The Latest News and Updates from BSBA
AGM Meeting April 21st 2024
After our morning AGM we were treated to a fabulous talk and cake painting demonstration from Tatyana from the Ta Do Bakery in Peterborough. We met Tatyana back in 2023 at the NEC's Creative Craft Show where she impressed us with her award-winning hand-painted cake celebrating the life and works of Victorian botanical artist Marianne North. Tatyana showed us how she paints with food colouring mixed with alcohol to achieve exquisite detail akin...
March Meeting with Carol Gordon
Member Carol Gordon led this month's workshop all about illustrating contoured and bumpy leaves. The aim was to test out various techniques in both pencil and watercolour to give a sense of drama to our paintings. Firstly we shone lights on our leaves so we could better see how the little 'mounds' appeared. Too bright a light bleaches out the detail and the shadows. Photographs helped to show the contours and structure. Starting with pencil we...
February Workshop with Cathy Clarke
This month we were treated to a workshop that didn't involve paintbrushes or pencils! Founder member Cathy Clarke demonstrated how to create sketchbooks and journals out of all types of paper. First, she showed us how to do a basic stitched Pamphlet using four sheets of paper, we then progressed onto the more decorative Japanese Stab Binding technique. Cathy provided all the materials and gave excellent instruction and help. Members were all...
November Meeting – Deborah Lambkin
At our November meeting, botanical artist and illustrator Deborah Lambkin gave us an intriguing insight into her work as the official Orchid Artist to the RHS Orchid Committee. To date Deborah has painted over 500 Orchids which are held in the RHS Lindley Library. We were fascinated to find that Deborah works with a limited palette of watercolours, mostly Winsor and Newton. Two yellows, three or four reds, a couple of...
November BSBA Stand at the NEC Creative Crafts Show
This annual event is one of the highlights of the BSBA calendar. There was an eye-catching display of members paintings and illustrations which attracted many people to the stand with lots of positive comments. Members enjoyed demonstrating and chatting to members of the public about their journey through botanical art and many flapjacks were devoured to keep us going.
October Workshop with Cath Hodsman – “Illustrating Bees”
On Sunday 15th October we were treated to a fabulous workshop by Cath Hodsman, self taught Wildlife and Natural- History Artist. Cath was a very well informed and enthusiastic tutor. She described the day as ‘…not a traditional workshop…’ as her aim was to help us understand more about the natural world, especially the role played by insects ‘….the largest group of animals in the world…’. Cath was full of such information as the fact the aphids...
September Meeting 2023: Botanical Sketchbooks & Journals
BSBA Chair and workshop tutor, Jeni talked us through the process of starting a botanical sketchbook and how it could become an integral part of our art practice. She showed a variety of ways to create a botanical sketchbook and shared examples of different styles and approaches and media. In the afternoon, members drew and sketched a range of autumnal leaves and twigs in their sketchbooks and were encouraged to try a range of media from...
Highbury Hall, Birmingham: Heritage Open day Sunday 10th September 2023
Highbury Hall, now a Grade II listed building, was home to Joseph and Neville Chamberlain. The interior decoration was influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement and there are countless forms of plant ornamentation from floor to ceiling. As this year’s Heritage Open Day theme was ‘Art’ the BSBA was invited to take part. Several of our members spent the day sketching and painting, taking inspiration from the interior decorative elements and...
Forthcoming events
Sunday 10th September 2023 11.00-17.00, Highbury Hall Heritage Open Day, 4 Yew Tree Road, Moseley B13 8QG Grade II listed mansion, the former home of the Chamberlain family, in the suburbs of Birmingham is open on heritage Sunday, Throughout the hall are nature inspired motifs. The society has been invited to have a stand at this event. There will be a small display of botanical art and cards for sale. Members will be present to help anyone who...
16th July 2023 meeting and Information on 2025 World Wide Day of Botanical Art
Our July meeting saw a return visit by Laura Silburn. The title of her workshop 'Painting with Reds'. Firstly we identified the brightest reds in our palette, chiefly Scarlet Lake and Winsor Red. Laura said it was almost impossible to mix a colour as vibrant as some of the commercial pre mixed reds, and we tried to mix matching reds to those above and those we had. Next we practised layering different colour reds for the brightest effects,...
Painting day 11th June 2023
Unfortunately the workshop today had to be cancelled as there were not enough members registered to make it viable. The photograph shows members busy with their own projects which included depicting foxgloves in both coloured pencil and watercolour, leaves, a pelargonium, pencil work and colour mixing. It was confirmed that we will once again have a stand at the Art and Craft Show at the NEC, Birmingham from 2nd - 5th November 2023. There will...
Jackman’s Art materials
One of our members met Marc Jackman at his stand at the NEC in November 2022 and invited him to talk at one of our meetings. Marc is the founder owner of Jackman's Art Materials and following the AGM gave us a talk and demonstrated how he makes the watercolour paints. Marc set up his business in 2019 and makes all the paints himself calling on help from family and friends at busy times. The paints are all professional artist quality because...