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.



It's officially summer...

Hesperaloe parviflora, colored pencil on Mylar, Mervi Hjelmroos-Koski

...and that means all those things you planned to do are well underway now. Even with your busy schedule, don't miss the chance to explore works by American modernist Allan Houser (Warm Springs Chiricahua Apache, 1914-1994) in an outdoor sculpture exhibition at Denver Botanic Gardens. Native Roots | Modern Form: Plants, Peoples and the Art of Allan Houser will be at the Gardens from May 1 through November 13, 2011. The sculptures are compelling and monumental.

Native Roots | Modern Form celebrates bonds between people and also presents Native American uses for plants indigenous to the Rocky Mountains and the Southwest. There are some interesting and fun classes in botanical art in association with this exhibit, including Native Earth, an exploration of the forms of Houser's sculpture and the "three sisters" of Native American plants, corn, beans and squash, in colored pencil, with Libby Kyer starting August 12th; Indigenous Plants and Native American Cuisines, an exploration into the broad array of Native American plants used for food, medicine and ceremony, in the medium of your choice with Marjorie Leggitt, starting August 11; as well as classes on Native Grasses with Karla Beatty starting  August 9; and Pen and Ink III: Arizona Legumes II with Marjorie Leggitt starting September 19.

One day soon, when ducking indoors to access a bit of coolth on a hot day, why not take a moment and send me two images of your artwork, to rmsbartists@gmail.com? JPGs are great, about 150 dpi, in color. Include the titles of your paintings, medium/media, and if you wish, a brief note about where you found the specimens you simply had to paint!

Links this week in Ephemera include a pastel tutorial, news about the Kirland Museum, an idea generator on line, and a website with the work of regional arist Peggy Turchette. Enjoy!

Plan Ahead

Plan to check out the GNSI conference, which is fast approaching. Go to their website http://www.gnsi.science-art.com/2011WA/index.html for all the information you'll need to attend this gathering of like minds. Held at Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington, July 10-16, there is truly something for every natural science aficionado. Scrolling over the photos on their home page reveals artwork of the same species by members. Very clever, and a great way to tie art and nature together.


Plan to attend our next RMSBA meeting on the 26th of June (look under Events for the pertinent info) for demos of and hands-on work with M. Graham Watercolors.


The ASBA website to register for our annual conference in Boston this year will open shortly (http://www.asba-conf.org/). You'll get an email from Robin Jess when registration opens. Your Journal should be arriving in the next few days also, and you may register by mail if you prefer. Early registration helps to insure you'll get the classes and activities you most desire!

And finally, plan to nourish your art this summer. Take a look at the four new links in Ephemera. Two watercolor tutorials present methods for creating vibrant summer species. Berries, by Dawn McLeod Heim, shows the way to capturing succulence. Painting the Heidi Klum Rose by Doris Joa is a color saturated method for getting wonderful results. Don't miss the Leaf Tutorial by Ann Swan, and a great little tutorial on plein aire sketching in Drawing Rocks by Diane Wright.

Nature offers so many options this time of year. Try to sketch daily, even if life is too busy to allow for painting. It'll keep your hand in, record daily inspirations, and perhaps set the stage for paintings to come.

Alpine Forget-me-not (Libby Kyer, colored pencil) started as a field sketch on the Peak to Peak Highway, above 10,000 feet high, in June. It made its way into a finished painting sometime in October, using sketches, very brief color studies, and photo references. This plant's flowers are about 1/4" wide, and it has fuzzy leaves to protect it not only from cold, but from the fierceness of the sun at that altitude. It nestles up beside small rocks for protection from wind.

Words

Thinking about art and creativity, one realizes the importance of words. And, conversely, the failings of words. Try to explain the color of red. Or find the words to describe the relationship of a botanical specimen to you and your art. Not always easy. I once described art to a colleague as painting words with pictures.

Jade Vine by Kaye Hurtt, with colors so other-worldly that

finding the right words to describe them is a challenge!

When your creativity needs a muse, right now, write a bit. Find words that describe, challenge, illuminate or amuse. Figure out how to translate those words into paintings. Save your notes! Many of my musings end up art projects that really work.

Some words simply irritate, as they are repeatedly misused! Nucular. Nuclear. Regardless. Irregardless. My pet peeve o' the moment involves the use of the word "medium." So many variations are used to describe the matrix for pigments. Media, mediums, medias. Let's just set the record straight. Medium refers to the carrier for pigments. For example, watercolor describes pigment carried in a water soluble medium. Further defined, it could become more specific, as in gouache, or acrylic, both of which are water media.

There are more obfuscations that we may want to abandon at some point. Colored pencil describes the applicator for a pigment, a handy wood or plastic casing, with pigments carried in a variety of media - wax, oil, water soluble carriers and even chalk. Media for pastels and pencils are determined, generally, by brand. In pencils, PrismaColors could be wax, Polychromos are oil, Caran d'Ache are synthetic wax, and most brands have an "aquarelle" line that is water soluble. Pastels can be "dry" or "oil." They're bound in gum Arabic, with chalks and other additives. The stick is what is generally described by the word pastel, not the media involved in making the pigment usable.. 

When you want to talk about using many carriers for pigments, watercolor with graphite or ink for example, the phrase is "Mixed media." An unfortunate choice would be "mixed mediums." That refers to a diverse group of psychics or a lot of averaging data! Not really what we wanted to say, but some potential for some wonderful puns! And we'll just have to rule "medias" right out!

A word that serves my art is "juxtaposition," literally, putting items in close proximity to one another. In art, I find unusual juxtapositions - items in close proximity where the connections are not necessarily immediate -  create interest, mood and power. To wit, our ant friend below! This image has to make you think, and the addition of words only heightens the impact.

A rose by any other name may smell as sweet, but if it's pictured  with interesting or unexpected companions, it creates a story line, a good way to invite closer viewing of your artwork.

These words are about our next meeting. Lots going on so plan on attending!

Sunday, June 26, Koelbel Library, 1:30 to 5:00 PM

Our agenda includes Carol Till, who will tell us more about the Rare II Project, with scheduled exhibition in 2014.

Then Kirk Gillespie representing M.Graham & Co. Watercolors, a paint manufacturer out of Oregon, will present their approach to making fine quality artist paints.  Kirk likes to keep it pretty loose, answer a ton of questions and share technical and not so technical information.  He has been in the art materials business for 21 years, and has a lot of experience with the chemistry and process of paint making. 


A maker of oil, acrylics, watercolor and gouache, each M. Graham line has qualities and properties that set them apart from other paints. Kirk will talk a little about each medium, we’ll have samples available in watercolor and gouache, and he'll go into deeper detail about those. Bring watercolor paper or your favorite surface for water media, a container for water and your favorite brushes. Come and learn about a truly amazing line of paints- made by hand in the USA.

Hope to see you at Koelbel Library, 5955 S. Holly Street, Centennial, CO 80121.  RSVP to Dorothy DePaulo at ddepaulo@gmail.com.

This week, some new words were added to the dialog of botanical art by Carolyn Payzant. Carolyn is a chemist and artist, and her passion is knowing color. Her new blog is in our Ephemera listing of links. This promises to be a valuable resource for any artist. You'll also find the website for the Arvada Center for the Arts, a lovely museum in our fair cities, a fascinating paper exhibition, and other interesting tidbits.


The ASBA website for Conference registration goes live on 17 June 2011 at http://www.asba-conf.org/. . But you can plan your activities at the Conference website, listed in Contacts, beginning 15 June 2011. Plan now for a wonderful experience. Timely registration helps to insure you get into the wonderful workshops and activities scheduled for us in historic Boston and environs.

Send your words - and pictures! - for use in our blog to rmsbartists@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you!

What a great time we had!

Sunday's meeting opened with some clever storage suggestions and a bit about the value of art journals by Susi Olson. Carol Till discussed the logistics for participating in RARE II, and Libby Kyer presented information about our blog, and how to particpate.

Then, Libby demonstrated Caran d'Ache pencils, a Swiss manufactured colored pencil with intense hue concentrations. Members had the opportunity to test a variety of colored pencils, including Pablos, SupraColor Softs, and Neocolors I and II  on 4 substrates: Fabriano #140 Hot-pressed watercolor paper, Yupo, drafting film and colored stock. We used wet and dry techniques.

Registered participants received samples of Caran d'Ache's product line. Carol Till won the 30 pencil set of SupraColor Softs, Caran d'Ache's watercolor colored pencil. Congrats to Carol and many thanks to Caran d'Ache!!

Libby Kyer demonstrates some great pencils from Caran d'Ache

A broad sampling of products and substrates allows members to test and enjoy products

We broke for a light and tasty lunch, then continued the program with Dorothy DePaulo providing members with a folder that contained instructions, photo reference and film for creating colored pencil paintings on drafting film. Step by step printed instructions led members to use both sides of the film, and finishing suggestions included use of white paint, colored backing papers and more.

Dorothy also shared some of her paintings on drafting film, including a magnificent crow. Heidi Snyder was unable to attend, but sent some of her artworks on film also, including a water lily on a scintillating dark background, with painting on both sides of the film with colored pencils.  Members had time to begin a painting of a fall oak leaf with support from Dorothy.

Dorothy DePaulo's Oak Leaf, colored pencil on drafting film, which served as the basis for a workshop about working on film and techniques uniquely suited to it.

Many thanks to our instructors and to Caran d'Ache. 

Our next meeting is on Sunday, 26 June 2011, Koelbel Library. M. Graham Watercolor will demonstrate their products during this meeting. They create formulations taken from a time when artists relied on natural materials. They have created a watercolor with exceptional amounts of pigment in an old fashioned binding medium of pure gum Arabic and natural blackberry honey. The result is watercolor of extraordinary strength that is easily diluted for smooth, controlled washes and deeper darks. Alive with strength and intensity, watercolor made with honey absorbs moisture from the air, preventing hardening on the palette or in the tube.

"Watercolors" by M Graham Watercolors artist Frederick Graf

The vital stats for this meeting are under Events. This will be our last meeting until Autumn, so don't miss the opportunity to learn a great deal about watercolors, mingle with peers, and catch up on the activities of RMSBA. We'll be asking for your input on the new RARE II project, and for your help and input on the 20th ASBA Meeting and Conference, to be held in Denver in 2014, hosted by RMSBA. We can't do this without you!


Kaye Hurtt captured these two tulips in her garden, and they are the embodiment of Spring. I would love to have more members' artworks. Are you out there?

RMSBA members Carol Till and Maria (MaryJo) Ramsdale will be sharing a booth at the Summer Art Market, the Denver Art Student's League annual art fair. Visit them in Booth #15 on Third Avenue between Sherman and Grant Streets, in Denver June 11 and 12, 10 AM to 5:00 PM.

Carol will be selling her original etchings of plants, animals and six new bird nest etchings. She's also cleaning out the art closet and will have some colored pencil botanical art on sale. Mary Jo will be displaying her portraits and botanical watercolors. This is their fourth year doing the fair together. Only members of the League can exhibit and only original art can be sold at the Art Market.  

For more info about the market see http://www.asld.org/ or the artists' websites: http://www.caroltill.com/ or www.mariaramsdale.com 

Sonoran Sinita, etching by Carol Till

Under Calls for Entries, you'll find the call for our fall exhibit, The Colorado Garden, to be held in September and October. Be sure to make your plans to participate in the exhibition and the opening! 

Check out the Preliminary Call for Entries for the RARE II Exhibition. Yes, it's early, but it will give you lots of time to plan. The list of imperiled plants is there also. Select one from the list to participate in this event. Review the possibilities, select the plant you want, and email Libby at rmsbartists@gmail.com. I'll enter your choice. This is a first come, first served listing, so select early to get the plant of your dreams.

As summer barrels in, don't forget to check out workshops. You may find one perfect for your summer art needs. Making art under warm summer skies has to be about as perfect as life can get.

Last Call...

...For tomorrow's colored pencil workshops at Koelbel Library. If you haven't signed up, now's the time. Click on "Scheduled Events" for the info you need.

Pansy Panel, Colored pencil on paper, Libby Kyer

Congratulations to Susan Rubin and the opening of her exhibit "Five, a sensory garden" last night at Spark Gallery. Colored pencil on Mylar illustrates the senses in a novel and compelling way. Spark Gallery is at 900 Santa Fe Drive. Go to www.sparkgallery.com for all the details.


The RARE II group are revving up for another wonderful project with attendant exhibitions and events. To accommodate the increase in email chatter, they've created a new email address at rare2014@q.com. Send your volunteer capabilities and interests, questions, comments and support to this address. It's an easy way to take that first step and get involved.  


Heads up all you fellow DBG student addicts! If you're taking classes at Denver Botanic Gardens ( and who can resist, really!), here's a special invitation. June 18, 1 to 4 PM, Vanessa Martin is hosting a Botanical Illustration Summer Get-together. She has a large backyard filled with flowers, trees, bushes and other botanicals to sketch, paint or just enjoy. And she's offering lovely nibbles -cheese and crackers, fruit and beverages (wine and others).What could be nicer than fine weather, fine art and fine friends gathered together? Please plan to come and meet your artist friends outside of the classroom. RSVP and all the details are at the DBG registrations site, http://catalog.botanicgardens.org.


I've changed my mind. Not a stunning event for those who know me well, but I believe it's a good move. I'm going to leave the posted links in "Emphemera - A Feast of Links", formerly "Weekly Links," for two weeks. We all live busy lives, and sometimes, a week is not long enough for you to find these sites and enjoy them. So, voila! Two weeks at a time, links will be listed for your enjoyment. Ah, the heady power of the Blogmeister!


Enjoy your 3-day weekend, and take a moment to remember those who work for our freedom every day. May they flourish.

RARE II Begins Planning

Introducing RARE II

Seven RMSBA members who wanted to continue the Rare, Imperiled Plants of Colorado program met in April to discuss continuing this program. It was agreed to continue illustrating Colorado's rare plants, but to focus on the list of globally imperiled plants in the state. That list numbers 121, and 29 of the plants were illustrated in Rare. The idea is to have the remaining 92 plants illustrated by fall of 2014, when the ASBA annual meeting will be in Denver. Could there be RARE II exhibits, books, educational programs, grants to cover framing costs? We need volunteers to make any of that happen.

There will be information about the RARE II program and time for your input at the summer RMSBA meeting.  Come with your ideas and ready to volunteer.

The Call for Entries will be posted on the blog, as well as the imperiled plants list for sign-up.

Carol Till

Sometimes, more is more!

With apologies to Bauhaus, this week,  more is more! Lots of interesting bits to share with you. Let's start with Weekly Links. There are some wonderful sites. I'm particularly thrilled with the catalog of historical botanical prints. Wow, what a treasure trove. The modern take on Albrecht Durer's Rhinoceros is amazing! Durer had never seen a rhino when he created his iconic image. Now it's scheduled to walk the streets! There's a neat little tutorial available on mixing media in botanical art and a link to a Squidoo list of good botanical art books. Squidoo is a great site with so many resources.

I have been an updating obsessive, and you'll now find our Newsletter Archives available. Just click on the issue you want to read and you'll go directly to to our file host site and the desired document. Also, there are a couple of workshop offerings by member artists to check out. Summer is a great time for plein aire painting in any medium, and if you have any qualms about your drawing skills, there's a course for you too.

Our own Susan Rubin is the featured artist at Botanical Interests Seed Company this month. Take a look at her interview and some great art at: bicreativeinspirations.com/featuredartist/.

Flamenco by Susan Rubin

Our next exhibit is in the fall. The call for entries for The Colorado Garden exhibition is loaded into our Calls for Entries gadget. It contains all the particulars for this neat new opportunity. While on the subject of exhibitions, your board is working hard on finding suitable venues for showing your artworks. If you have ideas for venues, contacts at same, or other words of wisdom regarding exhibitions, please do contact me. We value your input.

And finally, I have to ask, where are your gallery pages? My own entry is feeling a little lonely, a little too solitary. So, take some time to put together a biography, gather two or 3 fine images, and then send them to me. I look forward to our Gallery turning into the hot spot for new and beautiful in botanical art!

Botanical Art Sweeps Fashion!

Sometimes, something comes across my desk that has to hit the blog right away. This is one of those times. This artist has such a fun, accomplished eye and wit. Enjoy!
http://shine.yahoo.com/event/green/weedrobes-artist-creates-stunning-garments-from-fruit-weeds-flowers-2482173#photoViewer=9

Everyone's talking about the weather...

...which is why we won't. It is, after all, springtime in the Rockies, and pretty much all options remain open!

However, with the weather getting better, it's time to start planning summer activities. For an incredible experience in nature science illustration, consider the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators annual conference, which will be held in Olympia, WA at Evergreen State College. Their website http://www.gnsi.science-art.com/2011WA/index.html has all the information on a huge array of art education opportunities, workshops, lectures, science updates, field trips and other activities.

The ASBA's conference information will appear in the June issue of The Botanical Artist, due in members' home in mid-June. To be held in Boston this year, it too is chock-full of workshops, lectures, field trips and other exciting activities. The opening reception will be held at Harvard Museum in the Glass Flowers collection, the amazing glass models of the father-son team of the Blashka family. These models were prepared to allow Harvard science students to study biology during the long, dark, Boston winters. You won't believe your eyes. This is just one example of the thousands of models created. The process to make these models died with the Blashka's. Go to http://bostonasba2011.blogspot.com/ for full information!

This week's links have some great art collections, two sites on the value of values in your art, and a link to a great orchid artist.

I look forward to getting your Gallery Pages. This is a free service that will put you on the web!

So glad Spring has arrived! This beautiful painting by Dorothy DePaulo is called "Bees in the Blossoms" and certainly reflects my attitude toward the season, as I am so ready for blue skies, warm weather, beautiful blossoms and of course, bees busily at work. And it leads me to remind you that there is a very special Chapter meeting on the 29th of May (See Events Scheduled for details) where you'll be treated to a number of great demos and exercises using colored pencil, the medium for this image. The meeting consists of two parts.

First, I'll be demonstrating the very pigment rich colored pencils, Caran d'Ache, for you on a variety of papers, and you'll have the opportunity to work along with me. There are some great handouts also, and samples for each person who attends, courtesy of Caran d'Ache. Also, there's a door prize they have generously provided.

Next, Dorothy and Heidi Snyder will demonstrate colored pencil on Mylar. Such a great technique! You'll have the opportunity to work along with them too, learning by doing. And of course, there's food! So, if you're interested, please sign up now. Contact Susi Olson for a reservation. The class is limited to 20 people and it is first come, first served.

Take a look at this week's links for inspiration and fun. Remember, we're botanical artists, and that means we should cultivate our skills as often as we garden this time of the year. Wandering online is a little addictive, but these links should give you some good advice, good ideas or good fun, and you don't have to spend an hour looking for them.

I've added a link, in Organization Links, to the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. The Museum is celebrating 50 years of conservation, education, and art. Their Art Institute offers a Certificate in Nature Illustration. Wander around the site a bit and discover the images that typify desert life. The palette of colors is so unique.

Here are a few ways you can help your RMSBA to grow:
     Suggest a venue for exhibition.
     Volunteer to serve on a committee.
     Invite an artist friend to a meeting.
     Offer to teach a mini-workshop at a meeting.
     Send your bio and images for your own gallery page.
     Contribute images that I can use on the blog.
     Send your thoughts and musings and fun facts and important facts to me for posting.

Probably enough rambling for today! Hope to see you at the meeting on the 29th. Remember to register early to insure your spot in the workshops.

Now, get out there and paint!

Libby, AKA the BlogMeister!

Don't Miss a Single Good Moment...

...of exciting times with the RMSBA. If you haven't paid dues yet, now is the time. It will insure that you get to participate in RMSBA meetings and workshops for members only, and it will also insure that your contact info is included in the ASBA Member Directory. Drop your dues in the mail now, and you'll be good to go for the whole year. There are many wonderful things coming up, in Colorado, and in Boston for the Annual Meeting and Conference. Be there!

Third RMSBA Tagawa Sale Blooms!

RMSBA Art Sale at Tagawa Greenhouses Showcases Botanical Art

We had a lilght-filled and well-traveled location within the greenhouses this year, our  third sales event at this venue. Tagawa graciously provides us with this opportunity in the spring. It supports botanical art, and also brings in art lovers who love gardening and flowers too. Our location gave us provided us with more visitors at a steadier rate than in previous years, as well as better conditions for visitors to view the artworks. Sales totaled about $2000.

Thanks to all the participating artists, volunteers who manned the display and assisted with sales, and to the organizers, ably chaired by Mary Jo Ramsdale. The 2012 Sale is scheduled for April, and we’re looking at possibilities of expanded sales opportunities during specialty events at Tagawa, including the Rose Society, African Violet Society, Daylily Society and the Edible Plant Growers.

It’s springtime, and flowers aren’t the only things growing! This is your new RMSBA blog. We’re replacing the website with our blog, because the blog is easily, quickly and inexpensively (free!) changed in a timely fashion. Here’s what you’ll find:

The header of our blog summarizes our mission statement. If your friends and other artists are curious about what we do to support you and your art, refer them to rmsbartists.blogspot.com.

There will always be “boilerplate.” Our chapter logo from the ASBA, information about our beginnings, officer listing and copyright statement will appear anytime you open the blog.

You have the opportunity to submit pictures and a bio for your own Gallery Page. Click on “Sample Gallery Page” to see what it will look like. Then, pull together 3 to 5 images, write up a brief (300 word) biography and captions for your images, and send them to rmsbartists@gmail.com. Blog editor Libby Kyer will format your entries into a gallery page, and put them in the listing for instant connection.

Scheduled events are listed here, including Chapter meetings, sales events, exhibition openings, etc. To list an event, email your information to Libby.

Newsletter Archives are under construction, but shortly, we’ll have 2 years of newsletters available at the touch of a button. Look for this feature to be finished soon!

Calls for Entries will appear when they are available. At this time, we have 4 great exhibitions in the works, and you’ll see the calls shortly.

Organization links are posted to allow you quick contact with websites that serve you. Have a link you think others will use frequently? Send it to Libby.

This Week’s Links are opportunities for you to find great botanical art, online lessons, and art sites to stretch your concepts of art, and many more informational offerings. Please send in your suggestions too!

There’s a Blog Archive that will contain older posts. You may be trying to remember an address or event, or even a post. The blog will have 30 days of posts available, and then the Archive. Nothing is lost!

You’ll also be able to comment on posts, and you can submit a post via rmsbartists@gmail.com. Photos are very welcome.

And finally, adding your information to the Follwer button will insure that anytime a post is made, you'll be informed.

We hope you like this new service, powered by BlogSpot and RMSBA volunteers. It’s a growing path to all things botanical!