Back to Basics

Sometimes artists power on in their haste to finish a painting. Details omitted from the master drawing can result in an inaccurate painting. Not having the correct placement of the midrib vein is also something that absolutely stands out in a finished work.

With botanical art there are really no shortcuts. The more information and detail you do in your drawing and colour study, the better the final painting will be. 

I write an article for each issue in Back to Basics quarterly magazine and my latest article for the current issue is 'Drawing and Foreshortening Leaves'.  A frequent question from students is 'how do I show a foreshortened leaf?" This article takes all the guesswork out of drawing leaves.

Work produced at Sturt Winter School

The experience of staying at Sturt in Mittagong for a week is invaluable. At the end of the week each class has its exhibition to display what they have achieved.

Each evening there are also tutors presentations, and the talent of the tutors is world class. There is a huge variety of classes, from ceramics, weaving, working with beeswax, woodwork, calligraphy, botanical art, book binding and more.

So I thought I would like to share with you just some of the work produced throughout the week.

These are examples of the knitting. You will never think of knitting in the same way again. It was just amazing!

Some examples of basketry - very contemporary and innovative

Calligraphy

 

 

Beeswax and colour

Winter School at Mittagong NSW

I have just returned from a week teaching at Sturt - Australian Contemporary Craft & Design Centre  in Mittagong in the NSW Southern Highlands. Some of the grounds and trees are heritage listed, and it has a very special ambiance.

This is the North Wing - the building my classes were held in

Early morning as the sun was rising over one of the sculptured gardens

These beautiful colonnades and wrought iron was just outside my room.

I had a wonderful class of very talented students, who worked extremely hard all week. The object of the course is not only to demonstrate how to do a botanical painting, but the important aspect is the PROCESS. 

My class at work

The four P's are vital: Passion, Practice, Patience and Perseverance. There are no shortcuts, but often an easier way of doing things. Many of the students were absolute novices and I was thrilled by the work they produced. At the end of the week each class held an exhibition, which was a real highlight. Here is just some of the work they did.

This was the class exhibition at the culmination of the week

Sue Grieve's excellent example of a master drawing, colour study and final painting of a Kangaroo Paw

Penny Kater's work in progress of the Macadamia tree

Sandra Berrick's eucalypt leaves - in progess

 

 

Mary Uldyne working on her painting of the Hardenbergia sp.

The finished painting of the Hardenbergia

I would have liked to have featured every single students work, as they were all quite exceptional, especially due to the beginners status of many.

This makes my life so rewarding when I can see the enjoyment and progress each individual experienced throughout the week.

Japanese Spider Chrysanthemum

I was so excited to see the amazing Japanese Spider Chrysanthemum at my local shopping centre on Mothers Day. I had never seen one before but was blown away with its beauty and intricacy, and seductive colours.

Some colours attract certain people and I am often drawn to delicate lilac shades. I think we are drawn to colours that suit us. You would be amazed how many times students have shown up to class or course with a flower the same colour as the top they are wearing!

My drawing for the flower is finished - now to find time to begin the painting. I need a clear desk and a clear head, with no work pending. Then I will just work on it until it is finished.

I love working with detail, thank goodness as I am a botanical artist, and I find the whole process absolutely meditative. It takes me into another place. At the end of a session I will often look at my work and think "did I do that?"

 

 

I am looking forward to this very enjoyable journey into the world of the Spider Chrysanthemum. It is a flower a feel a real connection with.

'Botanica' Exhibition in Sydney

The Friday night opening of the annual 'Botanica' exhibition at the Sydney Royal Botanical Gardens was a great success.

It was the best 'Botanica' I have seen presented, for many reasons. The selection of paintings was extremely well balanced, although paintings by single artists I feel should be limited, to allow for others artists who are equally talented, to exhibit their works. 

The exhibition was beautifully curated by Judy Dunstan for the first time, and I look forward to seeing her in this role again next year. 

Another interesting and profound element was that there were no extravagently overpriced paintings. Most well priced paintings will sell, but with some artists insisting in previous years of pricing themselves out of the market, I think this point has hit home.

The general public is not aware of the 'names' in botanical art, and with so many wonderfully talented artists out there, it would be difficult to choose one artist over another. They are all extraordinary in their own right.

This is a wonderful exhibition, and I am sure it will sell extremely well. I look forward to visiting again at least twice (or more) as there is so much to take in. If you are going along, take note of the framing as well, which forms part of the overall presentation of the painting, and can 'make or break' some work.

Enjoy!!

With my painting of the Banksia menziesii and Banksia prionotes

Fiji Holiday Sketching

This was my eight year teaching botanical art and holiday sketching workshops at Daku Resort in Savusavu, Fiji. The place is such a hidden treasure, totally uncommercial and it is a place where time has stood still.

 

On this trip I detected signs of Progress, which is not always a bad thing. Many new roads were being made, and road upgrades had also been done, making it a much easier trip from Savusavu to Labasa (the capital) which is 1-1/2 hours across the island. Previously at least half the road was dirt and rocks and  extremely rough.

 

The new roads were the first indications of developing infrastructure. Perhaps Savusavu and the island of Vanua Levu will not be hidden treasures for much longer.

 

A sketch of a few of the bures nestled amongst the tropical rainsforest

 



This is the northern end of Savusavu town. Not much has changed, but I think the future will bring many changes.
 

The weather was superb, except for the last few days when the tropical rain came down with gusto. Not cold - just wet. I get the group participants out and about as weather permits so if it does rain, we have experienced as much as we can on the fine days.

 

Global warming has even come to the tropics with unseasonal weather. Even the dry seasons can produce torrential rain and very hot days. Years ago I would go at a certain time and know it would be fine and warm for the week. Past years this has not happened, so I am prepared for all eventualities.

 

Here are a few of the students work from the week. Botanical art is done in the mornings and sketching in the afternoons. I am always thrilled with what is produced for the week, It gives myself and the students themselves a great sense of satisfaction.

 

If they only take back one or two pertinent elements of knowledge it is worth it - but I am sure they all learned a lot.

 

Not everyone who joins me on my workshops is experienced. I take all skill levels, so some of the students had never done botanical art before. You would be amazed with the standard of work.

 

Will leave you with three of the paintings, and a general overview of the rest.

 

The paintings of Helen, Carole and Annie

The group's drawings and paintings for the week



 

If you would like to read my Holiday Sketching Newsletter, subscribe by emailing leonienorton@iprimus.com.au and I will send you my latest issue.

 

Australian State Floral Emblems

I have been so incredibly busy since my last blog. I had a strict deadline for six commission paintings of the Australian state floral emblems. These will go on a dinner set, placemats and other merchandise and will be available at Christmas.

 

At the same time I was doing these paintings, I visited Hobart - met with glorious weather. What a change from my previous trip in October last year where it was extremely cold, unbelievably windy and even snowing at Oatlands. I will be doing another 'Sketching Historic  Tasmania' tour and am in the planning stages. The last tour was a great success with so many historical places to visit and sketch.

 

Back to my botanical paintings....here are some of the processes I used for the Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha), which is the floral emblem for the Commonwealth of Australia.

 

The first stage was my line drawing which was submitted for approval. More leaves were requested.

The first wash

 

With my work, I am continually assessing. Thought this needed many more flowers as it had to stand out on a white plate. I was asked to paint them strong and bright.

 

No sooner had a finished one painting then had to immediately begin another. Half way through the commission, I also had another committment which took me away for another two weeks. Pleased to say the six paintings were finished on time.

 



The final painting