ArtPlantae Today

Anita Walsmit Sachs Turns Information Into Pictures

January 1, 2013 by Tania Marien

Anita Walsmit Sachs is the director of the art department and a scientific illustrator at the National Herbarium in the Netherlands at the University of Leiden. Ten years ago, Anita started teaching botanical art classes at the university’s botanical garden. During the next four years, enrollment in her classes grew. In 2006, Anita and some of her students formed the Dutch Society of Botanical Artists. Now 136 members strong, the Society will celebrate its seventh anniversary in April.

The focus of Anita’s work as a scientific illustrator is to visualize botanical information. Integrating information observed in dried plant specimens with the verbal instructions from botanists with whom she works, Anita creates line drawings in pen and ink that contain more information than could ever fit in a color photograph.

Please welcome Anita Walsmit Sachs, our special guest for January.

Posted in ArtPlantae Books, botanical art, botanical art books, botany, Drawing | 10 Comments »

Spontaneous Creativity with ArtPlantae at Aurea Vista

December 31, 2012 by Tania Marien

Trading cards traded at past events.

Looking to be more creative in the new year?

You are invited to begin your journey this week at Aurea Vista in downtown Riverside.

Visit ArtPlantae’s new sections celebrating plants, gardens and botanical art during the first ArtsWalk of 2013 and make artist trading cards to share with friends or other ArtsWalk visitors. Supplies will be provided.

Bring a friend.

See you there!

Artist Trading Cards with ArtPlantae at Aurea Vista
Thursday, January 3, 2013 (6-9 PM)
Lower level, across from the children’s boutique
Directions to Aurea Vista

Posted in botanical art, Education, Learning Opportunities, Sketching & Journaling, Special Announcements, Special Events |

ArtPlantae Reader Survey 2012

December 28, 2012 by Tania Marien

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your interest in ArtPlantae. Before we close the door on 2012 and step into yet another new year, I would like to ask for a few moments of your time. I would like to ask for your help evaluating the ArtPlantae education website and the ArtPlantae Books site.

The link below will take you to a short 10-question survey. A quick click of the mouse is all that is required for most of the questions. If you have additional thoughts to share, there are places for you to expand upon your replies. All responses will be tallied anonymously. Your feedback is appreciated.

Thank you so much for your time,

Tania

Take ArtPlantae Reader Survey

This survey will be available through Sunday, January 6, 2013.

Posted in botanical art |

SAVE THE DATE: Botanical Art to Tour New England

December 27, 2012 by Tania Marien

Open up that brand new 18-month calendar!

The New England Society of Botanical Artists will launch a traveling exhibition about native New England plants in May 2013. The exhibition, entitled
From the Mountains to the Sea: Plants, Trees and Shrubs of New England, will travel to Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Maine through 2014. This exhibition will travel to the following venues:

Duxbury Art Complex
Duxbury, MA
May 19 – September 8, 2013

Montshire Museum of Science
Norwich, VT
Sept. – Nov. 2013

Bartlett Arboretum Gardens
Stamford, CT
Jan. – March 2014

Bedford Public Library
Bedford, MA
March – May 2014

Audubon Environmental Education Center
Bristol, RI
May – June 2014

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
Boothbay, ME
August – September 2014

Event dates will be posted when information becomes available. Check the “Exhibits to Visit” section for updates.

The New England Society of Botanical Artists is a chapter of the American Society of Botanical Artists and has about 130 member artists from all over New England and New York.

Posted in botanical art, Education, Learning Opportunities, Special Announcements, Special Events |

Traveling Exhibition About John & William Bartram

December 27, 2012 by Tania Marien

The American Society of Botanical Artists (ASBA), in collaboration with
Bartram’s Garden in Philadelphia, is curating an exhibition of original contemporary botanical artworks depicting plants discovered and introduced by John and William Bartram, American pioneers in botany and horticulture.

Very soon ASBA members will submit artworks for consideration and a team of four jurors will select about 40 works to be included in this traveling exhibition. This exhibition will focus on the native plant discoveries made by John and William in their travels throughout the eastern wilderness between the 1730’s and 1790’s. An illustrated, full-color booklet will be published in conjunction with the exhibition.

This traveling exhibition will be on view at the following venues:

Bartram’s Garden Gallery

South Florida Museum

Cherokee Garden Library

Additional venues will be posted in the “Exhibits to Visit” section as information becomes available.

Posted in botanical art, Education, History, Learning Opportunities, Special Announcements, Special Events |

Peonies on Vellum

December 26, 2012 by Tania Marien

Begin the New Year with a long weekend of botanical art.

See these new classes by Carol Woodin at Classes Near You > Massachusetts!

Carol Woodin
www.carolwoodin.com
A freelance artist for over 20 years, Carol creates vibrant botanical paintings on vellum. Her work is in public collections and in the private collections of Dr. Shirley Sherwood and Alisa and Isaac M. Sutton. Carol is represented by Susan Frei Nathan Fine Works on Paper, LLC.

Botanical Painting in Watercolor (on paper)

Enjoy a long weekend in the Berkshires! Learn watercolor techniques on Thursday and Friday with Carol Woodin, then spend the rest of the weekend exploring. Cost: $260 members, $290 nonmembers
View Details/Register

Watercolor on Vellum – Peonies from the Garden
Filoli Estate & Gardens
Woodside, CA
March 20-23, 2013
9:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Sketch peonies growing in Filoli’s garden, then immerse yourself in the painting process as you learn how to paint on vellum.
Cost: $460 members, $550 nonmembers (price includes vellum)
View Details/Register

Posted in botanical art, Education, gardening, Learning Opportunities |

Shake Things Up! Combine Botanical Art with Fiber Art

December 26, 2012 by Tania Marien

Jump start the New Year at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden!

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

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
www.lewisginter.org
In 1884, Lewis Ginter purchased some property and built a gathering place for Richmond bicyclists. One hundred years later, the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden was established on this same piece of property and soon became one of the top five destinations in Virginia. The Garden is home to Artbase a searchable database containing 2,500 botanical watercolor paintings by Alexandre Descubes. The Adult Education program at the garden includes workshops in botanical drawing and painting.

Needle-Felting with Botanical Subjects

Artist Judy Thomas leads this new, exploratory media for botanical art, a hybrid of illustration and fiber art. Create three-dimensional botanical images felted to a fabric base. Needle-felting involves the use of a barbed needle to use wool’s natural ability to ‘lock’ together. Learn the tools and techniques of needle felting and create a small image and a larger composition using beautiful colored wools. No prior experience needed. Registrants will receive a supply list. Backing pieces and wool are provided.

Cost: $102 nonmembers, $80 members.
View Details/Register