Mission Statement

Founded in 1997, the Rocky Mountain Society of Botanical Artists (RMSBA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is the first regional chapter of the American Society of Botanical Artists (ASBA).

The Society is dedicated to promoting public awareness of contemporary botanical art, honoring its traditions and furthering its development. It is open to all, artists and art patrons alike. We believe that by joining together, we foster increased awareness and appreciation for this beautiful art form. It is our goal to educate the public about botanical art, support the artist creating these works, and support awareness of plants place in the world, and their environmental challenges with a special focus on plants in peril.

These artworks are realistic portrayals of plants, their flowers, fruiting bodies, seeds, roots and pollinators. Each piece is scientifically accurate, insuring all aspects are true reflections of the plant portrayed. Modern elements of of light, depth, composition and increased 3-dimensionality grow the tradition. The resulting renderings are exquisitely detailed, able to illustrate far more detail than found in photographs.

Work is presented in all 2-dimensional media, including ink, watercolor, gouache, scratchboard, acrylics, oils, graphite, carbon and colored pencil, excluding photos and computer generated images. Sculpture that meets scientific accuracy is welcome.

We are in an era of resurgence of interest in botanial art. These artists produce images that seamlessly blend old traditions and new, scientfic facts with contemporary creative arts, resulting in works that bloom gracefully and endlessly.



Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Mid-August blues...

 Mertensia lanceoleota, colored pencil, Heidi Snyder

Meaning, of course, the amazing skies we're enjoying now. Monsoon is almost done, afternoon storms have lightened. And the skies range from a deep cobalt blue just before full dark, to an airy forget-me-not blue in mid-day. Don't forget to include those blues in your paintings. They reflect off all objects in natural light, so specimens in plein aire or your window are fair game. You can hint that an item is outside by surrounding a full white highlight with the barest breath of blue - turquoise, ultramarine, sky blue - just on the outer edges of your highlight. Or get gutsy, and pop that blue into leaves and flowers before your final color coat. It will light up your painting.

Clematis 'Cezanne', watercolor, Karla Beatty


Speaking of blue skies, find out what botanical science is doing in space! September 22 NASA's International Space Station Science team will visit Denver Botanic Gardens to make a presentation at Cafe Botanique, in Gates Hall, from 6:30 to 8 PM. How's that for the farthest out tie-in to botanical art you could capture? This is bound to be fascinating.


Viola wittrockiana, watercolor, Marjorie Sjoden

Let's not forget the allure of the mountains, shaded in blue layers as the sun moves further down across the sky. You can head for the mountains to attend the opening for the  the sky. RMSBA "Colorado Garden" exhibition, featuring any plant, flower or veggie that grows in your local gardens. Deadline for entries is August 15th. The show hangs on September 2 at the Evergreen Center Stage. We need volunteers to help with this. Please contact Dorothy at ddepaulo@gmail.com if you can help. Opening info will be included in the next blog update.
 
Drop off of work, entry form (available under Calls for Entries) and check for $5.00 will be between 9:00 and 11:00 AM at Center Stage in Everegreen, 27608 Fireweed Drive, 80439. Click this link for map. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=27608+Fireweed+Dr+Evergreen,+CO+80439-8322&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=105.319452,103.359375&layer=&ie=UTF8&z=16&ll=39.639174,-105.313504&spn=0.013698,0.019655&om=1&iwloc=addr

Hope you'll be singing' the blues for a few weeks, while we have this great light. And hope to see all of you at the RMSBA Colorado Garden exhibition at Evergreen's Center Stage.

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