of an artist: to observe, compose, attend to illustrating amazing detail and color, and gain new satisfaction creating your very own beautiful art pieces from those plant subjects that have always inspired you. Those involved in the school, be they teachers or administrators are here to encourage and to guide, and to see you enjoy your learning experience.
BOTANICA 2012: The Art & Science of Plants. Open to all who have attended or presented classes at BGSBAI. No entry fee but your help is appreciated on the morning of installation Saturday May 19. Artists’ reception & awards presentations by invitation: Sunday June 3. Download an Entry Form and return entries to Margaret Saul and Diane Berndt by April 16.
BGSBAI OPEN HOUSE 2012 – Botanical ART IN ACTION! - Sunday, June 3, 11:00am-2:00pm. It is all happening during our annual school art exhibition, “Botanica 2012: The Art & Science of Plants” at the Brookside Gardens Visitors Center. Our teachers will be there to answer your questions about the school, and how to register for classes. It will also include – a chance to win free entry to a class; an exhibition tour of Botanica 2012; art demonstrations by students and teachers; a “hands–on table” for you to try some of the drawing tricks as demonstrated, and even brushing on some beautiful watercolor. We warmly invite you to join a fun and totally absorbing couple of hours. Bring your friends!
We look forward to seeing lots of entries for Botanica 2012. I have been working with the Exhibition Coordinator at Brookside Gardens to facilitate the sale of Giclee prints of exhibition artwork through the gift shop during Botanica 2012. This is good news! Although I will be doing my utmost to see I get notices out on time regarding selections for Botanica 2012, there is a slight possibility that these may be delayed for a day or two as I will be in Australia at that time, attending to Granny duties and also awaiting arrival of our third grandchild, but I will have an office desk and my laptop.
We are snowed over on our beautiful Tuscan hillside but still connected to the world outside. I have been home based of late, so scheduling for the entire September 2012-2013 school year is almost finalized and includes no less than four Guest Teachers and lots of interesting seasonal workshops.
The leafy orchid rosettes I was sketching in situ during a mild New Year’s day are hopefully sleeping happily in their snow caves so I can see these tall orchids flowering in our lawn come late spring. Hopefully they are not suffering from all of this freezing weather as the olive trees appear to be. To think that when we landed in middle Tuscany we thought we were kissing snow and icy roads goodbye!
(Tuscany, February 10, 2012)
Master Class: Developing Scratchboard- Trudy Nicholson
02-18-2012 – 02-20-2012 , 10:00AM – 4:00PM
Taught by Trudy Nicholson, who is an enthusiastic teacher and amazing artist. She is truly a master in this medium, and this is a unique opportunity to learn her tricks of the trade. If you are unfamiliar with scratchboard, take a look at Trudy’s work at http://www.science-art.com/member/?id=23 – it’s beautiful.
This class is offered through Brookside Garden’s School of Botanical Art and Illustration, but the only prerequisite is ink drawing experience. The location is McCrillis Gardens in Bethesda.
To sign up or learn more, visit www.parkpass.org , or call the Brookside Registrar at 301-962-1451. Full class description is below.
Description:
Using ink or graphite pencil on the unique surface of scratchboard opens a realm of composition potentials. We will introduce strong tonal contrasts, starting with structural composition and positive/negative space. Combining white and black lines and dots creates a wide range of interesting, varied textures to build value contrasts.
These intense contrasts bring drama and excitement, as well as accurate detail and a 3-dimenional aspect to the composition. As on no other surface, ink on scratchboard is correctible. Graphite pencil rendering can achieve subtle, delicate effects duplicating the appearance of nature.
Trudy Nicholson has been using scratchboard for many years and has illustrated numerous natural science books including being featured in Ruth Lozner’s ‘Scratchboard for Illustration’. She will share her techniques by step-by-step instruction.
Prerequisite: BGSBAI ‘Pen & Ink I’ or ink drawing experience. 02-18-2012 – 02-20-2012 , 10:00AM – 4:00PM
Botanical Art Class Taught by Anne-Marie Evans
When: April 23-27, 2012
Where:
Columbia Institute of Fine Art
Columbia Baptist Church, Room 100
103 West Columbia
Falls Church, VA 22043
Time:
10 am – 3 pm
Cost:
$600 (payable in full February 14)
(Not refundable; however, you may find someone to take your place, and we will maintain a waiting list. If for any reason the class is cancelled, fees will be refunded.)
Make check payable to
Botanical Artists for Education & the Environment (BAEE)
Mail to
Bonnie Driggers
2345 Dale Drive
Falls Church, VA 22203
Details:
Bring a lunch. We will have use of a refrigerator; however, there is no close place to get lunch. Snacks and drinks will be provided. Bring your own plant to paint (they can be stored overnight in the kitchen. Materials may be left overnight, but we have to pack them up and store in an adjacent office. Each person will have a separate table.
Call or email if you have questions: 703-573-8956 gbdriggers@mac.com
List of Supplies
* Lamp (Ott lights are good) and extension cord (3 to 6 feet long) – these are essential
* Good quality brushes and paint – whatever you are already using. For those who have not had a class with Anne Marie, she suggests the following:
* Good quality sable brushes by DaVinci, Daniel Smith, or Winsor Newton (Sizes 5 and 2 if you use the WN Series 7 miniatures).
* Artist's quality paint:
Permanent Rose, Alizarin crimson, Vermillion, Winsor red, Ultramarine, Cerulean, Indigo, Prussian, Winsor yellow, Indian yellow, Gamboges, Raw Sienna, Winsor Violet, Burnt Umber, Viridian (other colors are fine).
* Hot press watercolor paper, preferably Arches, minimum weight 140lbs
* Good quality tracing paper or vellum (not the real calfskin)
* HB & 2H pencils
* Soft putty eraser
* Masking tape
* Scalpel (X-acto knife)
* Rag or paper towels
* Drawing boards (Masonite or Gatorboard)
* Paper on which to take notes
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Education Links
Native Plant Societies
BASNCR Members are encouraged
to support our
Native Plant Societies
Maryland Native Plant Society -
www.mdflora.org -
is a wealth of information about Maryland native plants, upcoming events and
projects, meetings and much more.
Virginia Native Plant Society –
www.vnps.org –
seeks to further the appreciation and conservation of its native plants, including
the Flora of Virginia Project, the first complete survey of the states flora
since 1762.
The US Arboretum —
Washington, DC -
Fern Valley is an excellent place to
practice your field botany skills.
There you can see plants native to different eastern regions including the Southern Appalachian Mountains, the mid-Atlantic Piedmont, and New England forests.
The plants are labeled and easily observed.
Visit their website www.usna.usda.gov for more information and a virtual tour.
Art Supplies
Dick Blick - www.dickblick.com
Cheap Joes - www.cheapjoes.com
whartdesign - www.whartdesign.com
Mini Art Supply - www.miniartsupply.biz
(offers synthetic ivory painting surfaces, vellum, and Schoellershammer
paper as well as fine sable brushes suitable for botanical art)
Scanning Resources from Barbara Sweeney:
Some resources for scanning in our area that
Barbara Sweeney would like to try
— NOTE these are
suggestions not recommendations.
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American Art Giclee Printmaking
Atelier
AAGPA
2104 Renard Court
Annapolis MD 21401
410-266-7444
Archival Arts
4631 Benson Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21227
410-247-7771
Ideal Scanning
11810 Parklawn Drive
Rockville MD 301-468-2050
Beth ext 1238 |
Imagination
Center Inc.
1780 North Market Street, suites A&B
Frederick MD 21701
301-695-0086
Old Town Editions
205 South Union Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
703-684-0005
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ArtPartners, Inc. Gallery and Framing:
6363 Ten Oaks Road -
Clarksville Crossing
Clarksville, MD.
www.artpartnersgallery.com
Email: artpartnersinc@gmail.com
Phone: 410-531-5366.
Barbara Sweeney offers all BASNCR members a generous 20% discount on framing!
Just mention that you are a member of BASNCR on your next framing
visit.
© Cabbage by Ellen Keane
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A free lecture
offered by
Kandy Vermeer
Phillips
from the U.S. Botanic Gardens,
"Gilding the Lily:
The Medieval Garden Illuminated"
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© Kandy Vermeer Phillips |
Click
here |
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@ Barbara Sweeney Presents — Scanning
Tips to Optimize Your Artwork
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