by Elizabeth Rush
The Internet has so many resources that we as artists can use to locate new practices and review old ones for our botanical art journey. The problem is honing in to find exactly what we want and also to make new discoveries. Half-forgotten ideas from classes and workshops float around in our heads, but usually we can’t find the folder where those ideas live. It seems that one purpose of our NESBA blog can provide is to list some of these resources. Below are a sampling of inspiring and informative online sites suggested by some of our members. Note: If the web addresses don’t automatically link, you can cut and paste the addresses to your browser.
Do you need to be inspired? Visit the British Museum’s online collection of the artwork by late bloomer Mary Delany. At 72 she began producing a series of 900+ beautiful paper collages of botanical subjects. Her quote,“An ingenious mind is never to old to learn,” will fuel your creativity! See the British Museum’s online collection at: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/search?keyword=mary&keyword=delany&view=grid&sort=object_name__asc&page=1
Do you want to be amazed? The sheer volume of plants preserved in the New York Botanical Garden’s Steere Herbarium, considered the largest in the world, is truly awe inspiring. You can track down a specimen or just browse the collection online in the C.V. Starr Virtual Herbarium https://sweetgum.nybg.org/science/vh/
For an insider tour of the herbarium’s storage and curatorial activities, watch this video by Summer Rayne Oaks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpmU0a1AK0M&t=65s
Are you interested in contributing to or establishing a local Florilegium?Members of the Northern California Society of Botanical Artists have established three Florilegia: the Alcatraz Florilegium, the Mt. Tamalpais Florilegium and the UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley. Working in collaboration with local institutions and conservancies members were able to collect plant samples or work on site. Digital images of their artwork have been used for education and outreach programs. http://www.ncalsba.org/florilegium-2/
Do you want to start a Nature Journal or join in with other enthusiasts?
Visit www.journalingwithnature.com Journaling With Nature was created by Bethan Burton, an Australian artist and environmental educator. She hosts a wide range of audio interviews and videos. You’re probably already familiar with botanical artist Lara Call Gastinger. She’s interviewed in Episode 47: Lara Call Gastinger - The Perpetual Nature Journal. Or watch an interview with Clare Walker Leslie - Keeping a Nature Journal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ur5HD89kUY4
Do you enjoy a little something creepy? Grab your popcorn and watch this video: Kew’s Quest for the Zombi Fungus https://www.kew.org/read-and-watch/zombie-fungus The Kew Gardens website offers a vast source of videos and articles on mycology and fungi as well as a full survey of contemporary botanical artwork in the Shirley Sherwood Collection. https://www.kew.org/
Do you want to hone your graphite drawing skills or try your hand at silverpoint? NESBA member Kathleen Kummer recommends visiting the Smithsonian Institution’s Natural History Museum: https://www.si.edu/search?edan_q=botanical%2Bart& You’ll find a wonderful collection of botanical drawings to view online that is sure to inspire you.
Kathleen has also found these sites helpful for information on techniques and papers: Jackson's Art Supplies (UK): https://help.jacksonsart.com/en/collections/3053162-product-advice. and Legion Paper webinars: https://legionpaper.com/webinar
While Beverly Duncan was looking for information about a species for her SEEDS series, she used the following sites to double check her information: gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org. or missouribotanicalgarden.org
For even more information, she recommends this site: plants.usda.gov
One of the questions that botanical artists must ask themselves is how they approach their subject. “What are the standards I set for myself? Do I work only with live specimens supplemented with my own photos for reference? Do I use other sources and if so, how do I do this responsibly?” These questions get more challenging to answer when it comes to online resources.
Nancy Horrall approaches this subject beautifully. She writes, “As for online resources, I use all the usual types of sites to research the plant I'm working with, especially images for reference, since the plant is long dead before I finish the project and I never seem to take enough pictures. I also look at images done by other botanical artists. … Each botanical artwork is a personal interpretation of a subject even though accuracy is paramount. I believe you can learn a lot about how other artists see their subjects and that sharpens your own point of view. I look at the websites of other artists, exhibits, and Beyond the Brush presentations.
As a member of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen as well as NESBA, Nancy refers to the league’s Juror Guidelines: The Spirit of the Maker/
Thanks to NESBA members Suzanne Thorin, Kathleen Kummer, Beverly Duncan and Nancy Horrall for their suggestions.