ArtPlantae Today

The American Society of Botanical Artists unveiled their new website on Monday. Be sure you take a look! Upon arriving at the new site, you will be greeted by a beautiful rotating display of member artwork and the latest event and exhibition news. You will also find information about past, current and upcoming exhibitions.

Make sure you drop-in on the online galleries showcasing new work by ASBA members and historical works of botanical art. The Virtual Gallery currently features an exhibition entitled “Grey Matters”, showing that botanical art doesn’t always come in color.

The Education section includes a list of classes taught by ASBA members, a list of instructors organized by state, books about botanical art, how-to tutorials from past issues of The Botanical Artist (the ASBA’s journal), articles about the science of botanical art, and advice for aspiring collectors. There is also a section about technology.

Articles and images from past conferences can also be viewed on the new site. Read about the fun and the field trips at the 2008 conference in Pasadena, how ASBA members enjoyed the Valley of Sun (Phoenix) in 2009, and get a glimpse of what members saw at the Glass Flowers Collection at Harvard Museum of Natural History during last year’s conference in Boston. Every three years the ASBA conference is held in Pittsburgh, in conjunction with the international exhibition of botanical art hosted by the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation. Read about the 2010 event and look ahead to 2013!

Have you ever read the ASBA’s journal, The Botanical Artist? Don’t miss out on the opportunity to read a sample issue you can download for free. It is filled with interesting articles and ASBA-related news.

With the new site, comes a new Web address.

Add www.asba-art.org to your bookmarks!

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Now there are even more opportunities to learn how to use colored pencils in botanical art. The new schedule at the L.A. County Arboretum & Botanic Gardens includes both weekday and weekend classes. Here is what’s new in Southern California:

Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Gardens, Arcadia
www.arboretum.org
Courses in introductory botanical drawing, beginning and intermediate watercolor, colored pencil, sketching and Chinese brush painting are taught throughout the year. Go to the Events & Classes for more information. The Arboretum is located in Arcadia, CA. To register, contact Jill Berry or call (626) 821-4624.

Using Colored Pencil in Botanical Art
Learn the colored pencil techniques used by botanical artists! All levels of experience are welcome. Students will receive a supply list. Pre-registration required. Registrants may bring a lunch or buy lunch at the Peacock Cafe. Both Tuesday and Saturday classes will be offered beginning in May. The Summer/Fall 2012 schedule is as follows:

Tuesdays, 2012
May 1, 8, 15, 22
June 5, 12, 19, 26
July 10, 17, 24, 31
August (No Classes)
Sept. 4, 11, 18, 25
Oct 2, 9, 16, 23
Nov (No Classes)
Dec 4, 11, 18 (Dec classes 10:00 AM – 3:15 PM)

These classes will focus on techniques, composition and color mixing. All levels of experience are welcome.

10 AM – 2 PM (includes lunch break)
$255/mo. Arboretum members per month
$275/mo. Non-members per month
Pre-registration required; please call (626) 821-4623

Saturdays, 2012
May 12
June 9
July 14
August 18
September 15
October 13
(No class in Nov.)
December 15

Each individual class will explore flowers, fruits, vegetables and related subjects. Participants will learn how to use colored pencils techniques to achieve beautiful, painterly results. You may register for one class at a time. A supply list will be provided upon registration; you can also bring your lunch or buy it at the Peacock Café.

10 AM – 4 PM, includes a one-hour lunch break (5 hours of class)
$95 Arboretum members per Saturday
$115 Non-members per Saturday
Pre-registration required; please call (626) 821-4623

Cristina Baltayian is a botanical artist with a background in drawing (graphite, charcoal, pen & ink), two-dimensional design, watercolor and colored pencil. Her work has been shown at Filoli, the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Chapman University. She is a member of the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California and the American Society of Botanical Artists.

You May Also Enjoy:

Art Workshop – Mondays. This self-directed workshop (no instructor) provides a supportive, encouraging environment for those who wish to pursue their artistic endeavors in watercolor, graphite, pastels, etc. Both beginning and experienced artists are welcome. It is a wonderful opportunity to develop at your own speed in your own media while being in the company of those with like interests. Each session of eight meetings costs $35 for Arboretum members ($42 non-members). Upcoming sessions: December 5, 2011 – February 6, 2012; February 13—April 2, 2012; April 9—May 28, 2012; June 4—July 23, 2012. Artists meet in the Oak Room from 9:30 – 11:30 AM. To register, contact Jill Berry or
call (626) 821-4624.

And don’t forget about the plants, the garden chats, the inspiring ideas and the marketplace at GROW! A Garden Festival (May 4-6).

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Take an art break this summer at Field Breaks. Rest and relaxation are their specialty! The Field Breaks program has grown to include classes in botanical illustration, realistic painting and landscape painting taught at relaxing country homes, bed and breakfasts and hotels across the UK.

See what’s new at Classes Near You > England.

Field Breaks – Special Interest Art Breaks Derbyshire, England
www.fieldbreaks.co.uk
Enjoy like-minded company in a relaxing and friendly environment with experienced and approachable tutors. Details and pricing for all 2012 courses can be viewed here.

• The Freshness of Spring Flowers in Coloured Pencil, Watercolour or Graphite with Gaynor Dickeson – April 23-24, 2012. Two non-residential days at Goodnestone Gardens, SE Kent, (£175 including lunches & refreshments)
• Hedgerows in Spring in Watercolour with Deborah Devauden
  April 23-25, 2012. Create studies of spring flowers! Cwrt Bleddyn, Monmouthshire (£366 residential £229 non-residential).
• Painting Fritillaria Flowers in Watercolour with Sharon Bradley
  May 9-11, 2012. New Lanark Mill Hotel, Lanark (£398 residential £249 non-residential).
• Perfect Pencil Drawings in Graphite with Jane Nicholas Barne
  May 16-18, 2012. The Bear Hotel, Hungerford (£459 residential £249 non-residential).
• Bloom on Fruit in Coloured Pencil with Sue Vize – May 14-16, 2012. Learn how to layer colors to portray the bloom seen on plums, blueberries and grapes. Losehill House Hotel, Derbyshire (£398 residential £249 non-residential).
• Seasonal Vegetables in Graphite Pencil with Julie Small
  May 21-23, 2012. Losehill House Hotel, Derbyshire (£398 residential £249 non-residential).
• Grasses and Meadow Flowers in Coloured Pencil, Watercolour or Graphite with Sue Vize May 23-25, 2012. The Nightingale Centre, Derbyshire (£298 residential £198 non-residential includes eve meals & wine).
• Delights for the June Garden in Coloured Pencil with Susan Christopher-Coulson – June 11-13, 2012. Ripon Spa, Ripon (£398 residential £249 non-residential).
• Summer Flowers and Foliage in Watercolour with Sandra Wall Armitage – June 11-13, 2012. Knuston Hall, Northampton (£385 residential £275 non-residential includes evening meals).
• Herbaceous Summer Flowers in any media with Jennie Hinton
  June 11-13, 2012. Lady Ann Middleton, York (£425 residential £245 non-residential).
• Smell English Roses! In Watercolour, Coloured Pencil or Graphite with Gaynor Dickeson – June 25-26, 2012. Two non-residential days at Goodnestone Gardens, SE Kent (£175 including lunches & refreshments).

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