ArtPlantae Today

The Minnesota School of Botanical Art was founded by Marilyn Garber. The school’s website has a refreshing design and is a treat to visit. View student accomplishments in the Student Gallery and flip through photo albums highlighting past Master Classes taught by Jean Emmons, Katie Lee, Kate Nessler, George Olson, Sunitsorn Pimpasalee, Margaret Saul, Alice Tangerini, Alexander Viazmensky, and Wendy Zomelefer. School instructors also have photo albums available for viewing. Stop by and take a look!

• Small Paintings on Vellum – Mondays, February 23 to March 30 (intermediate to advanced)
• Botanical Art for Reproduction – Mondays, February 23 to March 30 (intermediate to advanced)
• Painting White – Mondays, February 23 to March 30 (intermediate to advanced)
• Watercolor I – Mondays, February 23 to March 30 (beginner)
• Drawing I – Thursdays, February 26 to April 2

Read Full Post »

Louise M. Smith Botanical Art
www.greenstems.com
Louise teaches at the University of Washington Botanic Gardens, Gage Academy of Art and the University of Washington Natural Science Illustration Certificate Program.

• Introduction to Botanical Watercolor
  Center for Urban Horticulture
  http://depts.washington.edu/urbhort/
  Saturdays, May 30, June 6, 13, 20, 27.
  View details
• Beginning Botanical Watercolor Class
  Lakewold Gardens
  www.lakewoldgardens.com
  Mondays, March 2 to April 20 (Track 1) and March 3 to April 21 (Track 2).
  View details
• Botanical Illustration – UW Natural Science Illustration Certificate Program; Wednesdays, April 1 to June 3; Saturday field trips may replace weeknight sessions.
  View details.

Read Full Post »

Updates to Classes Near You:

Scientific illustrator Marjorie Leggitt will take her popular “POSTCARDS FROM…” class to Bavaria (details will be announced soon). In the meantime, she will teach botanical illustrators how to draw with a Wacom tablet at Denver Botanic Gardens.

In New York, artist Mary McAndrew has announced plans to lead a demonstration and a field class at a wildlife refuge.

COLORADO
Marjorie Leggitt, Leggitt Design & Illustration
http://marjorie-mervi.blogspot.com/

• POSTCARDS FROM… – A series of field sketching courses that are offered year ’round. New schedule to be announced.
• Transparent Acrylics-Spring Flowers – Denver Botanic Gardens; Thurs., March 26, Apr. 2, 16
• Adobe Illustrator I – Learn how to draw with a Wacom tablet. Denver Botanic Gardens; Fri.–Sun., March 20 – 22
• Adobe Illustrator II – Denver Botanic Gardens; Fri.–Sun., March 27 – 29

NEW YORK
Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, Alabama, New York
http://www.fws.gov/northeast/iroquois/
April 4, 2009
Mary McAndrew, naturalist and artist guide, will lead a FREE introductory talk and lesson titled, Nature Sketching in the Field, at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge. Bring sketchbook and pencil. An optional field class near the refuge will follow. The fee for this optional class is $20. Email Mary for details at mary@marymcandrew.com. View additional classes at www.marymcandrew.blogspot.com

Read Full Post »

Irina Gronborg is a botanical illustrator from San Diego county and an instructor of botanical illustration who has taught botanical illustration at UC San Diego. She is also an avid gardener and sketchbook artist who draws in her sketchbook daily.
A selection of her pencil, pen, and colored pencil sketches have been compiled into three published books, each a reflection of the subject matter Irina has captured in her journals over the years. The first book focuses on her garden, the second on scenes from her hometown of Solana Beach, and the third on the places she has visited while traveling abroad. Samples from these books can be viewed at Irina’s website.

Irina will be teaching Beautiful Botanical Drawing next month in La Jolla, CA. In this class, students will learn how to draw directly from living plants in pencil and colored pencil for accuracy and vitality. For information or to register, call 858-454-5872.

Beautiful Botanical Drawing
La Jolla Anthenaeum Music & Arts Library, School of the Arts
www.ljathenaeum.org
Mondays, March 23 – May 11, 2009; 9AM – 12 PM

Read Full Post »

The states of California, Texas and West Virginia are the first states to have illustrated field guides featured on their pages in the Nature Near You section, as ArtPlantae brings attention to guides illustrated by botanical illustrators and/or scientific illustrators.

The Laws Field Guide to the Sierra Nevada by John Muirs Laws can be viewed by visitors to California’s page. Forestry artist Bruce Lyndon Cunningham has two books in Nature Near You. The Trees of West Virginia and the Winter Key to Deciduous Woody Plants of East Texas are now posted on the pages of their respective states.

Are there illustrated field guides for your state? Please tell us at education@artplantae.com.

Read Full Post »