My beginnings as a botanical artist

I am relatively new to the Botanical Art world, and I have come about this interest and pathway through following a newly discovered passion, a feeling of wonderment when I look at botanical art and a feeling of belonging into the group of people who practice and teach it.

My journey started in a fateful winter semester class three years ago at Seattle’s Gage Academy where I was introduced to the wonderful and inspiring teacher, Kathleen McKeehen. Kathy showed us with patience and humor how to make perfectly smooth washes and how to use and care for the finest paintbrushes I have ever held in my hands! We learned how to measure and take note of pertinent features on our subjects which ranged from shiny green peppers, to asparagus, to rocks, soil, feathers, bones, bugs, petals, and flowers. I loved the attention to fine detail, I loved the connection with the natural world, and how all what Kathy was teaching us was intersecting with my other art life.

I hold a degree in design, and a degree in Biology so this form of art captured my attention, and seemed to bring together so many things from my years studying and working as a biologist and my years creating, drawing, printmaking and painting. From Kathleen’s class, my interest in Botanical Art has led me skipping down a path like a smooth river rock thrown onto the surface of the ocean.

Upon Kathleen’s encouragement, I became a member of the PNBA and the American Society of Botanical Artists. I signed up for PNBA’s wonderful 3 day workshops - painting gords in the fall of 2018 with Sheveaun Doherty and painting leaves with Diane Sutherland in the spring of 2019. Shevean was the one who told us about and encouraged me to apply for the Society of Botanical Art Diploma Learning Program - Course 16.

Having nothing to loose, and armed with my small portfolio from two of Kathleen’s previous classes I sent away a sampling of my only and most recent work. I was pleasantly astonished when I got my acceptance letter in January 2019 form the SBA stating that my work was acceptable and that I was admitted into the course! How exciting and utterly terrifying! Now, I needed to get to work!

Work is what the program is about. I have 2 months to complete each progressively difficult assignment. I have to find the nearest FED-EX to nervously ship off the original piece and wait an anxious 5-6 days for the email to pop up with my grade and detailed notes from one of 7 tutors that I am assigned throughout the program. The first two assignments were specified to be done in graphite. Encouraged by positive feedback and a better than average grade, I knew that with hard work and determination I could, and would complete the course.

Each assignment is graded against 10 criteria, suitable choice of subject, line, form, tone, color, composition, botanical accuracy, technique, presentation, and labeling. The feedback I have received is honest, lengthy, and helpful in moving forward to the next assignment. Even though this program is not a teaching program, I feel that I am receiving some incredibly useful feedback that will help me as I progress as a botanical artist. We are getting insight and help from expert botanical artists. If I feel a need to learn more about a subject or technique, than it is up to me to find a teacher, a book, a dvd, or other learning opportunity to do so. I plan on continuing to take PNBA workshops, and I have sought out classes at the two annual ASBA conferences that I have attended. I also plan on taking a class form Kathleen again as soon as my schedule allows!

I just completed assignment # 8. I am halfway through this program and feel that it is helping me to develop a methodology for creating botanical art and for understanding and appreciating it. I know it will be helpful as I continue to learn, draw, practice and paint!