Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘Special Events’ Category

Yesterday an exciting thing happened for the team at The Sketchbook Challenge. A book based on their wildly popular website was published by Potter Craft.

Written by Sketchbook Challenge founder, Sue Bleiweiss, the book The Sketchbook Challenge: Techniques, Prompts, and Inspiration for Achieving Your Creative Goals is a collection of themes, techniques, and art that will inspire first-time artists and experienced artists alike.

Bleiweiss’ introduction to paper, sketchbook formats, mark-making tools, paints, adhesives, and loosening-up exercises is followed by twelve chapters of themes and specific instruction about thirteen techniques. The techniques receiving special attention by Bleiweiss are: screen printing, stenciling, digital printing, thread sketching, painted papers for collage, hand-carved stamps, hand-dyed fabric, soy wax resist, image transfers, foiling, silk fusion, moldable foam stamps, and a 4-step drawing technique.

While these techniques are presented in a special “spotlight” feature, this book is really about several techniques and features a rich selection of examples of how these techniques are used by the 21 artists who have contributed their knowledge and artwork to this mixed media guide for sketchbooks.

The Sketchbook Challenge is a wonderful resource for anyone who lets a blank sketchbook, with its white pages, suppress their creative urges. If this is you, then I encourage you to browse through several pages of this book online.


Join the Celebration!

To celebrate the publication of their new book, the artists at The Sketchbook Challenge website are hosting a blog hop and giving away over $1,200 worth of prizes. Learn more about this 10-day event and how you can win one of the prizes at The Sketchbook Challenge Blog Hop.



Did You Know…

  • That Jane La Fazio, ArtPlantae’s Featured Artist for January 2011, is a regular contributor to The Sketchbook Challenge?
  • Artists from all over the world share pages from their sketchbook on the Sketchbook Challenge Flickr page?

Read Full Post »

Botanical artist, Jeni Neale, will take part in the Warwickshire Open Studios event and open her studio to the public June 30 – July 15, 2012. Each day her studio is open to the public, Jeni will demonstration botanical painting techniques and have original paintings, prints and cards for sale.

Jeni is a member of the Birmingham Society of Botanical Artists (BSBA) in England. In October 2011, the BSBA was the featured group at ArtPlantae.

Learn more about the Birmingham Society of Botanical Artists and see their
Ask the Artist session with readers.



Exhibition of Contemporary Botanical Art

Warwickshire Open Studios 2012
Jeni Neale Studio
Southam, England
June 30 – July 15, 2012
View studio hours

Read Full Post »

Valerie Littlewood has a lot of experience speaking with the public about pollinators. I asked her to describe the aspect of the plant-pollinator relationship with which the public is the least familiar.

She replied:

I think that many people are totally unaware of the number of insects that do pollinate flowers and crops but are also unaware of the needs of the insects. To thrive they need safe habitats, a variety of food, nesting sites, and a steady supply of both nectar and pollen plants throughout the year.

What else has Valerie observed?

Read Full Post »

Clarity
Research
Drawing
Design

These are the four guiding principles by which Valerie Littlewood works. Today Valerie discusses her creative process and shows us how she plans her projects.

Join this conversation already in progress

Read Full Post »

Click to enlarge

NEW
Focus on Foliage
September 10-14, 2012
10:30 – 4:00 PM
Five-day workshop for experienced botanical artists led by RHS Gold medal winner, Angeline de Meester. Includes instruction from guest tutors Liz Leech and Martin J. Allen. Participants will visit the Shirley Sherwood Gallery at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and the Natural History Museum. Cost: £625 (incl. VAT), inclusive of lunch, transportation to gallery and museum, and entry fees.

Download color flyer

View Details/Register


About The English Gardening School

www.englishgardeningschool.co.uk
Located in London, England, the English Garden School offers professional and amateur courses in garden design, practical horticulture, plants and planstmanship, and botanical painting.

This information can also be viewed at Classes Near You > England.

Read Full Post »

Do you think about publishing a book about your art?

I asked featured guest and author of BUZZ,
Valerie Littlewood, what she thought about the self-publishing process. She replied:

For putting together a personal record of, say, an exhibition, an event, a series of words and images or a collection of students works and to have that in printed book form (and I am still a lover of books as tangible things) the opportunities provided by self publishing are quite amazing. I think the ability to now self publish is wonderful, but I do have some reservations.

Read More

Read Full Post »

Valerie Littlewood created the traveling exhibition, BUZZ… A Celebration of British Bees & Their Flowers, to bring her message to the public. Her exhibition has been on view at wonderful venues.

Today Valerie talks about her outreach efforts.

Join this conversation already in progress…

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »