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, August 26, 2013

Member's Art Selected for Cover

The Arizona Sonora Desert Museum selected Dorothy DePaulo's Prosopis glandulosa - Post mortem, Mesquite after Death, for the cover of their August Announcements email newsletter. Congratulations, Dorothy. We're so pleased to see this quality piece recognized.

16th Annual ASBA/NYHort Exhibit Opens in September

16th Annual International
American Society of Botanical Artists at The Horticultural Society of New York
148 W. 37th Street, 13th Floor
New York, NY 10018
September 20 – November 22, 2013
Reception Friday, September 20, 6:00 – 8 PM

This exhibit continues to grow and expose more artists to the NYC art scene. If you're in the area, don't miss the 16th Annual International. It's a great experience with great crowds, food and art.

 
Ferocactus latispinusm, Devil's Tongue Barrel Cactus, Graphite and colored pencil,
16x16",  Joan McGann 2013
 

 

Bergenia crassifolia, Siberian Tea, 18x13.5", Watercolor on paper, Mary Ann Scott, 2012
 
 Jurors Patricia Jonas, Kathie Miranda, and Derek Norman met in April to select 45 artworks among 222 submissions from around the world. 

Hailing from around the US, and from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Italy, Japan, and the UK, the following artists had artworks accepted for exhibition: Rosalind Allchin, Bobbi Angell, Deb Chirnside, Monika deVries Gohlke, Carri DiCostanzo, Rosemary Donnelly, Beverly Duncan, Jean Emmons, Akiko Enokido, Ingrid Finnan, Patricia Giebutowski, Cherie Ann Gossett, Asuka Hishiki, Wendy Hollender, Yuko Inujima, Joan Keesey, Heeyoung Kim, Ku-mie Kim, Karen Kluglein, Kay Kopper, Lucy Martin, Joan McGann, Carrie Megan, Tomoko Ogawa, George Olson, Sharron O’Neil, John Pastoriza-Pinol, Lynne Railsback, Dick Rauh, Sarah Roche, Betsy Rogers-Knox, Lizzie Sanders Mitsuko Schultz, Mary Ann Scott, Elaine Searle, Julia Trickey, Denise Walser-Kolar, Catherine Watters, Kerri Weller, Carol Woodin, and Fatima Zagonel.

A catalog will be published to accompany the exhibition, go to the ASBA Website for further information on purchasing the catalog and exhibition activities, or contact Carol Woodin, Director of Exhibitions, exhibitions@asba-art.org, 866.691.9080

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Updates for our Member Meeting Friday, 23 August 2014, 1 PM

Member Meeting,
Denver Botanic Gardens, Helen Fowler Library,
1 PM, August 23 2013
Hope you are planning to attend the very special Helen Fowler Library archives presentation prepared for us by April Miller, Librarian. Artifacts on display include:

De Historia Stirpium Commentarii Insignes… by Leonhart Fuchs.  Published in Basel circa 1542.
The Herball or Generall Historie of Plantes by John Gerard.  Published in London in 1633. 

Florilegium Renovatum et Auctum by Johann Theodor de Bry.  Published in Frankfurt in 1641.


Temple of Flora, or, Garden of the Botanist, Poet, Painter, and Philosopher: being, picturesque botanical plates of the New Illustration of the Sexual Systerm of Linnaus by Robert John Thornton. (Image above)  Published in London in 1799.


The Orchid Album (11 volumes) written by Robert Warner and illustrated by John Nugent Fitch.  Published in London from 1882-97.
Laelia Purpurata Williamsii pictured above


 
British Wild Flowers by Jane Loudon.  Published in London in 1846. Image above.
The Botanical Magazine by William Curtis.  Published in London starting in 1787.

Styles and techniques change through the ages, but the beauty never pales. April will also show a few Pierre Joseph Redoute lithographs, an Anne Ophelia Dowden artwork, and two vintage Burpee seed/nursery catalogs.
When you arrive at the DBG, inform ticket takers that you are at the Gardens for a meeting in the Library. Admission tickets are not necessary. If you'd like to arrive early, you can tour the Gardens prior to the meeting. The Gardens especially are lush right now. DBG closes at 2 PM today to prepare for it's annual Fete de Fleur fund-raiser, so touring the gardens after the Library is not available on Friday.
Hope to see you all there!
 

Following in the Bartram's Footsteps

Contemporary Botanical Artists Explore the Bartrams' Legacy - A Traveling Exhibition

This show is boffo, as they say in showbiz! Look for a venue near you, and enjoy the display. You can also check out The Botanical Artist for their new feature, Beyond the Bartram's. It's a brief but interesting history of botanical exploration in the US, during colonial and early nation state days, and into the 19th century.

 
Franklinia alatamaha, Franklinia, Watercolor, © Karen Kluglein 2012
 
 

 
Spigelia marilandica, Indian Pink, Watercolor on Vellum, 9.5x7.5, Judith Simon 2012
This exhibition features 44 artworks of plants grown, sold, and introduced by John and William Bartram, centered upon their native US plant introductions. Go here The Bartram's in America to find out more about these fascinating 18th century plantsmen.
 
This travelling exhibition is scheduled at the following venues:
 
2013South Florida Museum
201 10th Street West
Bradenton, FL
September 19 - December 30, 2013

Cherokee Garden Library/Atlanta History Center
130 West Paces Ferry Road NW
Atlanta, GA
March 17 - June 17, 2014

North Carolina Botanical Garden
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
August 30 - November 2, 2014

University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley
200 Centennial Drive
Berkeley, CA
December 2014 - February 2015

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Very Special Members Meeting Scheduled for Friday, 23 August, 1 PM

A woodland medley of Mushrooms, watercolor, by Anne Ophelia Dowden

A special treat for RMSBA members will occur at this upcoming meeting, to be held at the Denver Botanic Gardens Helen Fowler Library. Librarian April Miller will present treasures from the Library and Art Collections holdings, ranging from 15th century herbals to scientific artwork created by and for explorers to contemporary masters like Anne Ophelia Dowden. These amazing pieces of botanical art and illustration history will provide information, a link to the past, and most of all, inspiration to the botanical artist. Mark your calendars! You won't want to miss this.

Friday, August 16, 2013

Time for a Wonderful Exhibition


The Wildlife Experience in Parker once again hosts the artists of RMSBA, this time with a collection of autumnal works by members. Don't miss the Artist's Reception next Saturday, the 24th, a great time to see the artworks and visit with friends and artists.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Biennial Focus on Nature wants you!

FON XII logo
 
Dear Artists and Friends,

The Focus on Nature XIII (FON XIII) exhibit on-line entry is now open. Please visit the website, click here: FON XIII,  for more detailed information.

Focus on Nature is a juried biennial, international exhibit of natural history illustration. It began in 1990 with the intention of highlighting illustrations that are done in support of natural and cultural history research and education. This is still the primary goal of the exhibitions that now includes an on-line catalog with artists' commentary.

There are five jurors for FON. The guest jurors, one artist and one scientist, for FON XIII are Alan Male from England and Steve Young of the USA. Alan Male has had the most number of pieces selected to be included in FON exhibits as well as winning several FON Awards. He has 30 years of experience as a professional illustrator including 27 complete books and an international clientele. He is currently head of the Illustration Program and senior lecturer at the Falmouth College of Arts, England. Steve Young is chief botanist with the New York Natural Heritage Program. Standing jurors are Dr. Carl George, professor emeritus of biology at Union College, and Dr. Charles Ver Straeten and Patricia Kernan of Research and Collections, New York State Museum.

Up to 2 submissions in any one subject and/or media are allowed. No more than a total of 4 entries will be considered. There is no entry fee for Focus on Nature. The artwork submission deadline is October 1, 2013. If you have any question, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Patricia Kernan, Focus on Nature curator
 
 
Midwest Summer by Sandra Williams
gouache, 2000, 22"w x 29"h

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Time to plan your fall workshops -

 
Workshops, classes, master classes and demonstrations all feed your inner artist. The subject need not be strictly botanical. It should be about furthering your skills, touching your inner artist, finding a way to dance with your paintings, experimenting with new media, learning new materials, or simply taking a break from botanicals to get really, really abstract! Check out local offerings from around our area here: 
 
 


The Art Students League of Denver has courses in the fall that will enlarge your artistic repertoire. Get their catalog here: ASLD Classes


Summer/Fall Botanical Illustration course catalog

Check out Denver Botanic Gardens class offerings, including master classes and great electives, here:
DBG Classes

Try the Lakewood Arts Council for workshops, including some of our own distinguished members at:
LAC Workshops

The Denver Art Museum has a variety of classes in the arts. Check them out at DAM Art Classes