Boston ASBA 2011

Are You Ready for the Silent Auction?

2011-10-17T18:17:00.002-04:00

To all who contributed to ASBA Silent Auction 2011, a big Thank You!

Click here for the list of items that have been donated for the Silent Auction.

If you are attending the conference and can join us at 5:00 pm on Saturday, October 29, the Auction Room will be set up according to categories: original art will be in one location, books in another....etc. We hope this will make it easier for you.

Also, purchasing will occur immediately after the auction and before the banquet. You may bring your purchases to your room or put them under your chair in the banquet room. Any incomplete purchasing will continue after the banquet.

The Silent Auction is such a vital financial contribution to ASBA we hope your bids will be generous.

Thank You,

Lynne Railsback (Silent Auction ASBA Board Chair) & Kathy Folino (Silent Auction NESBA Local Chair)

ASBA Members Create Colorful Edibles

2011-10-06T16:20:00.000-04:00

Hot off the Press! ASBA will be selling its Colorful Edibles coloring bookat the conference so be sure to look for it at the registration desk andhospitality desk. It features 28 pages of delicious line drawings by 26 ASBAmembers selected from nearly 80 submissions, with full color cover art byMarjorie Leggitt and Joel Floyd, design by Charlotte Staub Thomas and textby Bobbi Angell.

Contributing artists are: Bobbi Angell, Mary Bauschelt, Beverly Behrens, Irene Blecher, Doreen Bolnick, Silvia Bota, Carol Creech, Carrie DiCostanzo, Jan Denton, Beverly Duncan, Joel Floyd, Keiko Fujita, Gretchen Halpert, Carol Hamilton, Wendy Hollender, Lois Jackson, Jeanne Kunze, Marjorie Leggitt, Derek Norman, Suellen Perold, Kelly Leahy Radding, Maryann Roper, Nancy Savage, Pauline Savage, Judith Scillia and Kelly Sverduk.

Informative andattractive, the coloring book makes a great gift for children of all ages.Copies are $8.95 each and proceeds from sales benefit ASBA's educationalprograms.

Beans
Beverly Duncan

Restaurants: A Selected Guide

2011-09-25T13:08:00.007-04:00

RESTAURANTS:

A selected guide

Download a PDF version of Restaurants: A Selected Guide!

The Boston Marriott Newton has a fine dining restaurant just off the lobby: The Riverbend Bar and Grille.

Newton is a collection of small villages. Close by – a bit over a half mile from the Marriott are modest eateries in Auburndale, including a neighborhood style pizza and sandwich shop, donuts and coffee shops, wine shop and supermarket and:

Bocca Bella, 442 Lexington St, 617-928-1200 www.boccabellacafe.com

Wally’s Wicked Good Ice Cream and Treats, 419 Lexington St. 617-244-3555 http://wallyswickedgood.com/

By car, taxi or hotel car service: In the village of West Newton, about 1.6 miles away

Lumiere: www.lumiererestaurant.com upscale, reservations suggested, high end prices (but lower than Boston), 1293 Washington St. (617) 244-9199

Comellia’s: less costly but filling and good Italian food. Does take out also and that is awesome too. Not a place to sit in and relax, but some small tables. 1302 Washington St, 617-928-1001

Sweet Tomatoes www.sweettomatoespizza.com, 1279 Washington St., 617-630-8666, salad and great pizza that is both thin and thick crust.

Paddy’s Pub www.paddys.us, an Irish Pub with great sandwiches and salads, burgers, entrées 95 Elm St., 617-965-6444

Cherry Tree Pub with great sandwiches and salads, burgers, entrées. 1349 Washington St., (617) 965-9796

Shing Yee www.shingyeerestaurant.com (no MSG) great Chinese cuisine, 1255 Washington St., 617-332-0888

Blue Ribbon Barbecue, www.blueribbonbbq.com great barbecue, also takeout, 1375 Washington St., 617-332-2583

Shogun www.shogunwestnewton.com Authentic Japanese cuisine, reservations suggested, 1385 Washington St. 617-965-6699

L’Aroma Café has the best muffins and coffee and it’s in a light, open area behind the movie theatre. Breakfasts and lunches there too, 15 Spencer St., 617-630-0006

Coney Island Ice Cream. My daughter worked there one summer and it’s good ice cream, 1284 Washington St., 617-559-1039

4.5 miles There is a very reasonable pub in Newton Highlands on Walnut Street (directly across from the T):

O’Haras (617) 965-6785, 1185 Walnut St, www.oharas-pub.com, which could be for those with or without wheels. It is always packed (lunch and dinner) but the short wait for a table is fun for people watching. Lots of wait benches surround a huge bar where people can sit and eat also. The food is great and very down to Irish earth.

Outside of Newton is Waltham, most restaurants also about 4.5 miles from the Marriott:

La Campania. www.lacampania.com Great Italian, great atmosphere, great wines, 504 Main St. reservations 781-894-4280

Il Capricco’s www.ilcapricciowaltham.com is expensive $$$ and awesome for really really upscale, 888 Main St., reservations 781-894-2234

Several Indian restaurants are on Moody Street in Waltham. New Mother India www.newmotherindia.com is one great one, 336 Moody St., 781-893-3311. Can’t really go wrong. Some are bigger than others for large groups.

Tuscan Grill www.tuscangrillwaltham.com Great restaurant, 361 Moody St., 781-891-5486.

Elephant Walk www.elephantwalk.com moderate Cambodian and French fusion, highly rated, 663 Main St., 781-899-2244

About 6 miles away is the Newton village of Chestnut Hill:

On route 9 is Capital Grille for steaks. Dress up a bit better and food is great. Need a reservation. www.TheCapitalGrille.com 250 Boylston St., 617-928-1400 Expensive.

Legal Seafoods is our favorite seafood restaurant in Chestnut Hill, 43 Boylston St., 617-277-7300, www.legalseafoods.com, a must for visitors to New England.

Download a PDF version of Restaurants: A Selected Guide!

Boston Restaurants

Faneuil Hall Area

King Fish Hall- (Chatham St) $$$ seafood (Todd English)

The Black Rose-$$ Irish Bar, casual

Kitty O’Shea’s- yet another Irish Bar

Union Oyster House-(1826)(41 Union St) historic landmark $$ reliable NE Seafood

McCormick and Schmicks $$$ seafood chain

Durgin Park- $$ Huge portions of New England’s favorites. Popular with locals & tourists

North End - Boston’s Italian area There are far more than listed below. All are good. Those listed may be popular, but there are others equally as good. Just walk around and walk in and try one. These below are listed in case you need some suggestions.

Hanover Street

Davide (on corner of Commercial St) $$$ Italian

Lucia $$ Italian

Giacamo $$ Italian

The Daily Catch $$ (small) informal, Italian

Cafe Victoria-$$ coffee house with pastries

Cafe Pompei-$$ coffee house with pastries

North Street

Mama Maria-$$$ excellent service and food. Italian

Limoncello-$$ Italian

Carmen-$$$ Italian

Salem Street

Neptune Oyster $$ seafood. Very small eatery, but always packed

Antico Forno $$ southern Italian

Terramia $$ popular, small, Italian

L’Osteria $ classical Italian fare

Prince Street

Monica $$ Italian

Assiagio $$ classical Italian fare

Fleet Street

Prezza $$$ suggest reservations, stylish setting, almost like New York!

North Street

Mamma Maria $$$ upscale Italian

Limoncello $$ accommodates groups easily

Carmen $$ small space with huge flavors

Boston Common Area

No.9 Park $$$$ (Beacon and Tremont St) fabulous food by famous (local) chef

Locke Ober (Winter St) (1875) Continental favorites, clubroom style $$$$, just done over, always a favorite during martini lunch era.

Teatro $$$ (Tremont St) urban trattoria close to theaters. Good food and service

Bistro du Midi $$$ Boylston St (go upstairs) comfortable, special and delicious

PF Changs $$ (8 Park Plaza) Chinese cuisine chain, very busy and very popular

Omni Parker House (Tremont St) $$$ Classic taste of classic Boston

Jacob Wirth (1865 Stuart St) $$ Classic German cuisine, busy, popular

Legal Seafoods ‘flagship’ location, 26 Park Plaza

NOT TO BE OVERLOOKED

Meyers and Chang 1145 Washington Street 617 542 5200, can’t beat the sandwiches and desserts. Lemony shrimp dumplings are very popular. Chef often seen as guest on cook TV station, as well as PBS cook shows. She makes her own oreos!

China Town

Gourmet Dumpling House $ 52 Beach St 617 338 6223 Try steamed vegetable Dumplings

Windsor Dim Sum Cafe $ 19 Tyler St 617 338 1688 Try hot broth filled dumplings

Vinh Sun $ 58 Beach St. 617 338 1368 Tastiest wings in town!

Download a PDF version of Restaurants: A Selected Guide!

ASBA Boston Blog Small Works Exhibition Catalog Pre-Ordering

2011-09-13T12:03:00.002-04:00

SMALL WORKS Exhibition Catalog Pre-order for Conference Pick-up

As you know, a high-quality, full color catalog is being prepared featuring over 100 artworks in the Small Works Exhibition. This exhibition is especially important because it is an opportunity for any conference registrant to participate and be included in a catalog.

Catalog Pre-Conference Orders Information (for pick-up at the Annual ASBA Boston Conference):

The Small Works Exhibition Catalog is available for pre-order at a special price of $26.95 for those who are attending the Boston conference and will pick up their catalogs there. A few additional catalogs will be available for sale at the conference at the full price of $29.95.

Additionally, print-on-demand catalogs will be available to those members who can't attend the conference. Details about that will be posted in the December issue of The Botanical Artist and on the website www.AmSocBotArtists.org after the conference.

If you are a conference registrant,

to order your catalog with a credit card go to:
www.paypal.com, select the "Send Money" tab and pay to asba@aol.com

Please note in the message line your full name and how many catalogs you are ordering and will pick up at the conference.

Or you may pay by mailing a check to:
ASBA
At NYBG
2900 Southern Blvd
Bronx, NY 10458-5126
Please include a note with your full name and how many catalogs you are ordering and will pick up at the conference.

DEADLINE TO ORDER:
Pre-orders must be made to PayPal or postmarked by September 25.

We look forward to this beautiful exhibition and we thank Kelly Leahy Radding and her committee for producing the catalog.

If you misplace this form, you can find it posted on the registration website:

www.asba-conf.org

under Small Works Exhibition.

Hotels and Roommates

2011-08-09T17:59:00.005-04:00

Don’t forget to make your hotel reservation soon at the Marriott. The ASBA room block at the discounted conference rate is filling fast. http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/bosnt-boston-marriott-newton/

Have you thought about lingering after the ASBA Conference and heading up to glorious coastal New Hampshire and painting with Carol Woodin or Elaine Searle? Make your hotel reservation at Wentworth-by-the-Sea http://www.wentworth.com/ . For more about these workshops, check out http://bostonasba2011.blogspot.com/search/label/Pre%20and%20Post%20Workshops

If you would like to share hotel expenses by sharing your room, just let ASBA’s roommate coordinator know by filling out the form at http://www.asba-conf.org/room.php . Elisabeth de Boor has volunteered to line you up with another artist. Some wonderful friendships have grown from such serendipitous meetings!

ASBA Boston Conference and Small Works Exhibition Update

2011-07-28T17:08:00.004-04:00

Boston Here We Come …

ASBA 2011 Annual Meeting and Conference
Boston, Massachusetts – October 27-29

Are you still undecided about attending the conference this October in Boston?
NOW is the time to sign up as the registration fee increases $30 on August 1. Registration closes as of September 25.

By visiting ASBA’s conference website, http://asba-conf.org/, you will find a wide-range of available workshops, schedules, fee, and registration form.

Bring your guests – there is a lot to do in Boston on your own and through conference sponsored field trips. (All tours and trips are now open to guests of registrants.)

Check out ASBA President Dick Rauh’s “Come to Boston” video on You Tube.

Post-Conference workshops with Carol Woodin and Elaine Searle are being held at the historic Wentworth by the Sea Resort and Spa. Treat yourself to 3 days of botanical art in the idyllic and relaxing setting of the seacoast of New Hampshire.

Do you have questions about your existing registration? Want to add a guest or a post-conference workshop to your registration?
Contact Sandra McNicol at asbameeting@aol.com

Are you ready to enter the Small Works 2011 Exhibition at the Conference?
After registering for the conference, Click here for the Small Works Exhibition page on the conference website with all the details and click here to send information electronically regarding your entry.

If you plan to submit an image for the catalog, please print a copy of the form to include with your CD for catalog submissions. Reminder – CDs with art work must be postmarked by August 1 for your work to be included in the catalog.

If you do not seek to have an image in the conference catalog, you may file your intent to exhibit by August 1 and keep painting. Framed art work is not to be shipped until mid-October.

Already registered and want to follow updates as the conference approaches?
NESBA will be blogging about places to visit, hints about travel for the conference, and many other topics. Click here to visit blog BOSTON ASBA 2011 and sign up for email updates in the box on the right side of page. Try the links to conference videos on the left side of page.

Silent Auction

2011-07-26T19:21:00.007-04:00

SILENT AUCTION

Saturday October 29, 2011

5:00 pm – 6:35 pm

For those of you who have experienced the Silent Auction, you know how exciting this event has become. We continue to look for ways to enhance the auction. For your convenience, a list of auction items will be included in your conference packet. The auction tables will be arranged numerically according to donation categories. Purchasing will take place at the close of the auction, prior to the banquet. We hope these changes contribute to a successful auction for all.

Absentee Bidding Opportunity
For those of you who can’t attend this year’s conference in Boston, you will have the opportunity to submit absentee bids. This includes ASBA Legacy Artist Linda Funk’s “Magnolia x soulangeana” as featured on the cover of Today’s Botanical Artists by Cora B. Marcus & Libby Kyer. Look for complete details in The Botanical Artist September journal.

From the cover of Today's Botanical artists
© 2011 Linda Funk

Consider Donating your “Small Work”
Will you be participating in the exhibition? Consider donating your piece to the Silent Auction.

Other Donation Ideas
One of the most generous contributions is original artwork, however prints are also appreciated. Both should have a backing board and include a clear protective covering. Other popular items include: books, handmade crafts, giftware, jewelry, stationery, scarves, art supplies and children’s items. All gifts should be new, or used collectables such as books, attractively presented and have a botanical theme. Remember the majority of attendees travel by plane, so size and shape are important.
You can be part of the conference even if you can’t attend by making a donation to the Silent Auction.

Please Submit Your Donation Information by October 10th!

If you wish to email your information:

Click on this link. You will be taken to an online form.

If you wish to mail your information, send to:

Click on this link for a printable form. The form includes Silent Auction Chair Lynne Railsback's mailing information.

Either way, you will be asked to include the following information:

Name
Mailing Address
Email Address
Phone
Description of Item(s)
Value of Item(s)
Tell Lynne if you are you shipping the item or bringing it to the conference. (If you are shipping, she will send you shipping instructions after donation information is received.)
If your donation is an original and not sold, do you want it returned to you or donated to ASBA? (ASBA will require reimbursement for return postage.)

Reminder: Notice To Exhibit Due On August 1

2011-07-19T21:22:00.002-04:00

A reminder that a notice to exhibit is due on Aug. 1 and your artwork on a CD is due the same day. Read about it here.

Details about the Small Works Exhibit: http://www.asba-conf.org/exhibit.php

Small Works Entry Information Form: http://www.asba-conf.org/work_entry.php

And if you want to be included in the exhibit catalog, submit a digital file of your image – 300 dpi, image 8" high, jpeg only – on CD labeled with artist's name and name of artwork in marker, no paper labels. Individual files on disk labeled with artwork title, size, and medium. CD will not be returned. Entry form: Botanical name, common name (if you wish), medium and artist’s name and contact information.

Send CD and Copy of Entry Form to:

Small Works 2011 ASBA Conference Exhibition
c/o Kelly Leahy Radding
9 Westgate Road
Columbia, CT 06237

If you have questions, send them to smallworks2011@nesbaartists.org.

Conference Sessions

2011-06-15T00:01:00.008-04:00

ASBA is pleased to offer this innovation suggested by NESBA members. To help you plan your registration, here is the 2011 Conference Schedule-at-a-Glance along with descriptions of the workshops, trips, and other activities offered. We must stress that you cannot register via this blog, or mail, email or otherwise attempt to register until the website is live. This is intended to help you plan what you want to sign up for so you are not so frenzied when actually registering. We hope you find it useful. Please note that when considering morning and afternoon classes that are offsite: these have been scheduled so that you will be back in time from your morning activity to take any of the afternoon offerings. Instructor bios, food choices, guest information, and all you need to complete registration will appear on the registration website http://www.asba-conf.org/, which is scheduled to go live on June 18, 2011.

View the ASBA Conference Schedule-At-A-Glance

Amazing Selections Await You!

In addition to Annual Meeting and Luncheon, the “Glass Flowers” Reception, Small Works Exhibit and Reception, Flavor of Boston Tour, the Silent Auction and the Annual Awards Banquet, Pre- and Post-Conference activities, there is so much to do – how will you decide?

Here’s what’s going to be happening at the Boston Marriott Newton or area destinations. Study up on your choices as registration opens very soon.

October

Planning to arrive October 25?

The next morning, you have two all-day Wednesday options: Jean Emmons "Using Color Effectively in Botanical Art" or the "Flavor of Boston Tour".

October

Planning to arrive Wednesday afternoon, October 26, or Thursday morning, October 27?

Arriving Wednesday afternoon? Immediately head for Ruth Starratt’s informal talk on Harvard University’s “Glass Flowers” (not the official name of the collection but you’ll see them up close on Thursday).
Are you an art instructor? Head for Wednesday evening’s Educator’s Forum, another informal gathering where you can talk about the challenges of teaching, setting up a program or whatever interests you.

October

The official part of the Annual Meeting and Conference starts on Thursday with:

The wildly popular Portfolio Sharing in the morning. Register to bring and share yours or be among the lucky viewers of your favorite subject matter from all parts of the globe.
The Small Works Exhibit on display Thursday afternoon and on Friday all day and on Saturday morning.
Sales in the ballroom foyer of Pergamena vellum and also Rosemary & Co brushes both Thursday and Friday.

When you’re not admiring the art, you have a choice of short or long sessions on Thursday, (some for a fee) including:

“The Story of Vellum” with Jesse Meyer of Pergamena http://www.pergamena.net/index.php – Jesse’s family has been preparing animal skins since 1550. (Their website says that Jesse has been ‘immersed in the family tanning business since his youth!)
“Techniques Showcase on Stage” where three artists demonstrate with close-ups of their techniques projected onto a large screen. This worked brilliantly at last year’s Pittsburgh Conference and is back by popular demand with a new panel of artists.

“The Fine Art of Brush Making” by English brush maker Rosemary Thompson of Rosemary & Co. http://www.rosemaryandco.com/
“Fixing Mistakes in Watercolor” by California artist Catherine Watters http://www.catherinewatters.com/default4.asp
“Using Masking Fluid” with Australian artist John Pastoriza-Piñol http://www.botanique-art.com/

“Colored Pencil on Black Ground” with Connecticut/New York artist Kathie Miranda http://www.kathiemiranda.com/Kathie_Miranda/Home.html
“SmART Business” on how to manage your art career by Liz Haywood-Sullivan http://www.lizhaywoodsullivan.com/
“Focus on Dry Brush” with Massachusetts/English artist Sarah Roche http://sarahrochebotanicalart.com/
“Intricate Venation” with Virginia-based world travelling artist Doreen Bolnick http://huntbot.andrew.cmu.edu/ASBA/ASBA-Gallery/B/Bolnick-Do.html
“The Devil’s in the Details” on finishing techniques with Georgia artist Hillary Parker http://www.hillaryparkerwatercolors.com/home.html

October

Is it Friday already? Consider a half- or full-day bus trip, including:

Arnold Arboretum, with a guided walking tour of the grounds and its botanical library http://arboretum.harvard.edu/
Harvard University’s Herbaria & Botany Library including its archive and botanical art treasures http://www.huh.harvard.edu/libraries/
Exploring Beacon Hill and the homes of two prominent historical families who collected botanical art among other treasures. Includes a private lunch at the real “Cheers” plus shopping and other points of interest
Mount Auburn Cemetery, America’s first landscaped cemetery, including guided tours of design styles from Victorian to contemporary gardens http://www.mountauburn.org/
Historic Concord including famous landmarks of our nation’s history and literary heritage.

Or stay at the hotel for:

“Conifers Exposed” with ASBA President and Botanist Dick Rauh http://huntbot.andrew.cmu.edu/ASBA/ASBA-Gallery/R/Rauh-Di.html
“Advanced Foreshortening” – Doreen Bolnick http://huntbot.andrew.cmu.edu/ASBA/ASBA-Gallery/B/Bolnick-Do.html
“Is My Work Saleable?” with New Jersey art dealer Susan Frei Nathan http://www.sfnbotanicalart.com/
“Exploring Reflected Light” with New York artist Corinne Lapin-Cohen http://www.corinnelapincohen.com/
“Silverpoint Drawing” with New York Botanical Garden instructor Louisa Rawle Tiné
“Painting Fruits and Vegetables on Vellum” with artist New York artist Karen Kluglein http://www.botanical-paintings.com/
“Miniatures in Egg Tempera from a Tube” with Connecticut artist Kelly Leahy Radding http://www.leahyraddingart.com/
“Framing and Understanding Your Choices” with Wisconsin/Minnesota artist Debra D’Souza http://debradsouza.com/home.html
“iPad, a Tool for Botanical Artists” with Massachusetts/English artist Sarah Roche http://sarahrochebotanicalart.com/
“An Ounce of Prevention” on the importance of archival papers and art materials with Massachusetts book and paper conservator and artist Linda Oliver
“Textures in Nature” pencil techniques with seasonal plant materials as inspiration with Connecticut/New York artist Kathie Miranda http://www.kathiemiranda.com/Kathie_Miranda/Home.html
“Juror Training” with New York artist and ASBA’s Director of Exhibitions Carol Woodin http://huntbot.andrew.cmu.edu/ASBA/ASBA-Gallery/W/Woodin-ca.html
“Small Scale,” designing an 8x10” composition and reproducing it in watercolor at 50% with Wisconsin artist Lynne Railsback http://www.lynnerailsback.com/
“Color Curriculum” Lecture with The Botanical Artist Journal color columnist and New Hampshire artist Carolyn Payzant http://www.carolynpayzant.blogspot.com/
Grant Recipient and Projects Panel where the 2010 ASBA Artist and Education Grant recipients present their exciting projects with Grants Chair Lee McCaffree.
Wildflower Forum: Showtime! Part 1: “To Show or Not to Show” on exhibiting with Massachusetts artists and the ASBA Chapter Exhibits Survey team Nancy Savage and Joyce Westner; Part 2: “Creating a Crowd” on getting people to your exhibit with New York artist Corinne Lapin-Cohen and New York marketing expert Sarah Maxwell

October

Oh look! It’s Saturday! Consider yet more delightful bus trips:

New England Wildflower Society’s Garden in the Woods http://www.newfs.org/ and a talk, “Booklover’s Botany” with Massachusetts artist and botanist Carol Govan and Massachusetts artist and bibliophile Robin Wilkerson, based on the Society’s rare books
“A Day in Historic Plymouth” including Plimoth Plantation http://www.plimoth.org/, Plymouth Rock and Flax Pond Cranberry Farm’s cranberry harvest. http://www.flaxpondfarms.com/history.html
“Thoreau, Botany and Walden Woods” includes an in-depth look at Henry David Thoreau’s explorations into the botanical world and a walking tour to Thoreau’s cabin on Walden Pond. http://www.walden.org/

All-Day Classes will be offered a short bus ride away:

At Wellesley College Botanic Gardens http://www.wellesley.edu/WCBG/Welcome/welcome.html , “Racing Nature” on doing preliminary work to aid your finished work with New York artist Wendy Hollender http://drawingincolor.com/about-us
At Elm Bank, http://www.masshort.org/History-of-Elm-Bank “Mud is a Myth” on creating neutrals with The Botanical Artist Journal color columnist and New Hampshire artist Carolyn Payzant
At Elm Bank, “Prickly Subjects” on fine detail and critical edges with Australian artist John Pastoriza-Piñol http://www.botanique-art.com/
At Elm Bank, “Composition: From Imitation to Interpretation” with Georgia artist Hillary Parker http://www.hillaryparkerwatercolors.com/home.html

Or stay at the hotel for:

Wildflower Forum Series - Hosted by Chicago wildflower expert and artist Derek Norman http://www.dereknorman.org/. Register for one or all three presentations:
1. “The Gardenization of Nature: Rare Species, Invaders, and What Gardening Has to Do with It” with ecologist and Wellesley College Botanic Gardens Director Kristina Jones http://www.wellesley.edu/PublicAffairs/Profile/gl/kjones.html
2. “A Varied and Changing World at the Bomblies Lab, Harvard University Herbaria” on environmentally-related plant adaptations at the molecular level with Harvard biologist and artist Kirsten Bomblies http://www.natureartists.com/kirsten_bomblies.asp
3. “New England Flora and Go-Botany!” how citizen scientists survey the regional flora and an upcoming ‘app’ for identifying plants, with Mt. Holyoke College biologist and artist Elizabeth Farnsworth http://www.mtholyoke.edu/~efarnswo/
“Focus on Textures: Branches, Mosses and Lichens” on watercolor techniques with California artist Catherine Watters http://www.catherinewatters.com/default4.asp
“Opaque Media for Botanicals,” acrylic, colored pencil and gouache with by Pennsylvania artist Scott Rawlins http://www.arcadia.edu/academic/default.aspx?id=15308
“Giclée Fine Art Printing” with digital print shop owner Bill Wenzel http://imageresolutions.com/
“The Art of Fixing Mistakes” with California artist Catherine Watters http://www.catherinewatters.com/default4.asp
“Classic Coquille Board,” tonal and line on a textured ground with by Pennsylvania artist Scott Rawlins http://www.arcadia.edu/academic/default.aspx?id=15308
“Investigating Leaves: Shapes and Terms” with ASBA executive director and New Jersey artist Robin Jess http://www.robinajessbotanicalart.com/

Staying on? Here are the Post-Conference options:

"Botanical Perspective" Workshop with Elaine Searle
"Painting Heritage Fruits on Vellum" Workshop with Carol Woodin

Got all that sorted out? I’ll see you there, I’ll be sitting next to you in the…um…session with the great…artist, no botanist, no technologist….well let me get back to you on which of these terrific sessions I’m signing up for…

View the ASBA Conference Schedule-At-A-Glance

Reminder: Conference registration is required. Details available in June 2011 issue of ASBA "The Botanical Artist" and online at www.asba-conf.org.

Portfolio Sharing Wants You!

2011-05-29T16:56:00.002-04:00

Portfolio Sharing is always a Conference highlight, a great time for artists who generously share their work with conference attendees. Imagine your favorite art museum, your favorite art media, and the artists themselves standing next to their work, eager to talk about it. What could be better?

For two hours on the Thursday morning of the conference one of the hotel’s meeting room tables will be covered with botanical art. Portfolio Sharing Committee Chair Dorothy Gardner McCauley says, “We have so many talented artists—I always get inspired by them and by how uniquely different each artist’s work is, depending on where they’re from, who they trained with and on their own vision!”

When you are registering for the conference, check off the box indicating you’ll bring your portfolio and Dotty’s committee will have a place for you. Dotty encourages you to protect your art with plastic or with acetate sleeves. She purchased her portfolio case (with a coupon!) at a craft supply store and says, “Mine fits under the airplane seat.”

“We encourage original artwork,” Dotty says while noting that international travelers might find it easier to bring reproductions to avoid customs issues about valuable property. “Some artists show their work on their laptop computer,” she points out, but adds the original artwork lights up the eyes of the conference attendees.

“Because our work is so meticulous, it’s always great to see the original!”

Dotty has shared her portfolio at least four times. “The first time is scary, I thought what if I’m standing next to a famous artist, but once you get there it’s very comfortable and it’s a very social thing, lots of fun.”

“There’s a welcome mat for you in Massachusetts! Please bring your art and share it with ASBA members.” Any questions? Dotty welcomes them—leave a comment on this blog or send Dotty an email at ASBA2011@nesbaartists.org.

Portfolio Sharing Organizer Dorothy Gardner McCauley shares her art at the 2008 ASBA Conference.

Reminder: Conference registration is required. Details available in June 2011 issue of ASBA "The Botanical Artist" and online at www.asba-conf.org.

Glass Flower Gallery AND New England Forests – Wow!

2011-05-04T20:53:00.003-04:00

Headlining the many exciting events during the ASBA conference will be a private showing of the famous Glass Flowers – a.k.a. the Blaschka models of 4,000 flowers representing 847 plant families.

Ware Collection, "Glass Flowers" images. These glass models of flowers are among 3,000 on permanent display at the Harvard Museum of Natural History on the Harvard campus.

All photos by Hillel Burger, courtesy of Harvard Museum of Natural History © President and Fellows of Harvard College, www.hmnh.harvard.edu

Attendees will board buses at the hotel late Thursday afternoon and travel to the Harvard Museum of Natural History where ASBA has reserved the entire museum for an evening reception.

Here’s what our intrepid pahty coordinator (yes, Boston lingo for party!) Suellen Perold says about this special event:

BUT WAIT, there’s more … Our ASBA reception will not only showcase the Glass Flower Gallery, but will also feature one more exciting, newly installed exhibit designed to whet our botanical viewing appetites: “New England Forests” showcases works made in Chase Studios. The brainchild of Dr. Terry Chase, a PhD scientist, this unique presentation fabricated by scientifically trained artists and naturalists is made from welded steel, fiberglass, and epoxy.

Check out the studio, especially the botanical works on this site: www.chasestudio.com.

How’s this for a feast for OUR eyes?

We’re psyched to have you all here!

Suellen,
HMNH pahty coordinator

Ware Collection, "Glass Flowers" images.
All photos by Hillel Burger, courtesy of Harvard Museum of Natural History
© President and Fellows of Harvard College, www.hmnh.harvard.edu

Reminder: Conference registration is required. Details available in June 2011 issue of ASBA "The Botanical Artist" and online at www.asba-conf.org.

Plan Ahead to Register for Terrific Sessions

2011-04-15T04:00:00.006-04:00

Whether you want the most popular hands-on sessions at the Conference or the most esoteric discussions on topics dear to your heart, there’s a Big Secret to getting your favorites—it involves homework.

Yes, this post is a very personal opinion about how to do your homework, and also offers an overview of how sessions are priced. Here’s the price part: if the speaker is going to teach you personally how to do something, the class is limited to a reasonable number, usually 15, and the tuition is based on the length of the class. Many attendees, including this blogger, attend sessions with no extra costs whatsoever, and they have a grand time.

There will be over a dozen three-hour sessions at $50 each, some about art techniques, others about successfully managing the business of your art. There will also be three full-day classes on Friday and four on Saturday at $135 each—so many glorious choices! Bus trips abound and cost $50 for a half day event and $75 for a full day. Plymouth, Walden Pond, Historic Boston and more, plus a trip to a talk which this blogger experienced: Book Lover’s Botany at Garden in the Woods. Books + Art + Plants = Nothing better.

Included in your registration fee, which is to say at NO additional cost, are many more delights. Stay put at the Newton Marriott and you have your choice of another baker’s dozen plus of talks, demonstrations, forums on subjects as varied as wildflowers, color theory, framing and the newly popular (cuz they did it last year and it was brilliant) Techniques Showcase where three well-known artists take turns demonstrating their techniques while a camera displays what they are doing on screen. No need to break your back leaning over the artist’s table. Warning: I’ll be watching Catherine Watters’ demo called “Fixing Your Mistakes.” You probably don’t need that one….

Homework, the first secret: Grab your June ASBA Journal and circle everything you want. Double circle those with limited enrollments. Check your email early and often after you get the Journal and here’s why: You will get an email letting you know that the registration website will go live in a week or so. You will get another email when it does go live. Go online quickly with your homework paper in hand and register.

The second secret: if you are not able to get that very special Heart’s Desire session because you are Number 16 in line, never fear—there are so many terrific things to do at the Conference that you will be busy and gratified the entire three days. And we haven’t even mentioned the Small Works Exhibit, the Portfolio Sharing, or the Glass Flowers at Harvard.

Reminder: Conference registration is required. Details available in June 2011 issue of ASBA "The Botanical Artist" and online at www.asba-conf.org.

Flavor of Boston Tour

2011-04-08T05:00:00.006-04:00

Come Early for Our Flavor of Boston Tour!

Come one, come all! If you are arriving early, we have planned a wonderful day in Boston for you! The bus will take you from the Marriott Hotel and we’ll begin the tour by going to Prudential Center’s “Skywalk” to get a 360 degree bird’s eye view of Boston, the harbor, Cambridge and the far western hills.

View from the Skywalk Observatory

Charles River

Go Red Sox!

Back on the ground, we’ll immediately board one of Boston’s famous Duck Boats for a fun and informative tour of Boston landmarks and highlights, including a cruise on the Charles River. It’s an entertaining way to learn about Boston, its history and its fascination, i.e. obsession with all things Red Sox (but all other team fans are welcome!!).

Duck Splashing into the Charles River

The Duck driver will let us off at Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market for lunch (on your own).

Quincy Market

A National Park Ranger will then meet our group and give us a walking tour of some of the sights of Boston, particularly the North End, and will include the Old State House, Paul Revere House (remember, he warned the locals that the British were coming, and we hope they come to our Conference too), the Old North Church and more. While we won’t go inside each of these buildings, we will be able to view them and hear about Boston's historic revolutionaries. We’ll return for shopping time at the outdoor shops of Quincy Market before our trek back to home base. Lots of ground to cover, but a wonderful way to get a sense of all that Boston has to offer! We hope you can join us!

Revere House Courtyard

The Flavor of Boston Tour is on Wednesday, October 26 from 8:45 am to 5 pm. Cost is $75 and is limited to 34.

Please note: Conference registration is required. Details available in June 2011 issue of ASBA "The Botanical Artist" and online at www.asba-conf.org.

Old State House

Pre and Post Workshops

2011-04-01T06:00:00.022-04:00

Who will be the lucky pre-conference workshop students and who will linger into November at a destination resort? Those ASBA members whose time and budget permit a longer stay in New England will find themselves with terrific instructors and intriguing lessons. Each class is limited to 15 students.

Jean Emmons

Green Pitcher Plant

Sarracenia oreophila

18" x 12"

Watercolor on Calfskin Vellum

Jean Emmons is noted for her luminous paintings with lush layers of color. Jean’s website says her technique “is based on medieval manuscript illumination. …an excellent way to suggest light moving through layers of plant tissue.”

"Using Color Effectively in Botanical Art” will be at the Marriott on Wednesday October 26 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The fee is $150. Here’s the modest description from the Conference Schedule: “Our goal is to enliven our botanical paintings as we become more sensitized to the properties of color. This one-day overview is a blend of traditional botanical watercolor technique with impressionist color theory. After working through some color exercises, we will paint a tiny simple subject.

Wentworth by the Sea

Can’t bear to leave New England? Not getting enough painting during the Conference? Get on your Sunday morning bus and be whisked away to glorious Wentworth by the Sea Hotel and Spa on New Hampshire’s short and beautiful coast for $189 a night plus taxes. Learn how to pronounce Piscataqua River-—the view on one side (the Atlantic Ocean and the Isles of Shoals on the other)—-and sink into the luxury accommodations at our very special rate. Then choose one of two three-day classes (October 30 - November 1, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), which won’t be an easy choice. Tuition is $450.

Please note: Conference registration is required. Details available in June 2011 issue of ASBA "The Botanical Artist" and online at www.asba-conf.org.

Detail from a watercolor of a blue Hydrangea macrophylla.
The original is in the florilegium collection of The Robinson Gardens, Beverly Hills, CA.
© 2011 Elaine Searle.

English Artist Elaine Searle will teach “Botanical Perspective,” focusing on composition and perspective. Elaine’s website says she passionately encourages others to share her love of drawing and painting nature. The course description promises a brilliant guide to creating a piece from conception to final layers: “Forget the Math, this class is about Aesthetics! English artist and instructor shares tips on how she ‘builds’ her distinctive layered and close-cropped compositions. Create a small painting using these techniques whilst also exploring her use of ‘atmospheric’ perspective to enhance depth and interest.”

And do check out this video for more on Elaine Searles's post workshop.

Carol Woodin

Lycaste consabrina

Watercolor on Vellum

At the same time and place ASBA Exhibits Coordinator Carol Woodin will teach “Painting Heritage Fruits on Vellum,” an extraordinary chance to learn, as the course description notes, “the luminescent world of vellum.” What better setting for bonding with heritage fruits, while benefiting from Carol Woodin’s instruction on “composition, botanical accuracy, aesthetic strength, and watercolor painting techniques on vellum. Through discussion, demonstration including vellum stretching, and practice, learn about transferring drawings, cleaning and refining the drawing before painting, and building color through transparent layering. Understanding how to put down multiple layers of drybrush watercolor will provide you with additional latitude in watercolor whether working on vellum or paper.”

Check out this video for more on Carol Woodin's post workshop

If you’d rather do some sightseeing before settling into the Conference activities, next week’s blog describes the “Flavor of Boston” tour.

Please note: Conference registration is required. Details available in June 2011 issue of ASBA "The Botanical Artist" and online at www.asba-conf.org.

Get Your Piece Ready for the Small Works Exhibit and Catalog!

2011-03-25T18:56:00.006-04:00

A wonderfully successful feature of the 2008 Pasadena ASBA Conference is returning this fall. Each attendee may submit one Small Work for exhibition during the Conference, and the exhibit will not only be open to the public but will be on view for nearly the entire duration of our stay at the Marriott. But you must notify ASBA by August 1, so get going!

Details about the Small Works Exhibit: http://www.asba-conf.org/exhibit.php

Small Works Entry Information Form: http://www.asba-conf.org/work_entry.php

Where did this idea come from? The ASBA leaders and local chapter conference organizers started planning back in 2009 for an exhibit, always a highlight of any of our annual gatherings. Local museums expressed interest in hosting us and suggested a juried show. But our planners decided it would be intriguing and more fun to involve artists from all across the ASBA membership and leave the jurying for other times and places.

Carrie Megan is the local chapter’s chair for this event and her enthusiasm is evident: “The Small Works Exhibit is a wonderful opportunity to display your work, no matter what your level of expertise. No need to be shy!”

Attendees will vote for an “Artist’s Choice Award,” and a select panel will present for the first time ASBA’s Anne Marie Carney Award for an artist in a non-juried exhibition who has not been accepted in an ASBA Juried Exhibition.

The subject can be of your choosing, but you have to meticulously observe the “small” part of the requirement. The framed piece can be no larger than 9 inches x 12 inches (horizontal or vertical) outside dimensions. Alert your framer to be vigilant, not approximate!

And it must be framed ASBA style L-profile-gallery-frame in wood. Frame color can be natural medium brown to light brown wood or gold wood. See more details about wire, plexiglas, etc. in the call for entries.

And if you want to be included in the exhibit catalog, you must send a digital image of the piece by August 1, 2011 on CD to catalog editor Kelly Radding. More on that in an upcoming blog. Meanwhile if you have questions, send them to smallworks2011@nesbaartists.org.

Carrie Megan reminds us, “This is your chance to ‘show your stuff,’ alongside some of the stars in the botanical art world! ...and who knows, you might be the one to win the award for the best piece exhibited by a non-juried artist... Be a beacon in Boston, and let your work light the way!”

For all the details, see this calls for entries document.

17th ASBA Meeting

2011-03-04T20:46:00.005-05:00

Conference Organizers Dr. Ruth Starratt and Carole Ely welcome ASBA to “Autumn in New England”

For the first time, the ASBA’s Annual Meeting and Conference will be in scenic New England and local chapter NESBA members are planning to make it memorable! Home base will be the Boston Marriott Newton on the Charles River, just a stone’s throw from where Henry David Thoreau walked the woods around his beloved Walden Pond, Louisa May Alcott’s home when writing Little Women, and by Paul Revere’s route “through every Middlesex village and farm.”

Boston’s walkability belies its vast riches, including America’s oldest arboretum and public park (have you read Make Way for Ducklings?). Pre-conference and conference tours, classes, and field trips will include excursions to many unique destinations including the Harvard University’s Herbaria with its rare book collections, Mount Auburn Cemetery--the first ‘garden cemetery’, Walden Pond, Plimouth Plantation, and other special places. You can travel easily from our suburban hotel to downtown Boston on public transportation made famous in the “Charlie on the MTA” song (listen).

Come early for the pre-conference tour Taste of Boston or sign up for Jean Emmons pre-conference class, “Using Color Effectively in Botanical Art.” Stay after the conference and join us in New Hampshire’s historic Wentworth-by-the-Sea Hotel and Spa, for your choice of three-day post-conference workshops with Elaine Searle or Carol Woodin.

On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the conference will include hands-on workshops and talks by Wendy Hollender, Karen Kluglein, Hillary Parker, Carolyn Payzant, Kelly Radding, Lynne Railsback, John Pastoriza-Piñol, Dick Rauh, and Catherine Watters and many others. Traditional activities will include Portfolio Sharing, Techniques Showcase, forums on art education, art as business, conservation, exhibits organizing, jurying, and grant recipient presentations.

One of the Conference high points will be a private showing of the famous Glass Flowers during our Conference reception. Buses will take us on Thursday evening to the Harvard Museum of Natural History where we will have full access to the entire natural history collection during our evening reception; wine, cheese, dinosaurs, and 850 extraordinary botanical specimens in glass, plus a chance to make new ASBA friends and catch up with old ones.

Friday will be capped with a reception for the Small Works Exhibit—your work!—on exhibit at the hotel from Thursday to Saturday. If you will attend the conference, get busy answering the call for entry with your small work and submit your digital image early to be included in the show’s catalogue.

On Saturday evening, party New England style with your ASBA friends during the Silent Auction and Banquet. The ASBA award announcements are always an anticipated event and this year is no exception.

Final details about the conference will be in the June issue of TBA. Until then, preview the many events of this not-to-be-missed ASBA Conference by visiting and subscribing to NESBA’s special blog at http://bostonasba2011.blogspot.com/.

See you soon for Autumn in New England!

All about NESBA’s ASBA Boston Conference Blog

2011-03-04T16:05:00.003-05:00

The New England Society of Botanical Artists hope you find this blog lively and informative as you consider whether to join your fellow artists for the 17th Annual ASBA Conference, and when you want all kinds of detail about the many facets of the Conference.

You can subscribe to this blog using the Subscribe button on the right side of the page, and get weekly emails with information about conference activities, instructors, classes, trips, receptions and the Small Works exhibit.

Or you can keep up with Facebook or subscribe with your favorite RSS reader from the right side of this page.

Whether you subscribe via email, Facebook, or RSS, you will receive all the very same posts brought to you here on our blog.

The links on the left side of the page will take you directly to NESBA’s Welcome to the Conference page, or to the ASBA Registration page, ASBA’s official site for Conference details.

If you’re curious about what NESBA is up to (a lot!), you can look at our NESBA Blog, the website where we keep in touch with our members (over 100 and growing, from all six New England states).

You are welcome to post questions and comments on this blog, and our webmaster John Perry will make sure that it is answered by one of the Conference Committee members.

Here are some of the topics you’ll see:

Pre & Post Workshops
Registration (how to choose classes, how to get into something you will love)
Instructor bios
HMNH Glass Flowers Reception /History
Portfolio Sharing
Small Works and Catalog
Classes
Workshops
Forums and the Showcase, Juror Training
Room sharing
Sightseeing in Boston
Restaurants
To and from Airport, bus, train stations

Come to New England in October!