Exhibition Work

We are nearly at the end of our 2nd term and some beautiful works have been produced. There is certainly paintings that can be hung for the exhibition planned later in the year. Look after them well and perhaps you can start thinking about framing your favourite ones.

Also keep studying the masters and even by copying them, you can learn lots.

Again some beautiful works produced in the previous 2 weeks. Painted in class and at home.

I am really starting to see the progress of those students that have been part of the course for more than 6 months. Personal styles are being developed, and the confidence being shown at the moment compared to starting the course is huge. It is great as a teacher to see this happening and is making teaching even more enjoyable.

Included are images of work made over the last 2 to 3 weeks.

Mirror of the World: Books & Ideas

This exhibition showcases many of the rare, beautiful and historically significant books held in the Library’s collections. Located in the galleries overlooking the magnificent La Trobe Reading Room, this exhibition celebrates the unique place of books in our hearts and minds.

Mirror of the World: Books & Ideas provides an overview of the history of book production, design and illustration, with a display of fine examples from the Library's collections dating from the Middle Ages to the present day. The title of the exhibition is taken from William Caxton’sMyrrour of the Worlde (1490), one of the first illustrated books published in England.

The exhibition is divided into five major themes:

• Books and ideas - outlines the early history of books and printing.
• The book and the imagination - looks at the way books and texts have been created out of the imagination, while at the same time acting imaginatively upon us.
• Exploring the world - investigates how books have been used to explore and document the world, its landscape and topography, its inhabitants and its flora and fauna.
• Art and nature - looks at how botanical illustration unites two worlds - the scientific and the artistic.
• The artist and the book - highlights the art of the book and the role of the artist in its production.

Helen's eucalyptus leaf painting tip 7

For those students that like a more spontaneous approach to painting with watercolours I have posted this video. I think it's a great way of showing how to work wet in wet and produce a painting within a reasonable time.

Botanical Art Greeting Cards

Although I don't ask my students to do any home work, some do and come up with great results as you can see from the images.

It's great to see the students try out different techniques to create Botanical Art. Stepping outside their boundaries and just having a go at it.

The Greeting Card project went excellent with some beautiful results. It's fun to do and and certainly will make most recipients of the cards happy.

Greeting card project

Late week we started a "Greeting Card" project.

Basically making your own contemporary greeting cards using water-colour and pen and ink on tracing paper. This will created a layered effect and will revisit some techniques we have learned previously. By next week we should be seeing some final results.

Others students are working on their own paintings of which I have shown a few that are in progress.

Term 2 Botanic Art Classes

Term 2 has started and most students have enrolled into the mentored classes.

It's the next step after completing the beginners course.

The objective for this term is to work independently on your subjects of interest and work towards executing these in a style you are comfortable with.

Not a good idea for an inpatient person to have to work on a work of art that would take 3 months to complete!

To reach your goal you would need to work on your techniques and understand how to build up your painting in the correct way.

Choose a subject that takes your interest, which could be a particular plant, flower, vegetables, fungi’s, birds, etc. Start with single objects and if comfortable with those, expand into more complicated compositions.

Tips

Look at established botanic artist and study their work. Think about composition and scale, how to place your subject on paper. Work in layers, starting from light to dark. Experiment with different brushes and paper.