Gramma schreef
I am not sure if this is the correct forum for this question but there are
surely some botanists who have thoughts on this.

***
One of the prime uses of botanical illustrations is to illustrate botanical
/ taxonomic works. These are written by people who will have special and
intimate knowledge of the plants described. Therefore they will know what
parts of the plants it is necessary to feature, and from what angle, perhaps
mounted in a special way. They will so instruct the artists commissioned to
make said illustrations.

So it depends on the plants portrayed (and perhaps the level to which
knowledge has advanced of the particular plant portrayed. It does happen
that later it becomes known that a feature disregarded so far by taxonomists
is critical, after all).

A common device to show scale is a scale bar (usually a line, sometimes with
short cross lines at either end) that represents, say, 1cm, 5cm or 5mm in
the real plant. If the illustration is reduced so is the scale bar.
PvR

"P van Rijckevorsel" wrote in
:

Gramma schreef
I am not sure if this is the correct forum for this question but
there are surely some botanists who have thoughts on this.

***
One of the prime uses of botanical illustrations is to illustrate
botanical / taxonomic works. These are written by people who will
have special and intimate knowledge of the plants described.
Therefore they will know what parts of the plants it is necessary
to feature, and from what angle, perhaps mounted in a special way.
They will so instruct the artists commissioned to make said
illustrations.

So it depends on the plants portrayed (and perhaps the level to
which knowledge has advanced of the particular plant portrayed. It
does happen that later it becomes known that a feature disregarded
so far by taxonomists is critical, after all).

A common device to show scale is a scale bar (usually a line,
sometimes with short cross lines at either end) that represents,
say, 1cm, 5cm or 5mm in the real plant. If the illustration is
reduced so is the scale bar. PvR


This is true, generally the author of the work requests the
illustration, and specifies the important features.

There at least used to be a certificate program in botanical
illustration offered by the Smithsonian Institute. Don't think that
you are too old for it, Gesina (Nikki) Threlkeld was about 70 when
she got her certificate.

Sean

"Sean Houtman" wrote in message
news:1106649932.225ccaab731b22d649df41aa18bf587b@t eranews...
"P van Rijckevorsel" wrote in
:

Gramma schreef
I am not sure if this is the correct forum for this question but
there are surely some botanists who have thoughts on this.


snip

There at least used to be a certificate program in botanical
illustration offered by the Smithsonian Institute. Don't think that
you are too old for it, Gesina (Nikki) Threlkeld was about 70 when
she got her certificate.

The Smithsonian would be a bit far for me as I am in Oz
but there are sure to be similar courses here.

Age would not stop me doing something like that, but unfortunately
my pension could !

Not surprisingly, as this is a new direction for me, I have not heard of the
lady you mentioned.
I will do a Google search and see if I can find any of her work

Thank you for your reply

Gramma

"P van Rijckevorsel" wrote in message
...
Gramma schreef
I am not sure if this is the correct forum for this question but there
are
surely some botanists who have thoughts on this.

snip

So it depends on the plants portrayed (and perhaps the level to which
knowledge has advanced of the particular plant portrayed. It does happen
that later it becomes known that a feature disregarded so far by
taxonomists
is critical, after all).


Thank you for replying.

To try and determine my ability against other illustrators, I am thinking
along the lines of entering an illustration into selection for a
competitive exhibition, where the drawings are selected by a panel including
at least one botanist, one scientific member and one research associate
from a botanic garden.

The choice of plant used is up to the illustrator, and this is why I
wondered about a standard format of presentation of just what should be
shown

I guess I will have to use my judgement on the features of whatever specimen
I choose.
This could of course be part of what they are looking for - to see how an
illustrator has looked at the plant

I will take on the method of scale you suggested - it is certainly makes
sense


Gramma

Gramma schreef
To try and determine my ability against other illustrators, I am thinking
along the lines of entering an illustration into selection for a
competitive exhibition, where the drawings are selected by a panel including
at least one botanist, one scientific member and one research associate
from a botanic garden.

The choice of plant used is up to the illustrator, and this is why I
wondered about a standard format of presentation of just what should be
shown

I guess I will have to use my judgement on the features of whatever
specimen I choose. This could of course be part of what they are looking
for - to see how an illustrator has looked at the plant.

***
What they are looking for may also be how an illustrator has done his
homework, i.e. read up on the plant of his choice and what botanists regard
as the important features.

It may be relevant who the members of the jury are
PvR

"P van Rijckevorsel" wrote in message
...
Gramma schreef

I guess I will have to use my judgement on the features of whatever
specimen I choose. This could of course be part of what they are looking
for - to see how an illustrator has looked at the plant.

***
What they are looking for may also be how an illustrator has done his
homework, i.e. read up on the plant of his choice and

**what botanists regard as the important features.**

I guess I was trying to ask this group that question in the first place.

Gramma...

Gramma schreef
What they are looking for may also be how an illustrator has done his
homework, i.e. read up on the plant of his choice and

**what botanists regard as the important features.**

I guess I was trying to ask this group that question in the first place.

***
You guess wrong. You asked what in general are important features for
plants in general. A one-size-fits-all approach.

What matters for the illustration is the important features of the
particular plant-species portrayed. Features which likely are unique to that
group of plants. A competetent illustator working alone will have to do his
homework in order to deliver a product-made-to-measure ...
PvR

good luck and, if you don't mind, can we see your entry? AZTEC

"AZTEC" wrote in message
...
-
-

good luck and, if you don't mind, can we see your entry? AZTEC

Thanks
--
If I don't get cold feet in the mean time and if I have the courage I
might run it past for a critique before I enter, which might of course
put me off entering altogether .
[g]

Gramma

In article ,
Gramma wrote:

"AZTEC" wrote in message
...

good luck and, if you don't mind, can we see your entry? AZTEC

If I don't get cold feet in the mean time and if I have the courage I
might run it past for a critique before I enter, which might of course
put me off entering altogether .

Good heavens, don't let anything put you off entering! You have
nothing to lose and everything to gain!

You might want to confer with the contest organizers about what
criteria they will use in judging entries. And even if you don't
"win", you will have the opportunity for your work to be critiqued by
professionals, which can be invaluable.

Note also that there's interest in botanical illustrations for their
aesthetic as well as scientific value. Entering a contest like this
may put your work in front of potential purchasers and even invite
commissions from people who would like drawings of favorite plants.

You'll also have the opportunity to meet other illustrators and people
interested in botanical illustration, which is invaluable, even if it
doesn't lead to monetary gain. It's hard to make money from art, but
creating art is rewarding in itself, and the pleasure in each other's
work you can share with those with the same interests is wonderful,
aside from the advice and information you can obtain from them.

wrote in message
.. .
In article ,
Gramma wrote:

"AZTEC" wrote in message
...

good luck and, if you don't mind, can we see your entry? AZTEC

If I don't get cold feet in the mean time and if I have the courage I
might run it past for a critique before I enter, which might of course
put me off entering altogether .

Good heavens, don't let anything put you off entering! You have
nothing to lose and everything to gain!

I only meant from the point of perhaps making some 'glaring' mistakes that a
lay person may not pick up, but again that would be the point of getting a
critique in
the first place.

You might want to confer with the contest organizers about what
criteria they will use in judging entries.

Since I first posted here I have received the assessment criteria which is:
1. Botanical accuracy in the interpretation and portrayal of plant
character and diagnostic features
2. Technical merit
3. Artistic merit
4. Suitability for publication,
[which I understand from the instructions to artists to mean the drawing
must be able to reduce by one third without losing clarity of detail ]

The entry literature has also very helpfully given a judges comment on the
works entered last year and some of the reasons drawings were rejected.

And even if you don't
"win", you will have the opportunity for your work to be critiqued by
professionals, which can be invaluable.

This is basically my reason for wanting to enter - just to see if I am at
the standard for selection.
If selected then my next entry [2006] would be to aim for winning - the
first
prize is $5,000 which would always come in handy

Note also that there's interest in botanical illustrations for their
aesthetic as well as scientific value. Entering a contest like this
may put your work in front of potential purchasers and even invite
commissions from people who would like drawings of favourite plants.

It is certainly a select medium and not everyone's cup of tea.
Not everyone can appreciate the work that goes into Botanical art or
illustration and I think it would be love of the medium and subject rather
than the
gains that would start most people off.

You'll also have the opportunity to meet other illustrators and people
interested in botanical illustration, which is invaluable, even if it
doesn't lead to monetary gain.
snip

It was meeting a past entrant that has spurred me into getting the entry
details.
It is only the few outstanding artists who can gain the success of Celia
Rosser or Jenny Phillips, two of Australia's better known botanical artists,
well beyond my ability but I'm working on it..

To which end I had better keep practicing.
My thanks to you for interest

Gramma

Howdy from Texas,

Something that I don't think anyone has mentioned is that you will do
your best work if you are illustrating something you love. Someone
who knows and loves roses and orchids might do a technically competent
job illustrating grasses, but the work won't have the "involvement" or
"investment" of someone who has a gut relationship with the group.
That said, drawing is also a way of understanding--you notice a lot
when you have to draw something, so you may find yourself falling for
something you draw.

Everyone was right when they said the features to be illustrated will
vary from plant to plant or group to group. For
example--Nepenthes--tropical pitcher plants. For these guys, it's
going to be the leaves and pitchers--shape, size, marking, etc. The
flowers are extremely secondary. For orchids, it's mostly about
flowers and their details. For things in the carrot and mustard
family, it's fruits and leaves. For a tree, it might be fruit,
leaves, and bark. Some families have specialized structures that are
like fingerprints for each species. You'd put the other bits in, of
course, but the emphasis will change from plant to plant.

M. Reed

Gramma Wrote:
"P van Rijckevorsel" wrote in message
...-
Gramma schreef-
I am not sure if this is the correct forum for this question but
there
are
surely some botanists who have thoughts on this.--

snip
-
So it depends on the plants portrayed (and perhaps the level to which
knowledge has advanced of the particular plant portrayed. It does
happen
that later it becomes known that a feature disregarded so far by
taxonomists
is critical, after all).-
-
-
Thank you for replying.

To try and determine my ability against other illustrators, I am
thinking
along the lines of entering an illustration into selection for a
competitive exhibition, where the drawings are selected by a panel
including
at least one botanist, one scientific member and one research
associate
from a botanic garden.

The choice of plant used is up to the illustrator, and this is why I
wondered about a standard format of presentation of just what should
be
shown

I guess I will have to use my judgement on the features of whatever
specimen
I choose.
This could of course be part of what they are looking for - to see how
an
illustrator has looked at the plant

I will take on the method of scale you suggested - it is certainly
makes
sense


Gramma
-
-

good luck and, if you don't mind, can we see your entry? AZTEC


--
AZTEC