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.

Friday, July 1, 2011

Happy Fourth of July

The Fourth of July marks the "real" beginning of summer for me. Something about the fecund smell of Earth racing to full bloom, the July Denver 'monsoon' beginning to provide our daily water needs, warm nights, lying on the grass with the kids listening to little blades pushing their way up to the sun, all conspire to make me totally happy. Hope the weekend brings you many summer delights.

Barbara McKee is exhibiting her art at Boulder Arts & Crafts Gallery until July 17th. Barbara studied art in Switzerland and at Cornell College. She has worked thirty years with stained class design and production and has also authored five books on that subject. Her most recent passion is botanical illustration.

In this exhibit, Barbara's botanicals follow all the rules for a correct plate, however she has given a peculiar twist to all her illustrations which definitely make you smile. 
Aquilegia cerulea cv. May Day by Barbara McKeen


There's a new gadget on the right side of the blog. It's a listing of species already selected by those of you  who want to participate in the Rare II project. Check it out soon to get the plant you love.

The Echter's sale is planned for autumn, and PR work is beginning. Carol Till has managed this sale for several years, and now needs to pass that baton to a new manager. RMSBA needs a volunteer for this sale. You'll coordinate activities in regards to the sale and be primary liaison between Echter's and us. It's an extremely rewarding task, with lots of interaction with artists and art lovers new and established. Please contact me at rmsbartists@gmail.com to volunteer. Thanks so much.

In Ephemera, you'll find Ann Fleming's website, Helen Fitzgerald's tutorial on painting a eucalyptus leaf, and another of her tutorials on watercolor depiction of  E ficifolia. Both are informative and inspiring! There's also a link to a natural science art blog that has a lot of birds, in case you're thinking of adding birds to your paintings.



Iris, Colored pencil on film, Dorothy DePaulo

Take a deep breath of Summer. Marvel over the perfect iris. Stretch out on the lawn. Watch the fireworks. It's the right thing to do! And remember, this blog is for you. Send your comments, articles, suggestions and images to rmsbartists@gmail.com. Your gallery page is waiting for your input.


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