ArtPlantae Today

New Online Sketchbook Class Begins Friday

March 19, 2013 by Tania Marien

Just in time for Spring!

A brand new sketchbook class with Jane LaFazio.

Here is the latest at Classes Near You > Southern California:

Jane LaFazio
janeville.blogspot.com
Jane is a mixed media artist and a member of the San Diego Sketchcrawl group. Jane teaches at conferences across the U.S. and leads classes in Italy and Greece too. In addition to sketching classes, Jane teaches workshops in collage, mixed media, and quilting. A detailed class schedule can be viewed on her blog. Also see an interview with Jane and her Ask The Artist Q&A with readers.

Sketching and Watercolor in a Mixed Media Journal

Jane will teach you her quick and intuitive method to drawing and watercolor. Assignments will include new techniques, suggestions as to what to draw and ideas that will enhance the pages of your illustrated journal. Working in a 9×12″ (suggested size) journal, you’ll be drawing every week, often working on one page for a few days, designing the page as you draw. This is the class to take your art journaling to the next step. New lessons, videos and visuals.
View sample pages and syllabus

There are always many, many opportunities to learn from Jane in-person. Below is a short list of classes that may be of interest to you. To view all of Jane’s upcoming classes, see her teaching schedule online.

Sketching & Watercolor: Journal Style – April 6, 2013. California Center for Creative Renewal. San Clemente, CA.
Tesoro del Corazon – April 21-28, 2013. Mixed media art retreat in Sante Fe, New Mexico. Interested? Let them know
Blue Mountain Nature Journal – May 16-20, 2013. Mixed media retreat in Knoxville, Maryland. Contact info@ArtistSuccess.com to be placed on interest list.
Lavender Sage Art Retreat with Pamela Underwood – June 10-14, 2013. Mixed media retreat in Taos, New Mexico. View Details/Register
Walking and Watercolor in Italy – October 7-13, 2013
ArtWalk: San Diego – January 13-19, 2014
ArtWalk: Italy – May 24-30, 2014
ArtWalk: The French Riviera – June 1-7, 2014

Posted in botanical art, Education, Learning Opportunities |

Picture This…Teaching & Learning You Can See

March 15, 2013 by Tania Marien

What would a classroom experience look like if it were described in a visual form instead of in a written form?

Richard Hickman explores this in Visual Art as a Vehicle for Educational Research. An advocate for the use of the arts in classroom research,
Hickman (2007) carefully designed a project that uses art as a research tool. His project is different than the projects we usually learn about in this column because he went out of his way to avoid creating a project that used drawing as a research tool. This difference is important to note. Hickman (2007) explains that he did not create a drawing project because:

A drawing is not necessarily art.
Drawing research is often about drawing and its use as a thinking tool — not just by artists, but by anyone.
Projects that use drawing as a research tool have their data reported as text, not images.

Hickman (2007) wanted to investigate something different. He wanted to investigate if it were possible to gather data and report data through the arts (emphasis mine).

Hickman’s pilot project involved graduate students assigned with the task of recording and explaining their experiences as student teachers. Nineteen students of art and design preparing to teach secondary school were told to “capture, in visual form, the essence of your experiences of classroom life” (Hickman, 2007). They were also told to include commentary that would help them present their visual work to their peers. During this six-month project, students conducted on-going observation in their respective classrooms, participated in small group seminars and engaged in reflective thinking (Hickman, 2007).

What was the outcome? You’ll have to get the paper to see the artwork for yourself since student reporting was done in a visual form. I will say that how the artwork captured interactions between the teachers and students is interesting. All I can do here, however, is present the observations and take-home messages Hickman (2007) shares in his paper. They are:

Visual art forms can help explain aspects of the teaching and learning process that are not easy to explain in words.
Visual art is engaging.
Visual art forms can be used to tell an entire story at one time.
Visual art can offer layers of information through “metaphor, analogy and iconography” (Hickman, 2007).
Visual art can transform boring daily life into an experience that can change our perceptions.
Visual art forms are accessible to everyone.

Hickman (2007) feels his attempt to investigate the extent to which art-based classroom research can enhance teaching and learning was a success. Even so, he does acknowledge that some forms of visual art are not self-explanatory. So his recommendation is that each piece of visual art be accompanied by a brief commentary by the artist so that an artist’s work is not misinterpreted.

Hickman’s study made me wonder…What would my classroom and the informal learning activities I lead look like if they were captured in a visual form?

What would your classroom look like?

Literature Cited
Hickman, Richard. 2007. Visual art as a vehicle for educational research.
The International Journal of Art and Design Education. 26(3): 314-324

This article can be purchased online for $35 from the Wiley Online Library. Alternatively, you can search for this article at your local college library.

Posted in Teaching & Learning |

Tips & Tools: Proportional or Academic Dividers?

March 13, 2013 by Tania Marien

Cesieco Deluxe Proportional Divider

A reader asks:

What kind of dividers do you use? Proportional dividers or the academic dividers you can buy at the art supply store? If you own both kinds, do you use one more than the other? Which one is the wisest investment for someone new to botanical art? Thank you.

Share your thoughts and experiences in the comment box below.

Posted in botanical art, drawing, Education, Learning Opportunities | 5 Comments »

Nature Illustration at Freedom Park Interpretive Center

March 13, 2013 by Tania Marien

Nature Watercolor Workshop by Linda C. Miller

Linda C. Miller
http://www.lindacmillerbotanicalarttoday.com/
Linda is a botanical artist from Virginia and the artist in residence at The Elizabethan Gardens in Manteo, NC. Learn about this special honor. Linda teaches in North Carolina and in Virginia. Visit Linda’s blog, Botanical Art Today to learn about her classes and upcoming gallery appearances.

Nature in Watercolor Workshop

This information can also be found at Classes Near You > Virginia.

Posted in botanical art, Education, Learning Opportunities |

Botanical Painting in Newfoundland

March 13, 2013 by Tania Marien

Few people visit Newfoundland without being touched by the warmth of its people, the depth of its history and the haunting beauty of its rugged coastline. This seven day workshop, under the expert guidance of renowned teacher and botanical artist, Margaret Best, of Calgary, promises an ideal opportunity to work uninterrupted in an inspiring coastal setting. Our large airy studio has breathtaking views. Our hotel is the top ranked rural inn in Newfoundland. The award-winning kitchen draws from the nearby ocean, freshwater ponds, seaside meadows and an abundant kitchen garden in season. In early October, the meadows and woodlands will be turning to their soft autumn colours – expanses of blueberry bushes turning rich claret, wild rhododendron, sheep’s laurel, lichens in a subtle spectrum, partridge berries, cloud berries, tall sedges bleaching to every shade of blonde. This is a landscape of miniature set against vast vistas of sea and sky. Accessible trails make this a hikers’ paradise.

Six Night Itinerary Overview

October 1

Fisher’s Loft Inn

October 2
This morning, explore the organic kitchen garden and green-house of our hotel, the nearby meadows and headland. Spend the rest of the day painting in our ridge-top studio. Evening at leisure.

October 3
Morning in the studio. After lunch we go on a historic boat tour, visiting the abandoned outports of Ireland’s Eye and British Harbour as well as the set built for the filming of Random Passage. Return to the hotel, evening at leisure.

October 4
Full day in the studio with optional 1 ½ hour hike on the dramatic Skerwink Trail. Box lunches provided today.

October 5
This morning in the studio. Midday excursion to the picturesque town of Trinity for walking tour and lunch. Afternoon studio time. Dinner at leisure.

October 6
Final day in the studio. Farewell dinner.

October 7
Morning transfer to St. John’s

Highlights

Personalized instruction by Margaret Best, tailored to your individual medium and needs.
Both coloured pencil – exciting new techniques with the latest materials – as well as watercolour earth tones best suited to fall colours – fallen leaves, seed pods, berries, rose hips and late harvest vegetables.
Workshop participation limited to insure best possible learning experience.
Exclusive use of beautiful studio space and opportunity to work in the garden or farther afield.
6 nights in a dramatically beautiful setting, with charming top-ranked accommodations at Fisher’s Loft Inn, a collection of traditional buildings set on a hillside overlooking the ocean. Friendly gracious local staff will make you feel so at home you won’t want to leave.
Chartered boat tour. Learn about the fascinating history of the Newfoundland fishery and outports.
Walking tour of historic Trinity
Guided hike around Skerwink Trail
6 delicious full menu breakfasts, 2 three course dinners at Fisher’s Loft restaurant, two lunches

Included:

Transfer from a central location in St. John’s to your hotel in Port Rexton
Transfer to St. John’s and the airport
6 nights accommodation at Fisher’s Loft Inn
6 full breakfasts
3 course Welcome dinner, with wine
3 course Farewell dinner with wine
2 lunches
Boat tour to visit outports
Walking tour of historic Trinity
Guided hike of Skerwink Trail
Gratuities for wait staff for meals on the programme, drivers and Trinity guide.

Not included:

Flights in and out of St. John’s
Meals not mentioned in the programme
Tips for housekeeping staff
Drinks, except where specified

NOTE: To participate in this workshop, you must be prepared to walk up and down the hill between the studio and the various other buildings on the site.

Cost: $2,995 CAD

Get more information about this new adventure on Quench Travel’s destination page for Canada.

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

Drawing Aids, Technology and Science at Next Seminar on Scientific Illustration

March 12, 2013 by Tania Marien

The seminars about scientific illustration held at Dijon University in France are simply fascinating. Organized by project coordinator Marie-Odile Bernez, the scholars who have gathered at these seminars have discussed everything from biodiversity to photography to cultural prejudices.

This month scholars will gather to learn about technical drawing aids used by engineers in the 19th century and learn about the way the transatlantic telegraph cable between the US and Great Britain was presented by the popular press in 1858.

The next seminar on scientific illustration will be held on Friday, March 22, 2013 at 10:30 AM. Learn more about this next meeting and the scheduled presenters on the Illustrating Science website.

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

Great Tomato Plant Sale

March 12, 2013 by Tania Marien

How great is this sale?

HUGE. Big time. It sold out in 3 hours last year.

In anticipation of yet another record turnout, the Contra Costa Master Gardeners have grown 10,000 tomato plants over the past year and have added eggplant, peppers, artichoke and tomatillo to the mix. Thousands of heirloom plants, representing more than 40 proven varieties from Ace to Zebra, will be on sale.

The Great Tomato Plant Sale is an educational event for the entire family. Experts will be on hand to provide advice about plant selection, site location and preparation, planting, fertilizing, pruning, and harvesting. Avid gardeners can get specific questions answered and learn about strategies to minimize plant disease and maximize production.

This event will be held on Saturday April 6, 2013 at the “Our Garden” Master Gardener demonstration site located at N. Wiget Lane and Shadelands Drive in Walnut Creek, CA (map). Sale hours are 10 AM – 4 PM. Proceeds are returned to the community through the staffing of the Master Gardeners’ Help Desk, Speakers Bureau, Our Garden, School Gardens, Farmers’ Market and other activities.

Start that garden! Support the Master Gardeners! Enjoy homegrown fruit and vegetables and discover that irresistible heirloom tomato you just have to paint!