Don’t Stagnate…Rejuvenate!

I’ve been catching up on responsibilities…and playing…after the intensity of preparing and submitting my six paintings to the Society of Botanical Artists Exhibition in London. I’ve posted all of them on my blog over the past year, but if you want to see them all together, they are on my botanical art facebook page here. Although they all were accepted, only four will hang because I am not yet a member of the SBA. But I am delighted (and relieved) to say that I fulfilled the criteria to become an Associate Member, which I have been working towards over the last three or four years.

Some of my readers may wonder why I want to become a member of the SBA, or may not even know much about the organization. The Society of Botanical Artists is a British group of botanical artists with an international membership and influence. For me the SBA symbolizes the long history of botanical art going back to the Age of Discovery when botanist/explorers traveled around the world from Great Britain, and other countries as well, looking for undiscovered specimens in far-off lands. Some even came as far as the Pacific Northwest where I live! For example, David Douglas who was sent out by what is now the Royal Horticultural Society, traveled extensively in this area in the early 1800’s, and collected hundreds, maybe thousands, of specimens. Some were stored, some used in propagation and some used for botanical drawings and paintings by artists in the UK.

Although the SBA is a relatively recent group, founded in 1985, their goal is to “bring together botanical artists of repute” and “provide education to all aspiring botanical artists”, so they are committed to carrying on this long tradition of excellence in both plant documentation and art. I want my work to be a part, even if a miniscule one, of this flow of botanical art over the centuries. Through my involvement in the SBA distance course, I have met other botanical artists from around the world, which has enriched me immeasurably as a person and an artist. The SBA has set high standards and if I can manage to make it to full membership, they will have put their seal of approval to the standard of work to which I have attained. I think this will make a difference to collectors or people who see my work online and want to purchase but may not have the opportunity to see it in person. So not only do I have great respect for the organization, but I value their endorsement.

After the intensity of painting many long hours then preparing my works for shipping to England, I needed time to decompress. But I wanted to rest in a way that would rejuvenate, not stagnate! So one of the things I did was travel to Seattle to take a workshop from Jean Emmons on the dry brush technique. It was a treat to watch her work and see her beautiful paintings up close. I was inspired by her playful attitude towards color, although that topic was not on the official agenda. The other artists at the workshop were lovely to meet. We each painted a pansy, which I haven’t finished yet. Fortunately my little pansy plant just keeps on blooming so I can still use it as a model. The workshop was a great boost to my creative juices, plus my husband and I had an enjoyable time in Seattle. I’ve been experimenting with some of the things I learned from her in small studies, just for fun, since we got back.

Also, I have been taking lots of long walks, mulling over my next painting project as spring seems to explode around me. I am spoiled for choices right now! Besides the bright daffodils, luscious tulips and demure primroses, many of the native plants that I love so well are bursting into bloom. I recently discovered a small Western Dogwood tree growing in a wild area about three blocks from my house. It is down a steep bluff nestled amongst some other trees. Somehow I have missed it all of these years. It is quite small so this may be the first year it has bloomed. The chartreuse flower petal-like bracts were almost invisible from a distance on the bare tree, but up close they are a delicious, fresh bright green color.

Or I should say they were about a week ago. The bracts have slowly been turning creamy white and the tiny buds in the center are popping open into miniscule flowers. They would be quite a challenge to paint! Maybe someday. For now I am finishing up a graphite study of a dogwood twig with the bracts and unopened buds in the center, just because I wanted to draw it. If possible, I like to observe a plant for a year as it goes through the seasons before I do a portrait, so I will keep an eye on this little tree for another year.

Big Leaf Maples are blooming with dangling chartreuse flowers, and shiny new leaves just starting to unfold. I would love to paint them…someday. The trillium are blooming as well…I have Trillium ovatum and T. parvilforum in pots just waiting for their turn to be painted. So many choices! But I find I am drawn to the odd and overlooked plants. I have a plant in mind that would be great for vellum, if I can find some good specimens. I’ll tell you more about it in my next post.

Besides taking workshops for inspiration, meeting with other artists, experimenting with new techniques, doing botanical studies just for fun, and taking time to mull over future projects, what do you do to rejuvenate yourself creatively when you feel drained? (Oh, I forgot one more thing…eating chocolate…lots of chocolate!)