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Archive for the ‘Science Library’ Category

Botanical Art Classes & ‘How-to’ Tutorials

Posted in botanical art, Education, general botany, Learning Opportunities, Video on May 6, 2013|

See what’s new at Classes Near You > Australia!

David Reynolds
http://botanicart.wix.com/davidreynolds#!
David is a botanical artist based in Melbourne, Australia who specializes in Australian native plants and exotic plants. David is creating short tutorials about botanical art techniques. Subscribe to Botanic Art TV to be notified when new videos become available.

Botanical Art with David Reynolds

During this three-day workshop, students will be guided through the techniques used to create a painting of a beautiful flowering Australian eucalypt with stunning bark, dramatic foliage and vibrant pink flowers. Take a look!

All levels of artist are welcome
Cost: $445 AUD

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Scholar Discusses Artist Marianne North, Answers Your Questions

Posted in botanical art, botanical art books, Education, general botany, History, Learning Opportunities, nature, Special Articles & Interviews, travel on May 1, 2013| 11 Comments »

In 1871 Marianne North, a forty-year old woman from a wealthy Victorian family, embarked on an adventure to paint the plants of the world. Even by today’s standards, North’s travels are an amazing accomplishment. You might think Marianne North is a one-of-a-kind wonder, however she shares the title of brave pioneering female naturalist with women such as Maria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717) who was one of the first to describe metamorphosis, and Jeanne Baret (1740-1807) who was the first woman to circumnavigate the globe and the herb woman whose expertise as a field botanist made her an invaluable asset to botanist Philibert Commerson during the Bougainville expedition (1765-1768).

Through her paintings, Marianne North made several contributions to the field of botany. This month we have the unique opportunity to learn more about Marianne North from Katie Zimmerman, a PhD candidate at the University of Cambridge whose research is dedicated to the work of this fearless naturalist and artist.

Please welcome Katie Zimmerman, the Featured Scholar for May!

About Katie Zimmerman
Katie is a PhD candidate at the University of Cambridge and an instructor at the University of Washington where she teaches courses in the history of science. She is broadly interested in the relationship between art and science, the geography of knowledge, and Victorian natural history. Before taking up her dissertation on Marianne North, Katie taught high school and university courses in Warsaw, Poland, worked at the National Museum of American History in Washington, DC, and earned her MA in the history of science at Oregon State. Katie lives in Seattle, WA with her husband, two children, and a dog named Huxley – all of whom greatly admire and appreciate the botanical wonderland produced by that rainy state.

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Botanical Art at The Gallery at York Hall

Posted in botanical art, Education, general botany, Learning Opportunities, Special Events on April 30, 2013|

Award-winning artist
Linda Miller will demonstrate how to create botanical portraits of garden treasures at The Gallery at York Hall in historic Yorktown, VA.

Watch Linda work and learn more about botanical art on Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 4 from 10 AM – 4 PM.

This special event will be held in conjunction with Yorktown’s Hidden Treasures Garden Stroll in historic Yorktown Village. Visit some of Yorktown’s most beautiful private gardens and be inspired by the gardens and the two and three-dimensional art that will be on display. Plants will be available for purchase at Yorktown Baptist Church.

The garden tour costs $10 per person. Linda’s demonstration is free.
All are welcome!

View Details / Map

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Botanical Illustrator Visits Riverside Metropolitan Museum

Posted in botanical art, Education, general botany, Learning Opportunities, scientific illustration, Special Announcements, Special Events on April 24, 2013|

It’s Smithsonian Week in Riverside, CA and this week residents have the opportunity to learn from biologist David Wimpfheimer and scientific illustrator Alice Tangerini. The presentations below are being held in conjunction with the John Muir exhibition at the museum. All programs are free to the public.

Here is what’s coming to town this week:

Treasures of Yosemite

Botanical Illustration Demonstration
Thursday, April 25, 2013
3-5 pm
Alice Tangerini is the scientific illustrator in the botany department at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Stop by the museum to meet with Alice and to learn how she creates illustrations for Smithsonian botanists.

To Reach Perfection – The Challenge of Botanical Illustration
Thursday, April 25, 2013
7:00 – 8:30 pm
During this evening presentation, Alice will discuss how her work as a scientific illustrator supports research about plant biodiversity and conservation.

Visit the Riverside Municipal Museum’s Smithsonian Week page for more information.

Related

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The Art & Science of Gardens and Nature

Posted in botanical art, Education, gardening, general botany, Learning Opportunities, nature, Sketching & Journaling on April 16, 2013| 1 Comment »

Welcome EE Week visitors! Hope you enjoy your visit.

A popular feature on this site is the Classes Near You section. Today there are great examples of the types of classes you can find in this section. Allow me to introduce you naturalist and artist, Maria Hodkins from Colorado and to North Cascades Basecamp in Mazama, WA.

Maria Hodkins has announced her schedule of classes for Spring and Summer. You are invited to join her in Colorado.

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

Maria Hodkins, Windword Writing Services
www.windword.net
Maria is a naturalist, mixed-media artist and book artist who teaches classes in journaling, creative writing and bookbinding in Colorado. Visit her website to learn more about her and the books she has written.

Illustrated
Garden Journals

Do you love gardening? Keeping a garden journal is a way to celebrate your garden in an artful way. Gardening is more than just digging holes, planting seeds, pulling weeds, and watering your plants — it’s about nurturing your soil and your soul. A garden journal will help you remember all that beauty and delicious bounty for years to come. It’s a visual record of gardening dates, ideas, plant and flower documentation, and personal stories. In this weekend workshop, you will learn nature sketching & watercolor, page design, lettering, and artful journaling techniques with artist-naturalist Maria Hodkins in the classroom. After learning these techniques, you will tour local gardens and sketch plants plein air with field notes. By the end of the workshop you’ll experience the joys of keeping a garden journal and discover how it can be used to plan your garden and serve as a lasting record of your gardening trials, triumphs, and treasures.
Cost: $90 CCAH members, $100 nonmembers. View Details/Register

Handmade Art Journals
June 1, 2013
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Carbondale Council on Arts & Humanities (CCAH)
Carbondale, CO

Learn to make a practical and beautiful journal for your own daily use to capture images and writings. In this one-day class you will make a simple hand-made book, with multi-media paper, a decorative cover, and a beautiful exposed spine binding using the ancient 2-needle Coptic stitch. We will then explore a variety of options to personalize the journal with cover embellishments, colophon, and dedication page. This journal can be used for sketching or journaling with any mixed media, such as watercolor, pen & ink, or collage.
Cost: $40 CCAH members, $50 nonmembers. View Details/Register

Plant Portraits: The Confluence of Art & Science
June 27-28, 2013
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Aspen Center for Environmental Studies
Aspen, CO

Come for an artistic romp in the field, sketching and painting plant life in flattering illustrations, botanical-style. Participants will study leaves, wildflowers, trees, and lichens, creating artful portraits focused on form, function, habitat, plant surfaces, gestures, and growth patterns. This two-day workshop will hone observational skills and art techniques, including basic nature sketching to more formal methods in botanical illustration. Work in the field as you explore pencil and ink sketches, and finish portraits in the classroom with beautiful watercolor and colored pencil. These portraits will be rendered with both botanical accuracy and beauty. Anyone with an interest in drawing plants will discover the charm and appeal of this art form–gardeners, hikers, nature guides, biology students, informal science educators, and teachers. All skill levels are welcome! 1 College Credit available.
Cost: $125 members, $160 nonmembers. View Materials List/Register

Partners in Wonder: Sharing Nature Through Field Journaling
June 29, 2013
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Aspen Center for Environmental Studies
Aspen, CO

Discover a world of magic with your child in the tiniest leaf, a bird’s feather, and the puffy clouds overhead. Ask “what is happening outside in nature today?” then tromp outdoors together, journals in hand, to take in the world with all of your senses. Map out and find the incredible creatures contained in one square yard of ground. Become keen observers and adventurers together while recording the wonders that you see. This one-day workshop will acquaint you with basic instruction for keeping a nature journal, including observation skills, sketching, writing, and playing with color. Parents, relatives, friends, or teachers – this is your chance to learn how to develop a deep and lasting connection to nature together with your children.
Cost: $110 members, $130 nonmembers (1 adult & 1 child); $40 each additional person. View Materials List/Register

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Journals, Landscapes, Butterflies and Hints of an Expedition at North Cascades Basecamp

Posted in botanical art, drawing, Education, general botany, Learning Opportunities, Sketching & Journaling on April 16, 2013|

Ready for Summer in the Cascades?
Here is the latest update at Classes Near You > Washington:

North Cascades Basecamp, Mazama
www.NorthCascadesBasecamp.com
A bed-and-breakfast style lodge surrounded by acres of protected cedar forest, the North Cascades Basecamp serves as a homebase for outdoor adventures such as hiking, fishing, cross-country skiing and a host of other activities offered through the camp’s Ecology Center. Biologists Kim and Steve Bondi purchased the recreation center in 2010 and created the Ecology Center to offer learning opportunities for guests. Visit the website to view the entire course schedule.

Nature in Art and Science: A Field Journaling~Naturalist Workshop with Hannah Hinchman and Bruce Thompson

View Details/Register

The Art and Science of Nature Presentation by Hannah Hinchman
May 24
Cost: $5/person
Register at 509/996-2334 or info@northcascadesbasecamp.com

Painting Balsamroot Landscapes with John Adams
June 15, 2013
10 AM – 2 PM
Learn techniques to paint the beautiful landscape at North Cascades Basecamp. John Adams will demonstrate techniques and discuss composition and color. Cost: $40/person. View Details/Register

Treasured Landscapes of the Methow Valley
Monday, July 29 – Thursday, August 1, 2013
US Forest Service, National Forest Foundation, and the North Cascades Basecamp
Daily outings all week to exploration, educate, and participate in hands-on learning projects where you will learn from experts in the field about the North Cascades Ecosystem. Projects include : beavers, wolverines, wildflowers, and native plant restoration. Be a part of the Treasured Landscape Initiative to restore and revitalize this amazing landscape.
Register at 509/996-2334 or info@northcascadesbasecamp.com.

Monarchs in the Pacific Northwest Presentation
by Robert Michael Pyle
August 16, 2013
Cost: $5/person
Register at 509/996-2334 or info@northcascadesbasecamp.com

Butterflies of the North Cascades Workshop
with Robert Michael Pyle
August 16-18, 2013
Explore high valleys, slopes, meadows, and peaks of the North Cascades seeking butterflies. Discover how to find, harmlessly detain, identify, and learn about their lifeways, needs, and natural history. Cost: $225 Locals Rate includes partial meals; $385 shared lodging and 6 meals. Clock hours: 8. View Details/Register

Plein Air Watercolor Retreat with Maria Coryell-Martin
September 6-8, 2013
Explore the summer landscape of the Methow Valley with expeditionary artist Maria Coryell-Martin and learn techniques for painting expressive skies, wooded forests, and rocky peaks. Cost: $185 Locals Rate includes partial meals; $345 shared lodging and 6 meals. Clock hours: 8.
View Details/Register

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Tips & Tools: Interactive Field Guides

Posted in botanical art, Education, general botany, Learning Opportunities, Reference, Technology on April 15, 2013| 1 Comment »

There are many apps on the market that enable naturalists to explore the great outdoors without carrying a backpack full of books. Even large traditional references such as The Jepson Manual: Vascular Plants of California are now available as easy-to-carry ebooks.

What type of interactive field guides or apps have you used to learn about plants? Did you find them to be user-friendly or simply too frustrating to use?

Share your experiences below in the Comment box.

More Tips & Tools: