Artist to Visit LGBG

Betty Gatewood's work is represented in the nature journaling show, currently at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Library. She will visiting the LGBG Library on March 30 from 1:00 to 4:00!  From the garden's announcement of this visit:

"Midway through her college career, Betty Gatewood changed her interest from laboratory science to the "outdoor" sciences of ecology and natural history; she's been outdoors ever since, teaching, learning, observing, and painting.

Instead of presenting the perfect specimen, Betty paints it as it is - the dynamic life stages of the dandelion, delicate detail of the broomsedge that dominates our Valley fields, to the bug-eaten leaflets of the Virginia Creeper.  her perfection the perfection of the survivor.

Betty provided the cover art for Virginia's Mountain Treasures, published by the Wilderness Society, and for the Virginia Native Plant Society's Wildflower of the Year 2009 brochure.  She has co-conducted local art and journaling workshops for teachers.

Betty is the teacher-in-residence at Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, teaching teachers and students about watershed conservation and place-based education.  Getting students outside to observe, analyze and document the natural world through art and journaling is her passion.  Frequently on her outdoor ramblings, she is accompanied by her husband Mark, an avid outdoorsman, who often suggest particular subjects to document with her art. "

Please come by to meet her and see the exhibit before it is gone!

Exhibition Opportunity: Botanica

Exhibition Opportunity, BASNCR Membership, Brookside Classes

  By Jane Zander

From The Montgomery Parks, MD Website: 

"Botanica 2013: The Art & Science of Plants - June 29 - August 9.

This annual juried exhibition of botanical art by teachers, current and former students is displayed at Brookside Gardens’ Visitors Center. This year we are delighted to share this exhibition venue with artworks completed by members of the Botanical Art Society of the National Capital Region. Be sure to allow time when visiting Brookside to enjoy this beautiful art, inspired by a love and a fascination for plants, portrayed in the finest of detail."

From Jane Zander: Please submit works to Botanica.   We are encouraging  ALL BASNCR (Botanical Artists of the Northern Capital Region) members (information on joining BASNCR is below) to send 3- 5 pieces of work to Botanica, an exhibition of Botanical art in the Vistor Center of  Brookside Garden in Wheaton, Maryland. This exhibition is a collaboration with Brookside Garden’s School of Botanical Art and Illustration  http://www.montgomeryparks.org/brookside/botanical_art_school.sht   International artist, Margaret Saul will jury all art work.  Part of the exhibition will focus on students from her school, but there will be a section of the show that displays art work by BASNCR  members.  This is the first time that members, who do not have a previous affiliation with Brookside, have been invited to exhibit.  BASNCR Members living in Central Virginia will be able to car pool their work to the exhibition for set-up and take-down.

These link will take you to exhibit information: 
Botanica 2013 Exhibitor Information and Guidelines
And here is the entry form:

Botanica 2013 Entry Form    

Please read both documents carefully.  The exhibit is from June 29- August 9. Submissions deadline is May 13. Take down is 9:00 August 10. Brooksidelearning@montgomeryparks.org

Information for joining BASNCR is available on http://basncr.wordpress.com/ Dues are $37, and should be sent to Al Yergey, 10359 Launcelot Ln, Columbia, MD 21044. There is no fee for the exhibition.

We have also applied for a new exhibition and the focus will be on CONTEMPORARY BOTANICAL ART.  The focus is still on botanical accuracy, but it invites increased emphasis on, vitality, composition, and the use of a variety of media. More information about this exhibition will be forthcoming.  However, the fact that Hillary Parker, Scott Rawlings, and Mindy Lighthipe are coming to teach at Brookside was a factor in deciding on this theme.  Each of these artists is innovative in their approach to botanical art and should be able to give your art work an “edge” in this juried competition.  Please sign up for these classes quickly since the deadline is very close.  You can sign on online, or call 301-962-1451. These classes are open to everyone, but online registrants must apply for a Montgomery County Park pass to register.  Telephone registration is also possible, but the registrar is  only available part time.

    

Questions? Contact Jane Zander, President, BASNCR, 804- 320-2808, timber2012@yahoo.com

Interested in Sketching Raptors?

By Jane Zander

Is anyone interested in sketching Owls, hawks, or eagles? I am planning to invite an animal rehabilitator to my home (or neighborhood clubhouse) to sketch an owl close up.  She usually takes the animals to schools.  Her fee is $100 an hour, and the money goes to rehab other animals.  We would split the fee depending on how many people are interested. We could do it more than once because she has a variety of animals, but brings them one at a time.

E-mail me, if you are interested and I will get a date. Jane Zander, timber2012@yahoo.com

Notice: Next Meeting in a New Place!

We will be meeting in the classroom at McGuffey Art Center on April 15.  Members will receive more details in the CVABA Newsletter!

McGuffey Art Center was established in 1975. The City of Charlottesville and McGuffey Art Association shared the renovation of the former McGuffey School which was build in 1916. The building contains galleries, studio space for 45 artists and a gift shop. There is more information about MAC on the website: mcguffeyartcenter.com  

See you there!

Nature Journaling (and a show too!)

Nature Journaling

by Susie Kowalik

 "Redwing and Swallowtail" by Roseanne H. Haaland, TN

   Years ago, I came across a book by Claire Walker Leslie called Keeping a Nature Journal. It was my introduction to Journaling... and the discovery of a wonderful gift, both for myself and those that I have had the privilege of teaching over the years. Ms. Leslie’s definition read thus, “Nature Journaling is the regular recording of observations, perceptions, and feelings about the natural world around you.” At the time, I found that definition a little stringent... especially the use of the term “regular.” It sounded a little bit like work, but it did keep me at it until I gave myself permission to not be so “regular” in my recording, and began to find my own way. I thought, “What a great thing! I don’t have to spend days creating a great work of art! I can find fifteen minutes or half an hour and make a little record, a visual memory, a sketch. Do-able!”

    Nature Journaling could easily be called, keeping a “field journal,” or a “garden journal” - a “sketching journal” or, for some, a “travel journal.”  Erin O’Toole, in her book Create Your Own Artist’s Journal shares these thoughts... “ The main thing I use my journals for is to practice being observant. Observing means letting go of the way I think things ought to look and really seeing them for what they are. I think of myself as a visual reporter. Journals are books of discoveries. They are a curious look at life. A place to capture thoughts. Journals are an excuse to explore new places.”

"Douthat State Park" Betty Gatewood

    Some people find the writing gratifying... some the sketching... some just the joy of being out there being in the natural world and contemplating. Words... images... thoughts..seeing things in a fresh way, and creating a page to remember it by. I often start a page with just a notation with the date, where I am and a little about the weather. Then I might do a small sketch of something that catches my eye... that I want to remember ... a flower, or a bird or a little of the environment I am in. And then I talk about it to myself with words. Words that help me remember. Up and down and around the page. Designing the page. I have come to love using watercolors from a little portable field  box for a quick notation of the colors I am seeing.

Maryann Merritt, Untitled

    Frederick Frank said, “I have learned that what I have not drawn, I have never really seen.” One the day I was studying a tulip and drawing it into my journal. As I looked at it over and over again, the light was changing... and when I looked once again, the sun had found the translucent yellow base of the flower and it glowed! A small, transcendent moment of discovery, but one I would hate to have missed!

Susie Kowalik, "Yard Detritus"

   Although I have never been the “regular recorder” that Ms. Leslie would like me to be, I think these words by Annie Dillard sum up why I do continue to keep Nature Journals... “You were made and set here to give voice to this, your own astonishment.” Isn’t that enough reason to create anything? Even a small page.

Lee Halsted "Pussy Willows"

Blog Masters Note:  Come to Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden during the month of March to see an exhibit of Nature Journals in the Library, in the Education Building.  You will be glad you did! The photos in this blog entry are works from the show.  For directions and information, go to:  Ginter Garden

Check out the orchid show in the conservatory while you are there!

"Come forth into the light of things, let nature be your teacher." Wm. Wordsworth