MY ART STUDIO

By Cecilia Martin

A studio space is a luxury for many artists. It can be anything from a separate rented space where one can meet with other artists, to a corner of the kitchen table.

A few years ago a bedroom space in my home was no longer needed. As it had a North facing window which provides ideal light, I decided to convert it into my studio. What a luxury! I no longer had to pack up all my art stuff when table space was needed, and my artwork was set up, always inviting me to enter, and “get to work”.

As I am left handed, I positioned my white drawing table in front of the window, with the light coming in from my right side. Over time I have found what placement of my palette, brushes, pencils etc. works best for me. Standing on the table I have a foam-core board to place my subject in front of, to give a clear sharp background. Occasionally I pin a subject to this board if I find it needs to be raised or positioned in a way that is otherwise difficult in a vase.

To the left of my chair I have a small cabinet with drawers, purchased from Ikea. Water bowls and my palette are conveniently placed on top. Past artwork, sketch books and colour sample pages are kept flat in the drawers.

I also have an Ikea bookcase, where I can keep my art reference books and magazines, extra vases, and supplies all within easy reach. I find the whiteness of the furniture makes the colour of my artwork stand out more. On a wall to the left of my drawing table, I have taped up tracings of artwork I am still working on. Sometimes I don’t have time to complete a piece one year. Having the tracing there reminds me that I need to pick up this piece when it’s in season again!





Lastly, a very important addition to my space is my sound system. I mostly listen to classical music on CBC radio, but occasionally when I get a bit stuck with my painting, I play one or two of my favourite CD’s to help me get past this.

I feel very fortunate to have my studio, and guests have commented often on what a peaceful and happily relaxed space it is.

OSBA GENERAL MEETING

OSBA General Meeting

Monday, November 10, 2014

Time: 1:00 to 3:30

Please join us on Monday afternoon for our meeting, guest lecture and social get-together at the Nepean Visual Arts Centre – Located at the Nepean Sportsplex.

The address is 1701 Woodroffe Avenue.  The NVAC is located at the back at entrance 3. (For those who have taken classes with Kerri – the meeting is in the same room.)

MEMBERHIP RENEWAL

It is time to renew your membership.  Please bring your cheque book or cash to the meeting.  Membership fee is $25 annually. If you wish to renew but are unable to attend the meeting please contact Sue Quinn at suequinn260@yahoo.ca 

NEW MEMBERS WELCOMED

NOMINATIONS AND VOTING FOR EXECUTIVE POSITIONS

Current members who are interested any positions can put their names forward to Jan Salmon at jansalmon@sympatico.ca  before the next meeting.  Also, anyone interested in nominating someone else for a position should send Jan those names as well.  

PRESENTATION

Horizon [intermittent] Horizon by Doris Lamontagne.

Images invite you to 'a walk by the water'. It provides an opportunity for reflection
and the need to get off the grid. No cell phone, no computer, and no electronics: achieving the state of flow where time and surroundings converge to a state of contemplation. A simple walk by the water is all that is needed…

Doris Lamontagne’s bio:

Whether as a photographer, an independent artist or a visual and interaction designer she has been involved in art-making all her life. Born in Québec, she lived in many different Canadian cities and in the USA; she made Ottawa-Gatineau her home in 1996. Trained in traditional film photography, she was an early adopter of digital photography. Her work in digital art and photography is shown regularly in art galleries and artists run centres. 

USING PHOTO REFERENCE IN BOTANICAL ART

by Celia Godkin

Botanical artists usually prefer to work from live specimens, but sometimes this isn’t possible, and we must turn to photographic reference instead. As a children’s book illustrator, I have to rely on extensive reference material from a variety of sources including photographs.

In my most recent book, Skydiver, there’s an oil painting of corn plants on a page that describes the spraying of farm crops with DDT. This was the pesticide that caused severe declines in peregrine falcons, the subject of the book.

The image was based on a couple of reference photos I took at the edge of a field of corn.  Knowing that the image would have to be a low view, looking upward towards an air-borne peregrine, I deliberately angled the camera upwards so that there would be lots of sky in the photos. 

Here are my reference photos: 

And here is a detail of the resulting illustration:

Note that I haven’t slavishly copied the photographs. To do so would mean that all the cast shadow and transparency that confuses the interpretation of form would have been included. Instead, I use the photographic reference as the point of departure, simplifying and eliminating confusing shadows to explain the form without violating the integrity of the plant structure.

Far from being a distortion, I view this departure from photographic realism as an integral part of the “scientific accuracy” component of botanical art. I seek to explain and clarify plant structures in the same way that science attempts to elucidate nature.

I hope this example clarifies one of the important differences between botanical art and floral fine art. Art imitates nature, science seeks to explain it and botanical art hopes to achieve both of these goals.

Book details:

Skydiver: Saving the Fastest Bird in the World by Celia Godkin; Pajama Press, 2014, is the inspiring story of how the peregrine falcon was saved from the brink of disaster. ISBN 978-1-927485-61-3 (bound) $19.95. See further information at www.pajamapress.ca

OSBA SKETCHING GROUP – 2014

When the weather in Ottawa finally warms up, eager members of OSBA group have been gathering for a few hours each week to socialize with other members, to sketch outdoors in relaxed surrounding and be entertained by the numerous little animals and birds.

 

The outdoor sketching group has had it challenges this year.  Compared to last year where we were able to have our outings, pretty much, every week and going until mid-October.  This year, though, we had been haunted by the rain gods who seem to have been soaking up just about every Wednesday and Thursday all summer.  With that being said, Inga Legere, the Sketching Co-ordinator and part-time weather reporter, did managed to put together a handful of sketching get-togethers. 

We would like to thank volunteer Isabelle Nicol, Backyard Garden Manager, at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden for making us feel right at home in the backyard garden.

We also managed to get a few sketching days in at the Ornamental Gardens at the Experimental Farm.

OSBA General Meeting - Monday, September 8, 2014

OSBA General Meeting

Monday, September 8, 2014

Time: 1:00 to 3:30

Please join us on Monday afternoon for our meeting, guest lecture and social get-together at Artistic Landscaping.

Bring your latest art work for display to your colleagues.

Presentation

"80 Years of watercolour painting" by Robert Anderson

Memberships

New members welcome! Sign up at our meeting. $25 member fee annually. 

Location

The Ginkgo room at Artistic Landscaping at 2079 Bank Place,Ottawa ON

Situated just off Bank Street across from South Keys Shopping Centre.

OSBA FALL ART EXHIBITION

BOTANICA 2014 FALL SHOW

The Ottawa Society of Botanical Artists has a 

NEW fall art Exhibition

at Artistic Landscape Design's BOUTIQUE GALLERY.

  Come check us out.

Situated just off Bank Street at 2079 Bank Place across from South Keys Shopping Centre

Artistic Landscape Design, Boutique Gallery, Ottawa

For avid gardeners, Artistic Landscape Design is the place to go for rare and unusual plants.

Artistic Landscape Design’s 

Boutique & Art Gallery are open until December 23rd.

www.artisticlandscape.on.ca

613-733-8221 Ext. 4

OSBA Spring and Summer Exhibition

BOTANICA 2014

Check out the NEW Boutique Gallery at Artistic Landscape Design where the latest botanical art exhibition by OSBA artists 

is now on display.  

Situated just off Bank Street at 2079 Bank Place across from South Keys Shopping Centre, see paintings celebrating the wonderful colours of the spring and summer seasons.  Watch for new work coming later in the fall.

Artistic Landscape Design’s Boutique & Art Gallery are open until December.
Monday to Saturday 9 am to 6 pm
Sunday 10 am to 4 pm
www.artisticlandscape.on.ca

2079 Bank Place, Ottawa

Artistic Landscape Design, Boutique Gallery, Ottawa

For avid gardeners, Artistic Landscape Design is the place to go for rare and unusual plants.

Write up submitted by Jan Salmon