Jackfruit

Artocarpus heterophyllus, Watercolor by Julio J. Figueroa

A graduate of the School of Technical Drawing and the National School of Design in Havana, Cuba, Julio Figueroa has been a Scientific Illustrator at the University of Havana and at Cuba’s National Botanic Garden.  His work was exhibited at the 2008 World Orchid Conference, Miami, 2009 Tamiami International Orchid Festival, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden’s Orchid Festival, and was used in Fairchild’s first Palm and Cycad Festival in 2008. He has participated in numerous scientific symposia held in various parts of the world, and his illustrations have been published in Cuba, Germany, Great Britain, and Spain. Mr. Figueroa teaches botanical illustration at Fairchild’s Williams Grove.

A catalog of the artwork and profiles of the artists is available online from the ASBA for $20 plus shipping & handling. http://www.amsocbotartists.org/ASBA-Catalogs.html

Floss Silk Tree

Chorisia speciosa, Watercolor by Akiko Enokido

Akiko studied various art forms in Kyoto, Paris, London, New York, and now in Southern California. While living in England for three years, she fell in love with English gardens, and has decided to focus on botanical art since. Having obtained a Certificate in Botanical Art and Illustration from The New York Botanical Garden in 2004, she joined ASBA in 2005, and is an active member of Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California. Her work has been featured in Filoli Botanical Art Exhibitions and the Thirteenth International Exhibition at the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation in 2010.

A catalog of the artwork and profiles of the artists is available online from the ASBA for $20 plus shipping & handling. http://www.amsocbotartists.org/ASBA-Catalogs.html

Hibiscus

Hibiscus cv., Watercolor on Vellum by Jean Emmons

Residing on an island near Seattle, Emmons is currently interested in painting members of the genera Sarracenia and Arisaema, along with many Pacific Northwest mushrooms. Recently, she had four paintings included in the Royal Horticultural Society’s “Gold Medal Showcase”, a display of previous gold medal recipients purchased by London’s Lindley Library. In 2005, she received the prestigious Bouchier ASBA Founder’s Award for Excellence in Botanical Art. Her work is held in numerous collections including those of the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation, Pittsburgh, the Alisa and Isaac M. Sutton Collection, and the Dr. Shirley Sherwood Collection.

A catalog of the artwork and profiles of the artists is available online from the ASBA for $20 plus shipping & handling. http://www.amsocbotartists.org/ASBA-Catalogs.html

Peaches

Prunus persica, Watercolor by Rosemary Donnelly

Rosemary has a passion for plants and the natural world.  Studies in horticulture led to an interest in botanical art, which she has pursued at Geelong Botanic Gardens since 2004. She exhibited in the 8th and 9th Royal Botanic Garden Biennial Art of Botanical Illustration, Melbourne, Australia, and in 2008 her painting Solanum melongena was selected for inclusion in the Illustrated Garden.  Collection and 2010 RBG calendar. Diospyros kaki ‘Hyakumo’ is included in the Thirteenth International Exhibition at the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation, Pittsburgh. Rosemary is inspired by tutor John Pastoriza-Piñol, artist colleagues, and the wealth of plants in Geelong Botanic Gardens.

A catalog of the artwork and profiles of the artists is available online from the ASBA for $20 plus shipping & handling. http://www.amsocbotartists.org/ASBA-Catalogs.html

Woolyhead

Craspedia ‘Kaitorete’, Watercolor and Acrylic by Rebecca Brown-Thompson

Born in the US, Rebecca earned a BS in Horticulture with a minor in Art from Purdue University. Now living in the US and New Zealand, she focuses on endangered and unusual native plants. A founding member of the New Zealand Botanical Art Society, she has taught botanical illustration workshops in Christchurch.  Rebecca’s work has been exhibited at the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation and the Queen Victoria Museum, Tasmania. A member of ASBA, Botanical Art Society of Australia, and the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators, her paintings are in private and corporate collections. She received a Highly Commended in the Margaret Stoddart Award Exhibition.

A catalog of the artwork and profiles of the artists is available online from the ASBA for $20 plus shipping & handling. http://www.amsocbotartists.org/ASBA-Catalogs.html

Paperwhites

Narcissus papyraceus, Watercolor by Elizabeth Barta-Koraus

Elizabeth, a native New Yorker now living and working in Connecticut, is an artist, naturalist, and a horticulturist.  She knew from an early age that art would be a strong influence in her life. Her background as an illustrator and floral designer laid the foundation for her botanical art. Using watercolor, pen and ink, graphite, or colored pencil, the meticulous attention to detail in her botanical painting is accurate and informative as well as artistically pleasing. Elizabeth is currently working toward a Certificate in Botanical Art and Illustration from the New York Botanical Garden.

A catalog of the artwork and profiles of the artists is available online from the ASBA for $20 plus shipping & handling. http://www.amsocbotartists.org/ASBA-Catalogs.html

Apple Blossoms and Fruit

Malus pumila, Watercolor by Milly Acharya

Beginning with a blank sheet of paper beside a robust, thriving botanical specimen, Milly takes her task into hand: accurate documentation, detailing phases of botanical development while preserving the vitality and immediacy of the ever-mutable living plant. Dipping her brush into clear water and following the direction of growth, she applies the first faint traces of paint, without preliminary sketches or drawing, entrusting the plant’s natural design to determine composition and communicate its own aesthetic power. Living in Ithaca, NY, her work mainly portrays local flora of the northeast; but during its long, monochromatic winters she yearns to document tropical plants of India, where she grew up.

A catalog of the artwork and profiles of the artists is available online from the ASBA for $20 plus shipping & handling. http://www.amsocbotartists.org/ASBA-Catalogs.html

Exhibit Opens September 15th

(C) ASUKA HISHIKI, Foeniculum vulgare, Fennel, watercolor

As part of Botanical Art Week in NYC the American Society of Botanical Artists and the Horticultural Society of New York present the 13th Annual International Juried Botanical Art Exhibition with an opening reception on Wednesday, September 15th from 6-8pm.  The exhibit  includes 41 contemporary works of botanical art by preeminent artists from 13 states across the U.S. and 5 other countries around the world.  Media include watercolor, gouache, oil, acrylic, colored pencil, graphite, pen and ink, and copperplate etching.  The exhibit runs through November 24th at the HSNY Gallery on West 37th Street in New York.

Can't make it to New York?  A 56 page catalog illustrating artwork included in the exhibit along with profiles of the artists is available online from the ASBA.

Also, artwork and excerpts from the artist's profiles appearing in the catalog will be posted on this blog every few days during the run of the show.  Subscribe to this blog to recieve notifications by email of new artwork posted to the site.