Save the Date: New York Botanical Garden Plein-Air Invitational, June 11 2017
Sunday June 11, from 11am-4pm, I’ve been invited to paint a public demonstration at the New York Botanical garden.
Everyone is welcome to bring your art supplies, (EDIT> however not all areas will be open for public painting, due to congestion on the walking paths. I believe that drop in painters will be directed to the Conservatory Lawn).
In addition to the artists scattered throughout the garden, there will be guided tours featuring the current Chihuly exhibtion, along with demonstrations of flameworking by Urban Glass. (Which is a fascinating sketching subject!).
There will be over 30 established plein air painters, including the event’s headliner James Gurney, plein-air master Garin Baker, renowned painter and art-blogger Stapleton Kearns, Montreal’s own Shari Blaukopf, NYC urban sketcher and reportage artist Veronica Lawlor, and USK past-president Jason Das – along with many more artists I’ve yet to meet.
In preparation for the event, I’ve been warming up with some studies at home. Here’s a series, based around reference photos of roses and common rose diseases.
I know that’s a bit odd, but there you have it.
I’ve always been interested in botanical art, but not so much the classical perfection of the best botanical artists. For me, it’s more that plants are just so weird! They come in so many bizarre shapes and sizes.
I don’t know what area or subject I’ll be offered at the gardens – but part of me hopes it’s bromeliads or cacti :)
I’ll post an update when I hear what my actual spot will be, and if you’re in the New York area this June, I hope you’ll stop by the NYBG and say hello!
Citizen Sketcher 
Beautiful paintings!
Wow!!!! I love this!!!!!thanks!
How can plants be any weirder than people?! Enjoy your posts and your art!
I love your choice of colours plus your characteristic mix of hard and soft edges.
Beautiful!
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Looks like you’re ready. Hope to get there that day!
Absolutely lovely, so fresh and clean. I can almost touch them.
Wow, that would be amazing to attend. Perhaps one day you’ll do one at the Ontario Royal Botanical Gardens, Mark!
Marc: it seems that every season, there is ONE day when two or three things you want to do are happening on the same day. Unfortunately, June 11th is that day for me. I actually wanted to do my June 11th event on June 10th, but a family event came up that is a must-attend. All of which means I cannot join you at the Botanical Gardens. Very frustrating. I would enjoy meeting you and watching you in action, saying hi to Shari, and to meeting James Guerney. Hopefully, something else will bring you all back some other time. Enjoy!
Well enjoy your day and yes, I’m sure I’ll be back for another thing!
Wow!!!! beautiful, I love this!!!!!thanks!