OSBA Exhibition at Artistic Landscape Designs

For information on hours for Artistic Landscape Designs 

 please see the link below.

http://www.artisticlandscape.on.ca/contact.aspx

Note that the hours for the boutique are different from the garden centre

OSBA General Meeting

Ottawa Society of Botanical Artists
General Meeting

Monday, April 13, 2015
Time: 1:00 to 3:30

Please join us on Monday afternoon for our meeting, guest lecture 

and social get-together

Bring your latest artwork for display to your colleagues.

Presentation

"Working with Coloured Pencils" by Anne Armitage B.F.A.

Professional teacher and artist

Supporter of Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind

http://www.pictureperfectpets.ca/

http://colouredpencilcanada.ca/

Memberships

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

Location

Nepean Visual Arts Centre – Located at the Nepean Sportsplex

1701 Woodroffe Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario  

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.)

Trying to Draw an Active Tulip

By Claudia Burns

I forced 5 of the lovely tulips as part of the kind gift of spring flowering bulbs given to me last fall by my art class after the death of my brother.  I had never done this before so wanted to try it out. 

I planted the bulbs in a pot and kept them in the garage until about a month ago when I brought them in as they were starting to sprout.  They have grown well and bloomed beautifully and I will replant the bulbs in the garden this spring.

Photo 1

My plan was to draw and paint one of the tulips but as I was doing other art projects for our recent classes, the tulips did not get drawn.  They opened more and more widely each day in a sunny but cool window and then closed at night.  Yesterday I decided to get at it and because the blooms were already fully open with petals increasingly opening towards horizontal rather than vertical.  I decided I would draw the inner parts, the pistil, stamens, and the attachments of the petals inside.  For reference, I took several photos of the flower in direct sunshine without a flash.  As you can see in Photo 1, the petals are quite open and the internal structures easily visible.

Photo 2

Photo 2 was done with a flash and macro lens to focus on the stamens and pistils (what I planned on drawing). 

Photo 3

I moved the pot to my art room upstairs where the light was much less intense, bright but not sunny.  Low and behold, the flowers, including my chosen bloom, started gradually closing (photo 3).  This was about 20 minutes after photos 1 and 2.  

Over the next hour, the bloom kept closing to its final resting position (Photos 4 then 5).  

In one of the other blooms, which was also, closing I directly observed the actual movement of the petals.  

Photo 4

I wound up sketching the flower in positions 4 and 5 (from life, not photos).  My original plans were stymied by the tulip itself, which had its own intentions.  Certainly makes life difficult for the aspiring artist. 

Photo 5

I was quite amazed at how rapidly this closing occurred.  The fact that the light levels in my art room were not at all dark but obviously a great deal darker than the sunny window that the plants were in originally. 

OSBA Resource Carousel – Mid-winter Get-together

By Cecilia Martin

On one of the coldest days this winter, fifteen members of the Ottawa Society of Botanical Artists gathered at Claudia’s house for a most enjoyable afternoon, disproving our earlier concerns that we would not get many members out to anything in the winter!

Janet, our president, suggested that the theme for this get-together should be compiling a “Resource Carousel”.  Participants came armed with their favourite books from their own collections, and supplies that have assisted in their artistic endeavours.  They were also ask to list videos, web sites and blogs of interest and to suggest ideas for activities, outings, specialized topics they would like to learn more about and guest speakers they would like have for our meetings throughout the year.

Four tables were set up in Claudia’s spacious ground floor, each area dedicated to a specific topic. When I arrived I was happy to see the dining room table piled high with books, and numerous people around it happily browsing through the collection. Mary did a magnificent job of listing all the books on her laptop during the afternoon, giving us a good start on our project of recording the books in order to make a list available on this blog.

A second table was positioned by a window overlooking Claudia’s beautiful back yard, primarily to list suppliers and supplies people felt were worthy of note.  Inga brought along a light box she had recently purchased, Mary had a useful helping hands stand with a magnifier.  An inexpensive way to help with holding plant material in a stable position.  Carla brought in some brushes that have their own water reservoir, which she is currently experimenting with.  Janet kept records of all information that was shared in this area, and Carla listed many web sites, videos and blogs as our “techie” recorder!  Likewise, ideas for outings, speakers and topics were shared at other tables. 

All of this done with a beautiful background winter scene in Claudia’s backyard, that included numerous woodpeckers’ cardinals and other birds at her bird feeders.

Many delicious treats were contributed by members and tea and coffee served.  There was constant lively chatter and laughter, and the “winter blahs” dispelled from all of us.  It was lovely to re-establish old friendships, and meet new members as well.

We left feeling that we had accomplished a good start to our Resource initiative and happy to spend an exhilarating afternoon and to forget, if only for those few hours, the winter’s seemingly never ending chill.

I would like to thank Claudia for hosting this event for us, and thanks to all who attended and for their participation and useful information and suggestions.

Botanical Art and Plant Portraits Exhibition

Botanical Art  - Plant Portraits

An exhibition of drawings and watercolours

Nepean Visual Arts Centre

January 15 to March 9, 2015

The plant kingdom is the muse: from seedpods
to sedges, fall leaves to flowers …

This exhibition celebrates the accomplishments, artistry and talents of Nepean Visual Art Centre’s botanical art students.  Mentored by instructor, Kerri Weller, students master the materials and techniques essential to creating realistic drawings and paintings of their botanical subjects.

Please join us to view the art, meet the artists 
and for refreshments!

Vernissage

Sunday, February 8, 1:00 to 3:30 pm

Nepean Visual Arts Centre is located in the Nepean Sportsplex
1701 Woodroffe Avenue at Hunt Club, Entrance 3, rear parking lot

Hours are Monday to Friday: 8:30 am to 9:30 pm, 

Saturday & Sunday: 9:30 am to 3:30 pm

For further info, please call the front desk at 613 580-2424 ext. 46652

Changes to our OSBA Executive for 2015

We would like to express our thanks to members of the OSBA executive for the work they have done over the past year.

Kerri Weller

At our annual General meeting in November a special presentation was made to Kerri Weller, who resigned from our executive after her three year term. Kerri has been a driving force behind the start-up of OSBA, encouraging members to join, and generally getting things rolling. In her position of Exhibition and Guest speaker coordinator she tirelessly gave of her time to encourage us to submit paintings for our exhibitions, and set them up in a cohesive manner, establishing a standard of excellence in our work, as well as searching out the wonderfully interesting guest speakers we have had at our General Meetings.  Kerri: a very special Thank You.

Jan Salmon

Jan Salmon also resigned as President and we thank her for the excellent leadership she gave to OSBA over the past year.

Janet Marshall

And now, a welcome to our new President: Janet Marshall. While relatively new to OSBA, Janet brings many life skills to the position, and we look forward to getting to know her in the upcoming year. Thank you for stepping up for this position. Welcome Janet!

Janet has been kind enough to submit a brief biography so we can all get to know her.

As a youngster, I loved art and was chosen for classes through The University of Manitoba where I studied with George Swinton. I also took art classes all through school, showing up to work before school and eating my lunch with the teachers.

At The University of Calgary, I studied Art and Music and went on to teach in Calgary, Kingston, Napanee and Ottawa. Following university, I studied Advanced Drawing with Ivan Eyre at The University of Manitoba and Art History at Queenʼs, Carleton and The University of Calgary.

While living in Edmonton, at home with two small children, I was part of a figure drawing studio. In Ottawa, I have taken part in figure drawing studios at The Nepean Sportsplex and The Ottawa School of Art. Iʼve also worked in clay at the Sportsplex doing mostly bas reliefs -- drawing in clay.

I discovered Kerri Wellerʼs class and realized that she could take me in new directions. I want to master watercolour painting and to produce more finished artwork. Part of watercolourʼs appeal is that I can do it at home in retirement and itʼs portable for travel.

I bring to The OSBA a passion for art. As for a sample of botanical art from me at this time, the teacher in me offers instead the words ‘shows potential’.

Janet Marshall

 Please look for this bio and other bios of OSBA members 

on the 'Members' tab.

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.