​

Learning how to create a visual botanical journal on a regular basis, in sketchbook form that can be added to year on year. The technique is pen & watercolour wash/colour pencil.

You will need a new A5 sketchbook: I use Stillman & Birn Zeta, but any good smooth sketchbook will work as long as it will tolerate washes or pen&ink and not show through. A range of finer technical pens such as Micron or Uni-pen and your usual watercolours or coloured pencils.

If you just want to learn the techniques and decide whether you want to do a journal later on, you will only need your regular sketchbook, pens and painting equipment..

Workshops are kept small, refreshments including a light lunch included.

Only three places left as of 1 March 2020, so do book as soon as you can.

I visited the new exhibition at Kew before Christmas to see the Modern Masterpieces Exhibition and it was such an exciting, diverse, and interesting exhibition that I wanted to see it whilst chatting with other artists. So I thought it would be great to have a meet-up for all those ABBA members who can get there. Lucy Smith, award winning Kew botanical artist will join us for our guided tour. - Martin Allen

The Gloucestershire Society for Botanical Illustration
Annual Exhibition

A rare opportunity to visit Blooming Green before they open to the public in June. Working in graphite, this 3 hour workshop will introduce you to Botanical Drawing.
Suitable for beginners and improvers. Access to the cut-flower field, coffee and cake are included. £40 per person. For more details, contact Julie.

Portraits of plants in tonal shades of grey, like portraits of people, can be exquisite.
Learn how to use a range of graphite pencils appropriately. Class kept small to give individual attention therefore suitable for all levels.
Bring your own equipment but don't buy anything new unless you don't have a sketchbook.
Morning coffee, lunch and afternoon tea included

3 day botanical workshop.
Including birds, butterflies or insects.
Accommodation, meals etc included.
Beginners most welcome.

For any ABBA members and friends thinking of joining ABBA, we are having a get together to paint and talk about botanical art.

There will not be any tuition, but the intention is to get to know like-minded individuals and learn about botanical art from each other.
Places will be limited as this is in the home of Gaynor Dickeson, so putting your name down on the list by Monday 13 January, is important.

Coffee and biscuits will be available but bring your own lunch.

There is a small charge to pay on arrival; £3.50 for members and £5 for non-members.

Please register for this event by sending me an email to confirm so I have an idea of potential numbers. Thursday, 23 January 2020 10:00 am

gaynordickeson@mac.com

Gaynor Dickeson

A chance to meet up and explore the fine collection of fruit in the orchards at RHS Wisley. There are picnic tables in the orchard which we can use whilst sketching and for eating our lunch. A small folding chair could be useful if you want to sketch away from the picnic tables. Please bring your own sketching materials. Entrance for RHS members and RHS Affiliated Societies is free; non- members £14.50.Bring a picnic or purchase food on site.

The Old Court in Windsor, is a community arts centre, where I have recently had a joint exhibition, entitled Synergy, with photographer, Paul Mitchell, which was very well received. How about meeting at The Old Court on Saturday, 20 July between 2 and 4 pm to get to know fellow artists and those interested in Botanical Art and to exchange ideas about what we want ABBA to do.....exhibitions, workshops, visits to art collections, to name just a few ideas....

Pamela Taylor