Grades of Graphite

Grades of Graphite

Using only one grade of pencil in a drawing is akin to using only one color when painting. You can create a beautiful piece with one grade but it is easier to get results, and more fun besides, with a spectrum of grades. I stick to one grade for sketching, but for a botanical study…when […]

Don’t Stagnate…Rejuvenate!

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. […]

SBA Diploma and a Tribute

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

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

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 […]