I just received my diploma in London at the Society of Botanical Artists Distance Course graduation. I felt privileged that Margaret Stevens, the current director of the program, presented my diploma. She will be retiring later this year, so this is the last graduation that she will preside over. Margaret is a founding member of […]
Cabbage & SBA Diploma Portfolio & Graduation
March 29, 2013 by · 13 Comments
I posted about finding this cabbage at the farmer’s market and my preliminary drawing here. I got top marks from the SBA tutors for this painting which is ironic since when I first did it, I thought it was a complete failure and started on another vegetable painting to send in instead. I quickly realized […]
Botanical Mixed Study, SBA Diploma Portfolio
March 29, 2013 by · 7 Comments
Since I had three months to do my diploma pieces (for the SBA program), I assigned myself one painting per month. The way it worked out was that the mixed study had to be done in January. I never realized until then how paltry the selection of nursery or florist plants is in the middle […]
Fritillaria meleagris, SBA Diploma Portfolio
March 28, 2013 by · 6 Comments
There is something rather flamboyant about Fritillaria, perhaps it is that the leaves can be alternate, opposite or whorled or sometimes all of the above, like they can’t be constrained by the ordinary rules. Or perhaps it is the outlandish spots on some of them, particularly the F. meleagris. Don’t they know that plants should […]
Botanical Starlets, SBA Diploma Portfolio Prep
February 26, 2013 by · 5 Comments
photo of Fritillaria meleagris Here is a photo of the line-up of the lovely damsels auditioning for the starring role in my botanical illustration, the third and final painting for my SBA diploma. As you can see, they are perfect models, graceful, willowy and demure. Hmmmm…which will I chose? Actually I have already made my […]
This blog is about my journey as a botanical artist--what I am learning, what inspires me and what I am currently drawing or painting. My desire is to continually hone my skills to better express my wonder and gratitude for the beauty of the creation around me in the Pacific Northwest (USA).