July Natural Treasures Challenge "Something Red"

The theme for the July Natural Treasures Challenge is "Something Red". Artists were encouraged to think beyond flowers to fruit and vegetables.

Lychnis coronaria, Rose Campion in watercolour pencil and coloured pencil by Mary Atkins

Actuaea rubra, Red Banberry Fruit in Watercolour, 8" x 10", Stillman & Birn Zeta Series Paper, by Kathryn MacDonald

Rainier Cherries in Watercolour by Carla Burns

June Natural Treasures Challenge: Something Violet

The theme for our June Natural Treasures Challenge was "Something Violet". There were so many beautiful violet subjects blooming including a variety of iris cultivars. Several of our members have shared a page from their garden journals.

Siberian Iris (iris sibirica) in Coloured Pencil by Mary Atkins

Iris Study Page in Watercolour and Coloured Pencil by Carla Burns

Greek Valerian in Watercolour and Pen by Kathryn MacDonald

May Natural Treasures Challenge: Beautiful Blooms

The May Natural Treasures Challenge was "Beautiful Blooms". 

Trilliums in Graphite and White Gouache on Toned Paper by Lis Allison

Hostas in Watercolour by Esra Ozgun

Acer plantinoides, Crimson King in Graphite by Kathryn MacDonald

Euphorbia in Coloured Pencil by Mary Atkins

White Trillium in Coloured Pencil by Janice Kelly

Daffodil painted in Watercolour by Peg Duncan

Natural Treasures Challenge -- April Theme "Renewal"

Germanic Iris Bulb in coloured pencil by Mary Atkins

After a very long winter, OSBA members were challenged to find signs of renewal for the April Natural Treasures Challenge.

Magnolia Bud in coloured pencil by Celeste Dion

Pussy Willows in coloured pencil by Janice Kelly

Forsythia in watercolour by Lis Allison

Natural Treasures Challenge -- March Theme is Desiccated

We are coming to the end of a very long and snowy winter here in Ottawa. Fittingly, the theme for our March Natural Treasures is Desiccated. We challenged artists to find something leftover from last year's growning season as their subject matter. We received eight pieces of art with subjects ranging from dried flower and seed heads, field flowers to fruit to fungi.

Dried Leaf in Watercolour by Esra Ozgun

Rose Hip in Coloured Pencil by Theresa Bolton

Echinocystis lobata, Wild Cucumber in Watercolour by Kathryn MacDonald

Centaurea macrocephala, Bighead Knapweed - Yellow in Watercolour by Carla Burns

Oak Leaves in Watercolour by Peg Duncan

Dried Hydrangea in Watercolour by Peg Duncan 

Dried Flower/Seed Head in Sepia Ink and Coloured Pencil by Mary Atkins

Bracket Fungus in Coloured Pencil by Lis Allison

Milkweed Pod in Coloured Pencil by Janice Kelly

Natural Treasure Theme of Seedheads

The Natural Treasures theme for February was Seedheads. Eight artists participated in this challenge and managed to find interesting subjects outside despite the harsh winter weather we experienced in Ottawa this month. Congratulations to all participants for producing such lovely artwork.

Coneflower Seedheads in Graphite by Lis Allison

Plane Tree Seeds (Plantus x acerifolia) in graphite by Celeste Larkin-Dion

Amur Maple Keys in Coloured Pencil by Mary Atkins

Flint Corn in Watercolour by Carla Burns

Dentura in India Ink, Watercolour and Water Soluble Coloured Pencils by Lauren Foster-MacLeod

Chinese Lanterns in Coloured Pencil by Janice Kelly

Maple Keys  in Coloured Pencil by Kathryn MacDonald

Poppy Seedheads in Watercolour by Esra Ozgun

Natural Treasures Challenge -- Bark

Poplar Twig in coloured pencil by Kathryn MacDonald

Last year, an OSBA member had commented that she had participated in an online botanical art challenge "Leaf a Day" and had found it to be motivating and enjoyable -- especially seeing the results of other artists. We decided to run a similar challenge and are calling it Natural Treasures -- a subject matter treasure hunt. The intent is to challenge participating members to find something that captivates them -- ideally something found outside -- and paint or draw this "treasure" (small is a good start 5" x 7"). The challenge frequency wil be monthly and the theme will reflect the season. Finished artwork will be posted on our blog and Facebook (optional) and shown at the OSBA meetings. The overall intent is to encourage members to create more artwork to help them to develop as artists and to enjoy the process (hence the emphasis on small works). We hope this challenge will inspire other artists to pick up their paint brushes and pencils, explore local greenspaces and find a Natural Treasure.

The theme for January was bark and we had five members contribute artwork in various mediums from coloured pencil, pen and ink and watercolour.  The theme for February is seedheads -- visit again in early March to view the results.

Cedar Bark in coloured pencil by Inga Legere

Birch Bark in pen and ink and watercolour by Mary Atkins 

Bark in coloured pencil by Janice Kelly

Bark with lichen in watercolour and gouache by Carla Burns