ArtPlantae Today

For those who eat bestsellers for lunch…

November 30, 2009 by Tania Marien

While it may seem incomprehensible, not everyone likes to draw, paint, and read about plants. We all know someone who eats bestselling novels for lunch. It might even be you.

You all know ArtPlantae Books focuses on a specific niche. In this way, it is similar to the bookstores selling only mysteries or cookbooks. A general all-purpose bookstore it’s not. But we can still point you in the direction of those who can meet your all-purpose reading needs.

Enter IndieBound.org.

IndieBound is a program that was created by the American Booksellers Association (ABA) to bring attention to the masterful e-commerce capabilities of independent bookstores across the country. Indies do not only exist alongside the curb. They are online too and IndieBound will take you to the e-commerce division of your local brick-n-mortar bookstore. All you need to do is enter your zip code.

You will see a new graphic in the column to the right. It looks like the gift box above. Click on the sketch of the gift box and you will be on your way to buying bestsellers for those on your gift list or maybe even an engaging novel for yourself. Shopping this holiday season just got way too easy. Enjoy the convenience and thank you for considering the booksellers who know your region and your interests best.

Posted in Blog News, Special Announcements |

Cornell Opens Registration for Online Botanical Illustration Classes

November 23, 2009 by Tania Marien

Revised at CLASSES NEAR YOU > NEW YORK:

Cornell University Department of Horticulture
http://hort.cals.cornell.edu/
Two six-week botanical illustration classes are taught online through this department. A course syllabus for each class is available online. Click on the links below for complete details.

Botanical Illustration I: Basic Drawing Techniques – January 25 – March 14, 2010. For beginning artists of all ages. Students will work in pencil and pen-and-ink. View details.
Botanical Illustration II: Working with Watercolors – January 25 – March 14, 2010. In this introductory course about color, students are encouraged to continue their discovery of plants. View details.

Posted in distance learning, Learning Opportunities |

Botanical Illustration of Native Desert Flora

November 23, 2009 by Tania Marien

The course description for the illustration course at UC Riverside has been revised at CLASSES NEAR YOU > CALIFORNIA:

University of California, Riverside
UCR Extension
www.extension.ucr.edu

Quick Sketching for Travel (Art 839.6) – Saturdays, January 23 & 30, 2010; 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Workshop participants will use fine and wide-line drawing tools to sketch animals, people, and architecture. They will also learn about parallel, angular, and cylindrical perspective. Participants will work from slide, photos, and on-site at different locations. Instructor Latonja D. Davis teaches art at Mt. San Jacinto Community College (Menifee Valley campus). This course will be taught at the UCR Extension Center. Cost: $105 (includes parking). Registration #: 093-AHE-E08
Botanical Illustration of Native Desert Flora (Art X454.5) – April 9-11, 2010; Friday (8 PM – 10 PM), Saturday (8 AM – 5 PM), Sunday (8 AM – 4 PM). As much a course in “art for botanists” as it will be “botany for artists”,
© Donald Davidson, All rights reserved
this class will take place during the height of the desert blooming period. So participants can look forward to some very exciting plein-aire drawing and watercolor painting! In addition, the basics of line control, proportion, color, focusing/perception skills and plant identification will be reinforced with detailed dissection work in a well-equipped lab. This field study class will be based at the Desert Studies Center at Soda Springs (aka Zzyzx). Click on the link above for complete details.

Posted in Learning Opportunities |

Holiday Festivities Include Botanical Art Exhibition

November 23, 2009 by Tania Marien

Holiday visitors to the Lasdon Arboretum in Somers, NY have a treat in store for them when they attend the poinsettia show and sale on December 6th. Artists in Lasdon’s botanical art program will be exhibiting their work on this day. Inspired by the surrounding gardens and trees, artists have created drawings and paintings in graphite, colored pencil and watercolor. This collection of original artwork will be on view from 1-3 PM.

The botanical art program at Lasdon is directed by Corinne Lapin-Cohen. Cohen specializes in watercolor, silverpoint, and graphite and has taught at the New York Botanical Garden and Lehman College. Teaching in partnership with Corinne is artist, Laura Gould. Program updates are posted at Classes Near You > New York.

Posted in botanical art |

Illustrated Guide to Legumes

November 23, 2009 by Tania Marien

From the Herbarium
(see Science Library > Plant Guides) :

Gwilym, Lewis, Brian Schrire, Barbara Mackinder, and Mike Lock. 2005. Legumes of the World. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
ISBN: 9781900347808

The “book of books” where the pea family is concerned. Legumes have been a key area of research at Kew since 1855. They hold in their collection 726 of the 727 genera in the Leguminosae.

This book is a complete reference for both the botanical illustrator and plant enthusiast. The text for each genus is accompanied by color photographs, pen-and-ink line drawings, and the occasional watercolor painting. Legumes of the World is truly an illustrated reference. In addition to the wonderfully visual and descriptive text, readers will find the main characteristics of the three subfamilies in the Leguminosae compared side-by-side in an easily digestible table. A large section of this book is dedicated to the biogeography of this family. There is also a section in which the authors describe the economic importance of the legumes. The number of legume products found in food, drink, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, manufacturing and many other industries is impressive. One can no longer be blind to the number of products derived from the third largest plant family on the planet.

This title is currently available overseas.
Cost: $109.20, plus international shipping.

ArtPlantae Disclosure Statement

Posted in Science Library |

A Painting Holiday in Historic Portugal with Elaine Searle

November 16, 2009 by Tania Marien

How many trips of a lifetime can one possibly choose? The directory of international botanical art classes is growing rapidly. An Easter holiday in Portugal with UK artist, Elaine Searle, is the latest offering. Just imagine.

This new adventure has been posted at Classes Near You > International.

PORTUGAL

Elaine Searle
http://paintbotanical.com
Elaine’s plant portraits have been exhibited in the UK and the US, and can be found in the permanent collection of the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation at Carnegie Mellon University and in Prince Charles’ Highgrove Florilegium. Elaine publishes a beautiful and informative newsletter that is available for download on her website.

Easter in the Real Portugal: A Rather Special Botanical Painting Holiday – April 3 – 13, 2010. Join experienced tutor and artist, Elaine Searle, and a small and friendly group in Portugal to paint seasonal vegetables and flowers from the daily market in Olhao, an unspoilt fishing town. All levels of ability are welcome along with non-painting partners too! Meals in typical local restaurants and short excursions will give you a flavor of an authentic Easter in Portugal. Location: Olhao, Eastern Algarve, Portugal. For additional information, please go to enquiries@paintbotanical.com. To register, go to www.artinthealgarve.com.

Posted in Learning Opportunities |

Draw Plants Where First English Colonists Landed in the New World

November 16, 2009 by Tania Marien

Now on the CLASSES NEAR YOU pages for North Carolina and Virginia.

Linda C. Miller
http://lindacmiller.blogspot.com
Based in Virginia, Miller is a talented, experienced botanical artist and a member of The American Society of Botanical Artists. Visit Linda’s blog to view examples of her work and to learn how she began her career as a botanical artist.

Botanical Art Demonstration – December 5, 2009; 10 AM – 4 PM. Gallery at York Hall, Main Street, Yorktown, VA
Botanical Painting at The Elizabethan Gardens – December 15-16, 2009; 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM, daily. Linda C. Miller will teach the Christmas Rose at The Elizabethan Gardens in Manteo, North Carolina. Miller’s class is open to all levels, especially for beginners without any drawing or watercolor experience. Each student will create an 8″ x 10″ painting using traditional wet and dry brush techniques, as well as learn how to mix a variety of greens commonly used in botanical art. Students will also create a smaller study (4″ x 6″) that can be added to a holiday card. For more information or to register visit www.elizabethangardens.org or call 252-473-1554.