Welcome to Central Virginia Botanical Artists, CVABA!
Who are we? CVABA is a circle of artists who are interested in many aspects of the natural world, mostly plants and flowers, but also pollinators and other animals. We draw, paint and photograph the natural world to convey the sense of wonder and beauty we experience when we engage with nature. Many of us are current or former students and teachers at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens Botanical Illustration Program (http://www.lewisginter.org/). Some of us have gallery space, sell our work commercially, are educators or engage in art for sheer pleasure. Most of us are from central Virginia, though we have members from the DC area, Charlottesville and areas beyond in the Commonwealth.
What do we do? We are a new group, established in January of 2012, so many of our plans are for the future. We meet regularly in a studio-like setting to work together, to share knowledge, experience, tools, techniques, advice and commentary regarding our art work, and to experience the fellowship of artists of all skill levels working together. We have participated as a group in two shows, in May at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens and June at Tuckahoe Library, both in Richmond VA. We will be planning more shows and entering exhibits and competitions as we develop as a group and as individuals.
What is this blog about? The purpose of this blog is many fold. It is for members to communicate with each other and with the outside world. We will share news, meeting information, new works, tips, techniques, photographs and art experiences. We will reflect on botanical and nature art, its meaning to us and the meaning of such art to a broader community. It is our hope that many people will enjoy the art we post, as well as our stories about that art.
How do you join? Send an email to CVABAThomas@gmail.com and express your interest.
"A morning-glory at my window satisfies me more than the metaphysics of books."
Walt Whitman
