We've been busy this year developing a new and improved website including a gallery featuring our current exhibit 'Botanica'. Please follow the links below to view our latest content and find out more about the Ottawa Society of Botanical Artists:
Wednesday, December 1, 2021
Monday, April 5, 2021
OSBA General Meeting - Monday April 12, 2021 - 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Guest Speaker: Heather Clemenson-The Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show
Master Gardener and OSBA Member, Heather Clemenson journeys to the world of grand garden exhibits and floral displays. The annual RHS Chelsea Flower Show is a mecca for gardeners worldwide. It is a feast for the senses and an inspiration to gardeners and artists alike ... the perfect tonic to welcome spring and botanical painting!
Saturday, December 26, 2020
December Natural Treasures Challenge is "Festive"
As we come to the close of 2020, we have a final submission for our Natural Treasures Challenge of "Festive". Mary Atkins has contributed two coloured pencil paintings of an Amaryllis. Mary commented:
Tuesday, November 17, 2020
November Natural Treasures Challenge -- Stayin' Alive
As we enter late Autumn, there are still a few plants that continue to display live folliage. Mary Atkins has taken advantage of the plants that are "last to leave the party" and has captured the colour variations in her spirea leaves. This painting was completed in coloured pencil on Fluid 140 lb. cold pressed watercolour paper.
Mary commented "This is a cutting from one of many spireas that seemed to be holding up after being snowed upon. Mind you, this is my second cutting. The first one I procrastinated in getting started and it shrivelled up on me. So, with the second clipping I imediately started drawing it and then took several pictures. It too shrivelled up pretty quickly after being cut but thankfully I had the pictures. I like how the back of the leaves contrasted with the more colourful frontside."
Next month's Natural Treasures theme is "Festive".
Spirea in coloured pencil by Mary Atkins |
Monday, November 2, 2020
Natural Treasures Challenge Entries for September and October
Consistent with life in 2020, there has been a delay in posting September's entry for the Natural Treasures Challenge theme of Changes. Member Mary Atkins created a coloured pencil painting of Silver Maples for this theme. She has also submitted a coloured pencil painting of three gourds for the October theme of Harvest. Visit us again for the November theme of Stayin Alive. Update on 22 November 2020, we have received artwork from member Anne Pichora of her fall leaves.
Anne Pichora submitted her coloured pencil painting of Garden Leaves and commented "The Fall colours were really stunning this year. As various shades were reflected in our back garden Hosta, Maple and Barberry leaves, I tried to capture their rich, contrasting colours."
Garden Leaves in coloured pencil on Fabriano watercolour paper by Anne Pichora |
Silver Maple Leaves in coloured pencil by Mary Atkins |
Three Gourds in coloured pencil by Mary Atkins |
Monday, August 31, 2020
August Natural Treasures Challenge Entries for Something Yellow/Orange
For the month of August our Natural Treasures Challenge theme is "Something Yellow/Orange". Artists have been inspired by the golden colours of summer and the especially warm weather we've been experiencing here in Ottawa. So far we've had three entries for this month's challenge. Lauren Foster-MacLeod completed a study of a squash flower in watercolour from her garden, Celeste Dion painted a Helichrysum in coloured pencil, and Mary Atkins painted three quirky carrots from her garden in coloured pencil. Visit again, as we may have some late entries. The theme for next month is "Changes".
OSBA member, Lauren Foster-MacLeod was inspired by our August theme for the "Natural Treasures" Challenge to paint a squash flower growing in her yard. Lauren writes: "Watercolour study of a female squash flower. I started from life, but realized that these flowers have a very short life, and that it was gradually curling up as I was painting it. The small pencil sketch below shows how it looked earlier in the morning. It was all curled up and finished by noon. Watercolour on mixed media bristol, in a sketchbook"
Squash Flower in watercolour by Lauren Foster-MacLeod |
Helichrysum in coloured pencil by Celeste Dion |
Carrots in coloured pencil by Mary Atkins |
Monday, July 27, 2020
July Natural Treasures Challenge Submissions "Something Redish"
The theme for our August challenge is "Something Yellow/Orange" so possible subjects could be flowers, fruit and vegetables (sunflowers, peaches, nectarines, carrots, etc.).
Geranium in watercolour by Kristin Rothschild |
OSBA member, Kristin Rothschild has been inspired by something red!
Kristin writes: “... a little painting of geraniums where I tried to capture the luminescence of the petals. “
Japanese Quince (Chaenomeles japonica) in watercolour by Celeste Dion |
Hemerocallis in coloured pencil by Mary Atkins |