Lots of News

I had to take a month off as BlogMeister, due to some health needs. Feeling much better, and with my apologies regarding timeliness of posting, here's all the news that's fit to print!

First up: ASBA Conference!
This was an amazing event. Attendees were blown away by the organization, support and content offered to them. At the banquet, Susan Fisher called up Committee Chairs, and then, in her inimitable style, thanked each committee members. In your Botanical Artist, which should have just arrived, you'll find a rundown on the happenings and most importantly, the vibe of this conference, which included the most intense sharing, conversation, friendships and fun I ever seen. So, check out the details in TBA!

Conference Coordinator Marilyn Garber loved working with us, and sent this lovely card and note:

Dear RMSBA Members,

Thank you soooo much for everything you did to make the ASBA Denver Conference successful!  Your great team made my job easy.  We could never accomplish such a diverse and interesting conference without the support of people "on the ground"  Your willingness to pitch in and get the job done is much appreciated.  Every detail was taken care of by you all - from the complexity of putting on Small Works to choosing the right hotel the right transportation company, to the lovely brush holder gift, to the beautiful banquet center pieces - and much, much, much, more.  Even the zombie event was lots of fun for our members!  Like the first conference in Denver, this second one was a huge success - all due to your work.

With great appreciation,

Marilyn

The wrap party happened at our regular October Member Meeting. Becky Hall organized and managed amazing finger food, Heidi Snyder provided an heirloom Black Forest Cake made with, truly, an heirloom kirschwasser (cherry liquor) as a a special ingredient, as well as sugar/gluten free individual cakes for those who require them. There was champagne, mimosas, and faux-mimosas with great sparkling apple cider.

Dorothy DePaulo led the discussion assessing strengths and weaknesses, how to help the next Conference organizers for the event in Miami next year, and then passed the podium to floor, asking each member present who had attended the conference to discuss their individual experiences. Again, there were helpful comments, but the theme of all comments was the absolute pleasure working together provided. We were all somewhat tearful that the effort was over, and yet happy to have done it right!

In closing, on behalf of RMSBA, Dorothy presented Susan Fisher, Conference Coordinator, and Ronda Ballard, who were present at committee meetings, work sessions, stuffing events and pretty much anywhere you needed them for the entire year of planning, with gift certificates. Many thank yous,  followed by applause from the entire group and hugs all around closed the meeting. Susan and Ronda send many thanks to the members for their help AND the lovely gift certificates.

Susan (left) and Ronda say, "Thank you, RMSBA, for your kind thank you gift. The ASBA conference was a great experience for us because of this terrific group of hard working botanical enthusiasts!"

 

Changes Afoot!

Every healthy organization benefits from changes in leadership, and we are definitely a healthy organization! In that vein, here are some things to look forward to in 2015:

RMSBA President: Vanessa Martin has accepted the position of RMSBA president. You know Vanessa from her tireless work for Exhibitions. In her new position, she'll continue to lead us into new growth and adventures.

Treasurer: Vicki MacWilliam has served in this position forever! Many thanks for her amazing dedication. She has now passed the baton to Ronda Ballard. Ronda was our first Treasurer, and we're so pleased she's helping again!

November Member Meeting:
Don't miss this opportunity to hang out with fellow artists at the Rocky Mountain Land Library. This amazing resource serves botanists, artists, authors, naturalists and historians with a collection of books that exist because of this land we live on.

 

The meeting this month will be on Sunday, November 30th at 1:00 p.m. at the Rocky Mountain Library's  Waterton Canyon Library (located at Denver Water's Kassler Center). 

This library is so unique and such an important resource for us as botanic artists. It is truly one of the most unusual libraries in America! and it is right here in Colorado! You don't want to miss this.
Please visit the Rocky Mountain Land Library at https://landlibrary.wordpress.com/ to find out more about about this unusual library.
We will be visiting their Waterton Canyon Library and they will be telling us more about their South Park Library/Inn as well. 
As always, feel free to bring a piece of art to share with us.

Directions from C-470 & Wadsworth Blvd:

Go south on Wadsworth, 4.4 miles. Turn Left onto Waterton Road. You'll quickly pass the Audubon Center to your left. Continue on Waterton and you'll see a cluster of White brick buildings to your right. At the far end of those buildings, turn right into the Kassler Center parking lot. The library is located in the brown building, which is the first building to your right as you pass through the gate. 

Here's anAudubon link that has a couple of maps (folks just need to remember that we are just south of Audubon, and on the opposite side of Waterton Road):

http://www.denveraudubon.org/auduboncenter/location-hours/

New BlogMeister: Libby Kyer (that's me!) created our blog 3.5 years ago. I offered to do this when the Board was trying to decide how/if to continue the website. At that time, the best option for an easily updated web presence was a blog. Benefits included it's complete timeliness, as it could be updated each and every day if needed, as well as flexibility in layout and design. Since then, it has become a valuable tool for RMSBA functions and mission goals. However, it's time for Libby to pass our blog to a new BlogMeister. Our immediate past president Dorothy DePaulo has volunteered to step in and learn the ropes.  Here's Dorothy!

 

Dorothy is an accomplished artist and becoming an author with her book with Heidi Snyder about Wild in the City - the flora and fauna that thrive in city parks and preserves. To add to her busy schedule, she's volunteered to be your BlogMeister starting in January of 2015. Here's a sample of her artwork, entitled "Spotted Towhee," created in colored pencil on film:

 



Dorothy is excited about learning to create an interesting and informative blog for you. You can help her by emailing her images and words about your life as an artist and RMSBA member. Let her know if March's Drawing a Day theme is something you enjoyed and benefitted from. Have a conversation about online exhibitions using the blog - pro or con! Update your member gallery, to provide fresh new artwork for members and patrons to enjoy. And look for great new things right here! Starting with about 12,000 views in our first full year, we now total over 74,000 views from interested folks around the world! Yep, WORLD!! Take advantage of this wonderful service to you, your art, and our organization.

I'll continue until the end of the year, and then help Dorothy learn the ropes in the next couple of months. This has been a great learning experience for me, and rather unexpectedly, so much fun! I'll miss providing this service to you, but have loved the support offered, and know the new Blogmeister will love it as much as I have.

 

A Unique Exhibition Featuring the Work of Susan Rubin

You can see Susan's work HERE, and check Spark Gallery HERE. Susan is Co-Director of the Gallery.

"Drawing Nature" art exhibit, San Francisco Botanical Gardens at the Library

Artists Reception
Thursday September 6, 5–7PM

Celebrate fall with the Sonoma County Colored Pencil Artists at a special reception Thursday, September 6 at the Helen Crocker Russell Library of Horticulture. The exhibit runs September 5 – December 30 and focuses on the changing colors of falling leaves, fruit and flowers. All artwork in the exhibition is for sale, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the Library.

Don't Miss RMSBA's Exhibit High on Botanicals Currently on Display at Square Deal Gallery

This lovely exhibit opened 15 July, with the opening reception on July 19. Square Deal Gallery is located at 1460 South Colorado Boulevard, Denver, CO, just next to Black Eyed Pea Restaurant on the east side of the Boulevard. Here are some images to whet your appetite! Many of the artworks are for sale!

Catalpa speciosa, colored pencil, Vanessa Martin

 

Vanessa supplied the images below of the exhibit setting. Nice work!

 

 

 

 

 

Linden Branch, colored pencil on film, Vanessa Martin

Showy Milkweed pods, water color, Vanessa Martin

Wild in the City Opening Tomorrow Evening

You won't want to miss this opening! Here are the details, and few images to encourage you! And remember, you can click on any image for a larger version. See you there!

 

 

 

 

Western Painted Turtle, colored pencil on Mylar, Heidi Snyder

 

 

 

Meadow, colored pencil on Mylar, Heidi Snyder

 

Egret and Shore Birds, colored pencil on Mylar, Heidi Snyder

 

 

 

Black Hooded Night Heron, colored pencil, Dorothy DePaulo

Don't miss this unique and beautiful exhibition!

 

 

Click on any picture for a larger version of the work

 

Dorothy DePaulo and Heidi Snyder had a great idea for this large body of work - document the natural visitors found in a city park near their homes. Dorothy and Heidi have been working on this project for over a year, trekking out in all weather, to find all the nooks and crannies of Belmar Park. And the things they have found are wonderful. Here are a couple more images to whet your curiosity!

 

Cattail Habitat, colored pencil on Mylar, Heidi Snyder

 

 

 

Blue Heron, colored pencil on Mylar, Dorothy DePaulo

 

 

 



Day 4 - A Drawing a Day

 Drawing on the Masters

Drawing is the 'bones' of art. You have to be able to walk before you can run.

Dion Archibald

  

Click HERE to see a great book, Notes on Drawing Lessons from the Great Masters, with examples of using highlight and lowlight shadings on colored paper to good effect.

Note the use of toned paper, white and dark marks.

Study, colored pencil on black paper, Annie Reiser

"Just today I prepared this exercise for my Luiz Melendez still life class at the Gardens. We are working on black and I wanted to show how well black works with reflective surfaces like glass and silver. I sketched a contour from one of Melendez's beautiful paintings and quickly worked it up in CP on black. Unfortunately, I didn't have

the time to show what is reflecting on the silver plate and in the glass -

but it relays the message I think." Annie Reiser

How About: Try your hand using colored or toned papers. As you can see, you can great drama, action and light in a drawing very quickly, using the paper color or tone as your foil.


New Image! This is from Connie Sayas, and is a leaf study; the steps in painting a geranium leaf in watercolor. She says it's more than a drawing, but you can see the drawing process at the beginning in the first leaf, with some color applied, and then the progression to a finished, and beautiful, geranium leaf. You can see more of Connie's finished works HERE.

 

Click HERE to send your drawing scans to share.

 

Botanical Art with Altitude Shines This Summer in Member Exhibition - Call for Entries

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.

The exhibit is titled "Botanical Art, with Altitude!," and 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.

Botanical Art with Altitude
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.

Holiday Gifts Created with Botanical Art

In November, 11 colored pencil students gathered in a class led by Libby Kyer to create festive cutting boards in “Cutting Edge Art.” Over 3 days, we made strong compositions suitable to be reproduced for glass cutting boards. Many students ordered multiples of their works after they saw the finished results on their first cutting board. It was a great class, resulting in new skills in colored pencil and composition and a great gift, hand-made for the holidays. Check out some of the results!

 

"Pumpkin Fest," the completed cutting board photographed on a dark cloth. You can see the pattern of the glass on the board, which is why artists created images with strong color and detail, to show well through the glass. This one is by Jan Boyd-Haring. Her finished artwork is shown below.

 

This vibrant image reproduced well under glass, and shows up  more clearly than in the photo above, but design must take the glass texture into consideration.

 

One of the great pleasures of this class was seeing the variety of composition, color and approach exhibited among the artists. Check it out!

 

 

Autumn Leaves by Kristi Czajkowski

 

 

 

Cherry Lattice by Carol Varian

 

 

 

The Gourd by Elizabeth Lococz

 

 

 

 



Gourd #1 by Mary Barnes

 

 

 

 

 

Harvest by Vickey Wood

 

 

 

 

Herbs by Katy Howe

 

 

 

 

Sunflower by Hannah Rottman

 

 

It being the beginning of a new year, perhaps it's time to look into classes you might find inspiring, challenging or needed. Take a look and some good leads under Workshop Listings. You'll find drawing classes from Susan Rubin and Marjorie Leggitt, a range of botanical art classes from the School of Botanical Art and Illustration at the Denver Botanic Gardens, and links to Colorado Institute of Art and Art Students League of Denver. Especially in cold weather, it's nice to have a good studio to go to and share a learning experience with other artists. Hope to see you in the educational scence soon! 

 

Heidi Snyder's Work Accepted into FON XIII

Congratulations, Heidi! She tells us:
All [images] are based on my personal reference photos (yes, I saw the osprey), and done in pencil [and colored pencil] on drafting film, with some ink and pastel on the back and in case of the osprey, 2 layers of drafting film with a third layer of pastel on paper. I am humbled and elated to have gotten in."

Mullein by Heidi Snyder

Alamos Barrel Cactus, colored pencil, Heidi Snyder

 

 

Osprey, colored pencil, Heidi Snyder

New Gallery Opens with RMSBA Member

Valkarie Gallery originated from the creative minds of founding members Frank Farrar, Valerie Savarie and Karrie York. Together, they envisioned a space where they could collectively create and display their art. A place where they could invite a diverse collection of artists to exhibit their work and whose art greatly inspired the creation of their own. Both gallery and working studio, Valkarie is owned and run by artists, for artists and invites the community to join us in the celebration of all things creative! RMSBA member Dorothy DePaulo is a contributing member to this new gallery.

Opening and Inaugural Exhibition: November 1, 2013 - January 12, 2014
Valkarie Gallery
445 South Saulsbury Street
Lakewood, CO

Find out more by clicking here.

Dorothy's featured piece is Mesquite, colored pencil on film, which was recently purchased by the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum for their permanent collection. Congratulations, Dorothy.

RMSBA Member Susan Rubin featured in To The Point

The Colored Pencil Society of America featured Susan Rubin in their Artist Profile feature in the June 2013, Vol. 22 No. 2 issue. Cynthia Haase, President of CPSA, had a long and interesting chat with Susan earlier in the year. Check it out! Susan has an interesting, amusing and very informed view about her art. You'll enjoy the read.

Planning for your garden

This summer, gardens will need to be very water thrifty. Not enough precipitation means less moisture - falling or collected - for garden plants. What to do? Well, selecting plants that can handle a hotter, drier climate than usual is a good place to start. An excellent place to locate plants that are up to the task is Plant Select. One of this year's winners is Narbonne Blue Flax, Linum narbonense.

This Mediterranean form of blue flax is much more long-lived and fuller than the western native species. Blooming for months on end, the deep sky blue flowers are larger and more flaring. This robust plant offers a dense mound of attractive, nearly evergreen foliage for garden borders, wildflower gardens and informal plantings.

Another selection blooms for most of the growing season. The lustrous, fuchsia-colored flowers are an improvement on Delosperma cooperi. During the winter the leaves remain turgid and green, often tinged with purple. This image is by Libby Kyer, in graphite and colored pencil, and was used in the publication which celebrated the Plant Select project.

Click here  Durable Plants for the Garden to take a look at the book produced locally, which includes lots of great tips for designing and selecting plants for your garden. 

 

Drawing a Day

Tulipa, Tulips, in colored pencil on film, Dorothy DePaulo

 

Well, today is the last day of our March Drawing a Day project, to jump start you into art. Hopefully, you've found helpful hints, technique tips, and most importantly, inspiration from other members. Spring has sprung, and it's pretty exciting to see living things poking up through the warmed soil, ready for us to discover and represent.

Many thanks to all the members who participated. Seventeen members sent artworks! Can't do it without you. And, if you have a piece you'd like featured on our blog, please send a .jpg to rmsbartists@gmail.com. We'll post it for you.

Remember, our annual online exhibit, Remembering Summer, is posted for 2 months in October and November. It's a great way to get your art seen and generally has thousands of hits on the Internet. Now that you're all ready to capture nature this summer, plan ahead to submit several images to this exhibit. Entries are not jurored, and yet, we receive amazing beautiful artworks each year. Looking forward to seeing the fruits of your labors.

Drawing a Day

Populus tremuloidis, Quaking Aspen, colored pencil on film, Heidi Snyder

Drawing a Day

Study of leaf arrangements on miniature Dendrobium, colored pencil on toned paper, Libby Kyer
Using toned paper allows for quick (10 minutes) exploration of form and light. Actual size of little orchid leaves here is 2" for the center leaf. The leaves are very succulent, so form is extra important.

Drawing a Day

Aliciella sedifolia, colored pencil, Teresa Burkert

 

Teresa reports, I have been doing this little kid a lot...more than it shows!...instead of small items on a daily basis." And that's another really helpful way to do a drawing a day - focus on one specimen.

Draw the specimen again and again until you like your drawing, then start finishing techniques. The benefits of working this way are many. You get to know your specimen in a way few have the time. Each time you rework, re-see, re-imagine, or re-toss, you're learning more and more and more. Building on your on work, in a series, or simply in a longer creation process hits all the right notes for growth and improvement. What could be better?

Drawing a Day

Live horse study in a corral, oil on watercolor paper, Constance Sayas

 

 

Sketching in the corral, oil paint on watercolor paper, 5" x 7"  by Connie Sayas

 

Drawing a Day

Attached is my drawing of Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis, Buddha's Hand. Have been fascinated with this plant since I first saw it in the Orangery at DBG. My fascination is in part because of the unusual form of the fruit, the contrast between the buds and flowers and the fruit, and in part because it flowers all year long.

Color pencil on Arches 140 lb. HP.
Cyndy Calkins

Applied Art

Botanical art works well in a variety of applications. For example, this beautiful e-card was created by Annie Reiser, using a Bo-Tangle image she had created, with a snapshot of lace and some beautiful lettering, computer generated and written by the artist. In it's life, the one image - a bo-tangled heart - was used as a Bo-Tangle project, a computer design project to group it with design elements in an artful way, and finally as a beautiful e-card. One image, three uses.

 

 Having more than one application for your work is a nice way to spread the concept of botanical art, enter exhibits, and engage new viewers. During a pre-holiday class on wreaths, swags and garland drawn for holiday uses, Libby Kyer created the wreath below as a demonstration for her colored pencil class.

 

 

Then, the image was segmented to create a calendar, which was created with individual calendar cards for each month, designed to fit into a miniature CD jewel case.

 

 

 





 



However, the actual final use for the image was on an 8" round textured glass cheese plate, with lovely little cheese knives to match.  One image, used to teach, to create a calendar, and to create holiday presents. Because of these single images, new techniques were learned and new audiences were engaged.

As you get ready to create drawings for our "Drawing a Day" event in March, think of ways you might use your images: sketching/drawing to feed your muse, or as the basis for a more completed artwork in other media, as part of a coloring book for 3rd graders learning about botany and plants, as notecards, as small framed prints, as glass cutting boards or cheese plates, and so many more possibilities. One drawing can improve your art and provide new insights into botanical art for many new viewers. Have fun!