BOTANICAL ARTS
2D and 3D Botanical Arts
There are many different types of loosely defined botanical art, both 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional. Two-dimensional botanical art includes a spectrum from scientific botanical art illustration to botanical painting and drawing using a variety of different media. Three-dimensional botanical art is created with dried plant material. Creating art with fresh plant material could also be considered a 3D botanical art.
World Association of Flower Arrangers (WAFA) flower shows include framed wall art created with dried plant materials. The Garden Club of America flower shows often include a Botanical Arts division for not-to-be-worn jewelry, purses, masks, and more, all made with dried plant material.
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On the other end of the 2D spectrum is the botanical art espoused and practiced by members of the American Society of Botanical Artists. The organization's wonderful and extensive website includes many examples of members' work, chapters across the country, classes and seminars being offered, books to read, and more. The rich history of this botanical art form is discussed in "A Brief History of Botanical Art" by Jutta Buck and Cynthia Rice. Readers are invited to "become familiar with the botanical art that stems from long established traditions that integrate the history of art and the sciences of botany, horticulture, medicine and agriculture."
botanical | bəˈtanək(ə)l |
adjective
relating to plants: botanical specimens | a botanical illustrator.
art | ärt |
noun
1 the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power: the art of the Renaissance | great art is concerned with moral imperfections | she studied art in Paris.
• works produced by human creative skill and imagination: his collection of modern art | [as modifier] : an art critic | an exhibition of Mexican art.
• creative activity resulting in the production of paintings, drawings, or sculpture: she's good at art.
Door County Botanical Arts Classes
Rebecca Jabs
is a Wisconsin artist and educator whose work is an observation of nature with a hint of narrative. Her philosophy and methods encourage students to develop a closer relationship with nature - draw to learn as you learn to draw! Rebecca has a background and degree in art education, but her dual interests in art and science led her to the Science Illustration Graduate Program at California State University at Monterey Bay. Today she works as a freelance illustrator and part-time college drawing instructor.
Many watercolor painting and colored pencil drawing classes are taught at The Clearing Folk School in Ellison Bay, WI
The Summer Program, which runs from May through October, is The Clearing’s oldest and the one that most closely resembles Jensen’s original folk school vision. The mainstay of the Summer Program is week-long classes, with 25 to 35 students and instructors living at The Clearing, eating family-style meals and renewing their spirit through close contact with the native landscape. The Clearing experience is made up of many special components. The classes, sense of community, forests, meadows, water, sunsets, home-cooked meals, traditions and history all blend to create a wonderful place to learn, relax, reflect and make new friends.
3D Botanical Art
The images here are examples of a 3D Botanical Arts flower show entries, one from a Philadelphia Flower Show and one from the Lake Geneva Garden Club Flower Show. Note the beautiful, intricate details in the necklace and the bracelet, and the well-crafted entry cards showing samples of the organic materials that the artists used in their works.
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