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

 



Mackay, North Queensland

Have just returned from Mackay in North Queensland, where I taught a two-day workshop at the Mackay Regional Botanical Gardens for the BAIG (Botanical Art Interest Group). This was my third visit and many of the enthusiastic group remain the same, with some new faces and an added wealth of knowledge. Not only does this group meet once a week to paint and share knowledge, but several members of the group give talks about rare local plants they may have discovered, or a lesson in botany from skilled members with an enormous amount of information to share.

 

Mackay Botanical Art Interest Group
 

Day One of the workshop we focused on leaves - this teaches the students everything they need to know about botanical art:- how to colour match and mix, how to apply washes, identifying and applying highlights and shadows, colour gradating, observation, leaf margins and dry brush work for final detail.

 

Some of the leaves were so well done, it was difficult to distinguish the leaf from the painting

 



 Day Two the focus was on flowers of their choice, and there were some wonderful examples brought in by the class, flowers that I do not see in Sydney. Lots of class demonstrations and individual tuition gave the students the confidence to paint with ease. I was amazed that most were well on their way to finishing their painting in a day. It was only the actual flower they painted, and they could add the leaves at a later date.

 

Just a few of the extremely competent paintings that were done



The staff at the Botanical Gardens are very encouraging and supportive of the painting group, and will furnish different plants for them each week, along with their botanical names and information on the species. The group also has an annual exhibition in the Gardens, which is a culmination of their work throughout the year.

 

What an incredible environment to work in! Fortunately while I was there the weather remained fine and warm. As I write this, Cyclone Ita is bearing down on Cooktown, so Mackay will bear the brunt of the winds and rain from the edge of the cyclone. I hope no damage is caused to the plants on the botanical gardens.

 

 

The  51 hectare Gardens are only ten years old, but built along the banks of the "Lagoons", they offer a beautiful community environment to be shared by all. There are a variety of paths, bridges and boardwalks to allow close-up viewing  of various habitats, with 88% being Australian native plants, some of which are rare or threatened in the wild.

 

A wetlands area attracts an incredible amount of birds to the range of habitats. Waterways and fringing grass line the lagoons. Sunbirds dart amongst the flowers within the small forrested areas, and Magpie Geese roost on the lagoon flats while Whistling Ducks feed among the waterlilies. The Kookabuuras laugh can be heard throughout the gardens. It is a haven for bird watchers.

 

 

I was intrigued by the seeds of several plants, and would love to add them to my repertoire of botanical paintings.

The seeds of the Areca vestiaria and the Cordyline manners-suttoniae (Giant Plant Lily)

Last but not least, the intriguing Torch Lily, which is a flower I have painted while in Fiji, but the specimens in Mackays Regional Botanic Gardens were perfect in every aspect.

Sketching Historic Norfolk Island

This was an idyllic week, pen and wash sketching with a fabulous group of ten enthusiastic participants. Every road on the island took us to yet another panoramic and beautiful location.

 

The light was wonderful, with morning sketches catching the early light on ocean, cliffs and beaches, while the afternoon light from the same location gave a golden glow but the scene was perfect to sketch looking in the opposite direction.

 

And the sunsets were amazing. One evening I collected orders of fish and chips (which were some of the best we have ever had!) and we all sat on the clifftop of Puppies Point watching the sun rapidly sink into the sea.

 



The lookouts on the island afforded uninterrupted views, but - as lookouts tend to be - were a little windy. Once the group began their sketches the wind was forgotten while recording the beauty of the place.

 

Sketching at Anson Bay

My pen and wash sketching tours focus entirely on the individual participants. My teaching philosophy is that everyone pays the same amount and everyone has the same amount of my time and individual tuition.

 

While it is not a sketching holiday for me in the sense I spend it teaching and not sketching myself, I do manage to find some spare time to do some quick sketches, even if they are only outlines, and I can work from the photos at a later time. Well, in theory this sounds feasible, but in reality I often dont get the time to revisit the photos, despite every good intention. Life just gets in the way once back home. However I do travel extensively without groups so that is "my time".

 

I loved the view overlooking Kingston and the penal colony from Queen Elizabeth Lookout, which also took in Philip and Nepean Islands. Every person dipicted this is a very different way, from a slightly different place.

 

Each sketching session finished with a review of what had been done. This not only helps as I give lots of advice and comments about what works and how it can be made even better - but everyone also benefits from looking at how the others approached the scene.



Sketches from Captain Cook Lookout



 

I only take a maximum of ten participants, which ensures the maximum of learning opportunities. So have booked the next tour for 2-9 March 2015.  It was a truly fabulous week in all ways.



Fiji in May

I will be taking a group to Fiji 11-18 May for a glorious week of botanical art and holiday sketching. The mornings are devoted to botanical art, and we paint from high on the hill in the yoga shala, with 180 degree views over Savusavu bay, Daku resort and the mountains. A soft tropical breeze wafts through the shala and it is the most incredibly relaxing experience.

 

The afternoons are spent at various locations such as beaches, visits to a Fijian village to experience traditional singing and dancing, town visits to shop, look around and sketch.

 

You can do as little or as much as you like. All skill levels are welcome and there is plenty of individual tuition and demonstrations. Non painting friends and partners are more than welcome and join in at all activities.

 

I have been doing this for 7 years now and have taught 17 courses there. The beauty and tranquility of the place is amazing. We stay at Savusavu in a family run resort. In Savusavu time has stood still in this hidden paradise. No hustle and bustle - just go with the flow. Still a few places left so would love to see you. www.botanicalart.com.au and www.holidaysketching.com.au

 

The evening sunsets are to die for
 

Some of the students paintings from last year

The view from the shala