Lara Call Gastinger's Spring Classes

Lara Call Gastinger, botanical artist and illustrator for The Flora of Virginia, is offering classes this spring.  To find out more, go to:

http://laracallgastinger.com/news.php

Hawaii Workshop

By Judy Thomas

Images from today, March 18:

National Tropical Botanical Garden

A few things that caught my eye today on Kaua'i:

Botanical Drawing in Color Workshop: Kaua'i

By Judy Thomas

I am 4,898 miles away from Richmond, VA, as I write this, taking Wendy Hollender's two-week, tropical botanical, colored pencil class.  I am learning a lot from Wendy, but also doing my own thing here, a great combination.  The plants and topography at so very different fom Virginia, especially the sharp, high, volcanic mountains.

The first day I was here, my most excellent roommate, Karen, and I drove up Waimea Canyon Road, an amazing place, the "Grand Canyon" of Hawaii. Like it's namesake, the canyon is a symphony of colors, but, unlike it, green abounds.  As the elevation increased, the plants shifted. We saw some alpine Hawaiian blueberries, the Koa trees (used to make wood implements and canoes) and a multitude plants we did not know.  Some scenes:

Class started Monday the 10th and we jumped in illustrating the inedible Natal plum.  I also bought "Heliconia Grocertstoreii" to draw as well, and worked on that.  Also started a star fruit, wood rose (did the sketches, matched colors, so I can finish then up later) and the work I will complete for the show here, the Hawaiian cotton plant:

A highlight of the trip was the tour of the McBride native gardens, led by an ethnobotanist, and the Allerton ornamental gardens, by  David Lorence, Director of Science and Conservation.  It was an indescribable experience, each turn in the trail presented a new plant, new vista...all stunning.  Today we draw in the garden, and I will be working on the tree jade plant.

Next time, a bit more on Wendy's classes...

Aloha!

Drawing Day

Today has been a drawing day...do you know how hard it is to stay indoors in paradise and draw?  Well, actually, not too difficult, given the array of plants we have all been illustrating!  I am working on Hawaiian cotton and a green jade flower cluster:

Tomorrow, I hope to work more on my neglected nature journal...

Aloha!

Nimrod Art Exhibit

From Laura Loe, Director of Nimrod Hallartists' retreat

"Help us to celebrate the 2014 Nimrod Summer of Art!

A showing of work from artists who attended Nimrod Hall in the Summer of 2014 will be displayed at the Stewart Gallery on Main Street in Richmond, Virginia. All mediums, sizes and prices are represented.

Friday Night, March 6th, is the opening reception from 5:30-8 pm with an afternoon reception on Sunday, March 8th from 1-3pm. The show will run throughout the month. For hours and times please see the website www.stewartgalleryonmain.com

To link to the exhibit page:

http://www.stewartgalleryonmain.com/exhibits.html"

Color Pencil Techniques Video

By Judy Thomas

Here is a nice, 17-minute video summary of color pencil techniques by Ann Swan.  I recommend it to all those interested!

https://vimeo.com/120692268

Competition

By Judy Thomas

The Hudson Valley Seed Library has announced this annual competition for seed pack art.  Submissions due by March 18 (online only).

For more information, go to: 

http://www.seedlibrary.org/blog/call-for-pack-artists-2015/

Botanical Art in Stitches

Botanical Art in Stitches

By

Anne McCahill

Botanical Art in Stitches features the works of a dedicated group of stitchers who express  their love of nature with needle and threads using a variety of  techniques.  The show is open from March 1 thru 31 at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Library.  A demonstration will take place on March 7 from 1-4 pm.

Please take a moment to visit!