Toad Lily Sketches, SBA Sketchbook

 It’s hard to believe that I am beginning my twelfth assignment with the SBA course that I started in January 2011. Next will be three ‘senior projects’ that will summarize all we have learned over the last two years, then on to graduation in April of 2013. 

Tricyrtis ‘Purple Beauty’

This assignment is called “Mixed Flowers”, combining several types of flowers in one painting.  The flowers should be from plants that seem fitting together, and complement one another artistically.  I found this beautiful Toad Lily at Portland Nursery, which always has an amazing selection of potted plants.  I love the orchid-like flowers, graceful wavy leaves, and interesting stem angles.  I found some nice companion plants too but will tell you more about them later.

This is a rough preliminary drawing I did to begin to understand the plant’s structure, and to use as I start thinking about composition.  I want to show the flowers and leaves from several different angles, so I need to decide how I can accomplish it in a natural-looking way in my composition.

As I think back over the past two years, I am amazed and pleased at how much I have learned, although I know I still have plenty of room for improvement (and always will–part of what makes the artistic endeavor endlessly fascinating).  The tutors that have evaluated each assignment have held me to a very high standard, but have been fair in their critique.  One of the most difficult parts of the course for me was the distance aspect of it, working alone in my studio so much, but perhaps that is training for the rigors of the life of the artist?

Fortunately several SBA students have formed a facebook group, which I participate in and it helps a lot.  I also am in touch with other botanical artists in a more general group on facebook.  (It is for botanical artists or those interested in botanical art.  You have to request to become a member.)  Once I graduate I hope to have more time to connect with others on the artistic path.