Learning Opportunities | ArtPlantae Today

Archive for the ‘Learning Opportunities’ Category

Plants. Why Bother.

Posted in Education, general botany, Learning Opportunities, teaching and learning on February 7, 2014|

If you like to tell stories about plants but come up against students who are indifferent towards botanical subjects, consider the strategies suggested by professor Rob Reinsvold in Why Study Plants? Why Not?.

In his short 2.5-page editorial, Reinsvold (1999) provides an overview of how students learn about plants in elementary school, middle school and high school and how what they learn contributes to their thinking that biology is primarily about humans and animals.

To make plants more interesting to students, Reinsvold (1999) suggests educators try the following:

Take advantage of society’s obsession with “the biggest and the best”
(p. 3). Introduce students to the largest known creosote bush, the oldest living tree, the largest living organism, etc. and relate them to comparable examples in the animal world. Reinsvold talks about hosting an Organismal Olympics. You can learn more about this in his paper.
Show students that plants are active using time-lapse photography.
Explain how people use plants.
Talk about money. Discuss plant products as traded commodities.
Discuss how plant research has contributed to our knowledge about genetics, growth, development, biodiversity and climate change.

Reinsvold (1999) includes in his editorial a list of principles proposed by the American Society of Plant Physiologists. These principles address what the Society thinks every student and citizen should know about plants. An updated version of this list is available on the website of the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB). (Note: The Society changed its name since Reinvold’s editorial was published).

The principles proposed by the ASPB have been aligned with the National Research Council’s Life Science Standards. Educators may be especially interested in the bookmarks the Society created around these twelve principles. These double-sided bookmarks are available for free in limited quantities each month. Go to the Society’s Education page to learn more about the bookmarks, the Standards and the Principles of Plant Biology.

Reinsvold (1999) can be purchased online for $39. You can also search for back issues of this journal at your local college library.

Literature Cited
Reinsvold, R. 1999. Why study plants? Why not? Science Activities. 36: 3-5

Also See

Remembering Dr. James Wandersee
Dr. James Wandersee was a professor of biology education and one of the researchers to coin the term “plant blindness”. In 2009 I had the opportunity to communicate with Dr. Wandersee via email. I told him about ArtPlantae and we discussed some of my ideas. He was very encouraging and supportive. This weekend I was saddened to learn of Dr. Wandersee’s passing. I can’t read or write the phrase “plant blindness” without thinking of our email exchanges and his encouraging words. Dr. Wandersee was 67.

Read Full Post »

Get the Book! Native Plants of the Mid Atlantic

Posted in botanical art, botanical art books, Education, general botany, History, Learning Opportunities, Special Announcements on February 5, 2014| 4 Comments »

Lydia Inglett, Ltd. Publishers announces the release of American Botanical Paintings: Native Plants of the Mid Atlantic.

This book features 60 original works of juried art from 40 artists, including text describing each plant, how each plant is beneficial to gardeners and/or the environment and paintings of insect pollinators and their relationship to the plants.

The original paintings will be on display at the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C.,February 15 through June 15, 2014. Botanical Artists for Education and the Environment produced this book and is funded solely through donations. Profits will go to nonprofit organizations working on native plant education, conservation and horticulture.

Lydia Inglett, CEO of the publishing company, is a woman with enormous experience in art, advertising and publishing. Her design and print studios create the highest quality in elegant, thoughtful books. She has designed and published over 150 books for her clients, three of which won USA best book awards in 2013. She has launched many magazines for both artists and businessmen. She was art director and creative services director for Morris Communications Corporation before starting her publishing company. Her love of art, combined with her love of paper and engraving come together in her published books.

In 2010 Lydia Inglett taught an online class for ArtPlantae in which she discussed how books are published.

About Lydia Inglett, Ltd.
Lydia Inglett, Ltd. has offices on Hilton Head Island in the U.S. and at The Cube in London, England. In addition to providing a suite of publishing services, it manages Starbooks, a subsidiary of Inglett Publishing.

Read Full Post »

Botanicals & Beyond with Billy Showell

Posted in botanical art, Education, Learning Opportunities, Special Announcements on February 4, 2014|

Artists of all levels of ability can now learn from UK artist Billy Showell from anywhere in the world!

This past weekend, Billy announced her new online botanical art program. This program is composed of online instruction and projects ranging from 20 minutes to three hours. Tutorials are released every two weeks at BillyShowell.com.

Participating artists can choose from three levels of membership :

Free Membership

Monthly Membership
The Monthly Membership option enables artists to get access to current and new projects at the cost of £9.99 per month (convert currency). New projects are announced every two weeks. After 12 months of Monthly Membership, members at this level will gain access to Billy’s entire catalog of tutorials.

Annual Plan
Artists signing up for the Annual Plan at £89.88 per year (convert currency) will have access to all new projects and access to Billy’s catalog of projects, courses and tutorials.

Technology is changing how botanical art enthusiasts learn about this centuries-old discipline. Are you ready for something new?

Learn more at BillyShowell.com.

Read Full Post »

Paint Colorado!

Posted in drawing, Education, Learning Opportunities, Sketching & Journaling, Watercolor on February 4, 2014|

Here is what’s new at
Classes Near You > Colorado!

Marjorie Leggitt
Leggitt Design & Illustration
View Marjorie’s Gallery at Science-Art.com
Marjorie is a scientific illustrator who creates illustrations for clients in the fields of botany, zoology, medicine, and education. Her artwork also appears on the seed packets Botanical Interests seed company. You can learn more about the work Marjorie and other illustrators do for Botanical Interests in an interview with Andrew Keys at RadioGarden, a series produced by Horticulture Magazine.

The Plein-Air Watercolor Primer

This new workshop qualifies as a pre-requisite for the September POSTCARDS FROM…Aspen multi-day workshop. Priority is given to those registrants who also place a deposit for the Postcards from Aspen workshop.

This 2-day weekend workshop introduces all the basics to plein air watercolor painting and, starting this year, is the pre-requisite for the fabulous 4-day POSTCARDS FROM…Aspen watercolor workshop in September. Leon and Marjorie explore everything you need to know for painting outdoors -– working with a limited outdoor palette, building color washes and color builds, developing essential core abstractions, using values and temperatures to create “mini” space-filled compositions.

Back to Basics: Drawing with Confidence
April 14-17, 2014
VOC in Washington Park, Denver
Instructors: Marjorie Leggitt and Susan Rubin
Time: 9am – 2:30pm
Price: $414.00
This fun four-day workshop returns to the drawing basics of Line, Shading, Perspective, and Composition to bolster your drawing skills and boost your confidence. Revisit the principles of light, form, and depth to flesh out compositions both big and small. Practice linear and aerial perspective to accurately portray physical and atmospheric depth. Develop composition strategies to create dynamic artwork. Instruction, exercises, practice, and individual guidance will assure that in just four days you’ll solidify those shaky skills and draw anything better and faster every time.

POSTCARDS FROM…Aspen, Colorado
September 10-14, 2014
The Aspen Meadows Resort (home of the Aspen Institute)
Instructors: Marjorie Leggitt and Leon Loughridge
Price: $1360.00 ($395.00 single supplement)

Includes: 4 nights lodging, instruction, workshop booklet, watercolor sketch books, gourmet breakfasts and lunches, 24-hour health club, outdoor pool and hot tub, tennis court access and equipment, complimentary bicycle rental, full business center access, 24-hour shuttle service to and from downtown Aspen and the Aspen Airport.

Please note: This workshop has a pre-requisite of the Plein-Air Watercolor Primer (March 22 & 23) or a previous Leggitt/Loughridge POSTCARDS FROM.. workshop.

This 4-day plein air watercolor workshop is a perfect follow-up to the Plein Air Watercolor Primer workshop and previous Leggitt/Loughridge Postcards From… workshops. Starting at a more advanced level, students delve into the challenging aspects of CVCT. From value sketches and temperature schematics to capturing light throughout the day, students learn how to use “schematics” for problem-solving, to improve time management, and to develop larger and more complex watercolors. Each day presents enticing landscape exercises, composition opportunities, personal instruction and guidance.

Back to Basics: Drawing with Confidence
September 16-19, 2014
VOC in Washington Park, Denver
Instructors: Marjorie Leggitt and Susan Rubin
Time: 9am-2:30pm
Price: $414.00

This fun four-day workshop returns to the drawing basics of Line, Shading, Perspective, and Composition to bolster your drawing skills and boost your confidence. Revisit the principles of light, form, and depth to flesh out compositions both big and small. Practice linear and aerial perspective to accurately portray physical and atmospheric depth. Develop composition strategies to create dynamic artwork. Instruction, exercises, practice, and individual guidance will assure that in just four days you’ll solidify those shaky skills and draw anything better and faster every time.

Read Full Post »

Botanical Painting Workshops with Jeanne Debons

Posted in botanical art, Education, Learning Opportunities on January 29, 2014|

Click to download

Jeanne Debons Studio, Bend
www.jeannedebons.com
Botanist and botanical illustrator, Jeanne Debons, teaches small student-focused painting workshops at her Oregon studio. Dr. Debons received her Ph.D. in the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology at Oregon State University. She graduated from the diploma course in Botanical Painting at the English Gardening School in 2005. Dr. Debons invites you to join her painting workshops this Fall.

Botanical Painting

Cost: $65 per day OR $120 for 2 days and $175 for 3 days
For information and to register, contact Jeanne Debons.

Botanical Painting at Lake Oswego, Portland
February 28, March 1-2, 2014
10 AM – 4 PM

Botanical Painting in Bend
April 26-27, 2014
10 AM – 4 PM

Botanical Painting in Bend
June 14-15, 2014
10 AM – 4 PM

This information has been added to Classes Near You > Oregon.

Read Full Post »

Fine Art and Horticulture at Philadelphia Flower Show

Posted in botanical art, Education, Learning Opportunities, Special Announcements, Special Events on January 28, 2014|

This year the theme of the Philadelphia Flower Show is ARTiculture: Where Art Meets Horticulture. Event organizers promise to give the comfortable centuries-old union between art and horticulture a new twist when the show opens on Saturday, March 1, 2014.

Contributing to this refreshing look at art and horticulture are artists of the Philadelphia Society of Botanical Illustrators (PSBI). Society members will conduct demonstrations of botanical art techniques March 1-9, 2014 in the Grand Hall. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn from artists 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM daily.

Complementing members’ demonstrations will be an exhibition of nearly 50 botanical paintings. As the banner in the Society’s booth states, the exhibition of “Dynamic Botanics” created by members clearly demonstrates “The Art of Botany.” Featured subjects range from delicate hellebores to the monster cones of the sugar pine tree. Each subject is lovingly depicted, usually in watercolor but sometimes in colored pencil and oil. The paintings selected for this year’s flower show were selected by three judges — a biologist, an artist and a horticulturist.

The Philadelphia Society of Botanical Illustrators is comprised of more than 75 botanical artists from the Philadelphia area. Many of them teach other aspiring artists and teach in a joint art program with Arcadia University benefiting teenagers in Philadelphia public schools.

The Society has participated in outreach programs such as the Arcadia program for more than ten years. The Society pays instructors, purchases art supplies and gives art materials to young people who come from areas of the city where there is limited, if any, art instruction. The intent is to encourage students to learn the fundamentals of scientific and botanical illustration for possible careers and for their own enjoyment.

Learn more about the Philadelphia Society of Botanical Illustrators on their website at PSBI-art.org.

Read Full Post »

Field Sketching Workshop in New Zealand

Posted in Education, Learning Opportunities, Sketching & Journaling on January 28, 2014|

See the new page for Classes Near You > New Zealand!

Rebecca Brown-Thompson
www.rbrown-designs.com
Rebecca Brown-Thompson is a botanical artist from Oregon and New Zealand who works with paper, paint, felt and beads.

Field Sketching and Drawing Workshop

Participants will learn introductory drawing techniques and will apply these techniques to field sketching. They will also learn how to accurately record what they see whether is it for journalling, a science study, or just for fun. This workshop at the Lake Hawea Community Centre at Lake Hawea, Central Otago in New Zealand.

For more information and to register, contact Rebecca
Brown-Thompson by March 1, 2014.

Visit Rebecca’s website to learn more about her and to view her online gallery, including sample pages of her book Rebellious Beads in which she demonstrates how to create natural history-themed beadwork.

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »