Mission Statement

The Rocky Mountain Society of Botanical Artists is an open and diverse group of artists, collectors and admirers who share a love for the practice and perpetuation of botanical art and illustration with a fond focus on plants in the Rocky Mountain Region.
We encourage and participate in educational outreach, juried and non-juried exhibits, lectures, workshops and regular chapter meetings. The RMSBA is proud to be the very first chapter affiliation of the international organization, the American Society of Botanical Artists.

Monday, June 23, 2014

High on Botanicals - Entry Reminder and Last Call

Vanessa Martin has secured a terrific gallery event for us in July of this year, at Square Deal Framing and Gallery J(click HERE for information about this gallery), July 15 through August 29th. This gallery has a number of exhibits annually, and we are delighted we are on this year's schedule.

We are invited to submit any images which include botanicals. This is a little more open event than some, and is unjuried. You may submit up to 3 artworks, matted and framed in the manner you wish, and ready to hang with hanging wires.

We will hang at least one, but hope to be able to include more. The entry form allows you to number your images in order of hanging preference. Images labeled as "1" will be hung first, and then we'll hang the others in your order of preference once space is determined. We have room for 45 to 50 paintings.

Works may be for sale. Gallery retains 25% commission. There is a small entry fee ($25) to support organizational expenses and tasty treats for the opening, which is scheduled July 19th, 2014, 4-6 PM.


High on Botanicals
Specifications:*Submit up to 3 artworks, number them for hanging preference.
*Submission deadline: 28 June 2014
*Artworks must be matted, framed and wired for hanging.
*Drop off art Saturday at Square One, July 12th between 1-4pm
*Exhibit Start: July 15, 2014
*Reception: July 19, 2014, time to be determined.
*Exhibit closes August 29, 2014.
*Pick up artworks August 30th, between 1-4pm
You may enter up to 3 artworks. Please fully complete all requested
information on the entry form.

Location: Square Deal Gallery
1460 S. Colorado Blvd, Denver, CO  (next to Black Eyed Pea Restaurant)
Contact: Vanessa Martin; Click HERE to contact her.

Special Exhibit Information: You may enter up to 3 matted and framed
artworks, wired and ready to hang. At least one artwork will be hung, and
second and third images may be hung if there is room. We have room for about
45 to 50 paintings. Please include genus and species if known, common names are always good, and you may title the work.
Click HERE for the Entry form.

Monday, June 16, 2014

July Member Meeting is a Special Tour of the Plains Conservation Center Short-grass Prairie

All images courtesy of the Plains Conservation Center:

Plains
Short-grass prairie at the Plains Conservation Center
Hi Everyone!

Come and explore the 8,000 acre short-grass prairie natural area with the Center Naturalists. We will explore the prairie, watch the skies for raptors, visit the bison herd, and there will be time for some sketching along the way. We'll meet at the Center in time to depart at 8 AM on the tour buses.  The Plains Conservation Center will provide transportation to West Bijou (45 minute ride) and lunch is included.
 
For lunch, there will be two different types of bread, meats (ham, turkey, roast beef), cheeses, lettuce, mayo, mustard - for making sandwiches, fresh fruit (depends a bit on what is available & what looks good); potato or macaroni salad & dessert (usually brownies). All you have to bring is a water bottle, sunscreen, close-toed shoes and dress for the ever-changing Colorado weather.

We will leave the Plains Conservation Center at 8 AM returning to the center at approximately 3 PM. Cost is $30 which includes lunch and transportation to West Bijou. We will be driven in 2 vans, with the total number of passengers limited to 14.

So, if you are interested in going and would like to reserve a spot on one of the buses please email me by July 14th. This will be an invaluable experience to see this unique ecological area and gain information about the plants and animals in this area from the Plains Center Naturalists who will be guiding the tour.

Don't drag your feet! Send me an EMAIL to reserve your seat and for more information!

Have a wonderful Colorado day,
Carol
Carol Ferguson


Making hay while the sun shines
 
 

Ferruginous Hawk
Raptor rising on the thermals over the plains. You'll see lots of these!
 


A ram of many horns, one of the residents at the Center, with a magnificent woolly coat
 


Historic housing and at moonrise
 


Mother and Calf
Spring calf and shaggy mama, one of many such pairs in this season
 
For more information about the Center, click HERE.

High on Botanicals - Entry Reminder

Vanessa Martin has secured a terrific gallery event for us in July of this year, at Square Deal Framing and Gallery J(click HERE for information about this gallery), July 15 through August 29th. This gallery has a number of exhibits annually, and we are delighted we are on this year's schedule.

We are invited to submit any images which include botanicals. This is a little more open event than some, and is unjuried. You may submit up to 3 artworks, matted and framed in the manner you wish, and ready to hang with hanging wires.

We will hang at least one, but hope to be able to include more. The entry form allows you to number your images in order of hanging preference. Images labeled as "1" will be hung first, and then we'll hang the others in your order of preference once space is determined. We have room for 45 to 50 paintings.

Works may be for sale. Gallery retains 25% commission. There is a small entry fee ($25) to support organizational expenses and tasty treats for the opening, which is scheduled July 19th, 2014, 4-6 PM.


High on Botanicals
Specifications:*Submit up to 3 artworks, number them for hanging preference.
*Submission deadline: 28 June 2014
*Artworks must be matted, framed and wired for hanging.
*Drop off art Saturday at Square One, July 12th between 1-4pm
*Exhibit Start: July 15, 2014
*Reception: July 19, 2014, time to be determined.
*Exhibit closes August 29, 2014.
*Pick up artworks August 30th, between 1-4pm
You may enter up to 3 artworks. Please fully complete all requested
information on the entry form.

Location: Square Deal Gallery
1460 S. Colorado Blvd, Denver, CO  (next to Black Eyed Pea Restaurant)
Contact: Vanessa Martin; Click HERE to contact her.

Special Exhibit Information: You may enter up to 3 matted and framed
artworks, wired and ready to hang. At least one artwork will be hung, and
second and third images may be hung if there is room. We have room for about
45 to 50 paintings. Please include genus and species if known, common names are always good, and you may title the work.
Click HERE for the Entry form.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Get Your Sketch ON!

Springtime is a good time to sketch, and inside or outside, sketching informs our finished artworks by teaching us how to see differently, observe carefully, figure out light on form, and test new techniques to solve problems. You can get good results with limited materials. The images below by Frank Merrem use graphite, sepia pencil, and white pencil on white and brown papers. Lots of variety and pop here. Frank is having some fun with these sketches. He tells us:
"Some in Black & White on Brown Paper and some Graphite on White Paper. Nothing great, lots of fun. I'm really enjoying the B&W on brown."
 
Here are some of his works:

Sphere exploring light changes in a very graphic way.
 
 
The pictures below are Frank's, and sadly, we can't get them to present in proper rotation. So, please tip your head to see these neat sketches.
 
Vase and glass on brown paper, using white and black pencil
 
 
Leaf on vine, using white and black pencil on brown paper
 
 
 
Study of sunflower petals radiation patterns, using black, gray and brown pencil on white paper
 
 
 
Detailed sunflower study in graphite on white paper
 
 
This cheerful fellow is white and black pencil on brown paper, and he proves that any subject is a good subject if you have a great time sketching. All the above images are by Frank Merrem.
 
 







Monday, June 9, 2014

High on Botanicals - Entry Reminder

Vanessa Martin has secured a terrific gallery event for us in July of this year, at Square Deal Framing and Gallery J(click HERE for information about this gallery), July 15 through August 29th. This gallery has a number of exhibits annually, and we are delighted we are on this year's schedule.

We are invited to submit any images which include botanicals. This is a little more open event than some, and is unjuried. You may submit up to 3 artworks, matted and framed in the manner you wish, and ready to hang with hanging wires.

We will hang at least one, but hope to be able to include more. The entry form allows you to number your images in order of hanging preference. Images labeled as "1" will be hung first, and then we'll hang the others in your order of preference once space is determined. We have room for 45 to 50 paintings.

Works may be for sale. Gallery retains 25% commission. There is a small entry fee ($25) to support organizational expenses and tasty treats for the opening, which is scheduled July 19th, 2014, 4-6 PM.


High on Botanicals
Specifications:*Submit up to 3 artworks, number them for hanging preference.
*Submission deadline: 28 June 2014
*Artworks must be matted, framed and wired for hanging.
*Drop off art Saturday at Square One, July 12th between 1-4pm
*Exhibit Start: July 15, 2014
*Reception: July 19, 2014, time to be determined.
*Exhibit closes August 29, 2014.
*Pick up artworks August 30th, between 1-4pm
You may enter up to 3 artworks. Please fully complete all requested
information on the entry form.

Location: Square Deal Gallery
1460 S. Colorado Blvd, Denver, CO  (next to Black Eyed Pea Restaurant)
Contact: Vanessa Martin; Click HERE to contact her.

Special Exhibit Information: You may enter up to 3 matted and framed
artworks, wired and ready to hang. At least one artwork will be hung, and
second and third images may be hung if there is room. We have room for about
45 to 50 paintings. Please include genus and species if known, common names are always good, and you may title the work.
Click HERE for the Entry form.

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Summer Art Market, Art Students League of Denver, is This Weekend

Make a plan to attend this annual event. You'll love the enormous variety of artworks available by our own Denver artists. RMSBA members will be there in force. Look for Susan Fisher, Vanessa Martin, and Carol Till for sure. Here's Carol's shout out!


Monday, June 2, 2014

High on Botanical - Entry Reminder

Vanessa Martin has secured a terrific gallery event for us in July of this year, at Square Deal Framing and Gallery J(click HERE for information about this gallery), July 15 through August 29th. This gallery has a number of exhibits annually, and we are delighted we are on this year's schedule.

We are invited to submit any images which include botanicals. This is a little more open event than some, and is unjuried. You may submit up to 3 artworks, matted and framed in the manner you wish, and ready to hang with hanging wires.

We will hang at least one, but hope to be able to include more. The entry form allows you to number your images in order of hanging preference. Images labeled as "1" will be hung first, and then we'll hang the others in your order of preference once space is determined. We have room for 45 to 50 paintings.

Works may be for sale. Gallery retains 25% commission. There is a small entry fee ($25) to support organizational expenses and tasty treats for the opening, which is scheduled July 19th, 2014, 4-6 PM.


High on Botanicals
Specifications:*Submit up to 3 artworks, number them for hanging preference.
*Submission deadline: 28 June 2014
*Artworks must be matted, framed and wired for hanging.
*Drop off art Saturday at Square One, July 12th between 1-4pm
*Exhibit Start: July 15, 2014
*Reception: July 19, 2014, time to be determined.
*Exhibit closes August 29, 2014.
*Pick up artworks August 30th, between 1-4pm
You may enter up to 3 artworks. Please fully complete all requested
information on the entry form.

Location: Square Deal Gallery
1460 S. Colorado Blvd, Denver, CO  (next to Black Eyed Pea Restaurant)
Contact: Vanessa Martin; Click HERE to contact her.

Special Exhibit Information: You may enter up to 3 matted and framed
artworks, wired and ready to hang. At least one artwork will be hung, and
second and third images may be hung if there is room. We have room for about
45 to 50 paintings. Please include genus and species if known, common names are always good, and you may title the work.
Click HERE for the Entry form.