August Natural Treasures Challenge: Something Yellow

The theme for this month's Natural Treasures Challenge is "Something Yellow" which aslo includes orange subjects. We were inspired by the golden hues of August and have captured the beauty of later season flowers, plants and fungi. The theme for September will be "Changes" as we capture the beauty of early Autumn.

Tithonia - Mexican Sunflower in coloured pencil by Mary Atkins

Yellow Iris in watercolour by Celeste Dion

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