Be inspired by nature at this botanical art exhibition
The Friends of the Geelong Botanic Gardens, who manage the Geelong School of Botanical Art, are pleased to present the 7th biennial ‘Inspired by Nature’ exhibition at which over 70 artworks by 21 students and their tutors will be featured.
Opening Saturday 5 March, the exhibition will be held at the Deakin Waterfront Campus’ Exhibition Gallery. From the crunchy edges of dry and crumpled leaf to the delicate veins of a perigonium flower, this wonderful collection of botanical art captures the beauty and detail of nature.
Many of the featured artists have received numerous awards and are represented in botanical art collections both nationally and internationally. Many beginner artists will also be featured.
One featured artist, Denise Feldman, says that she has been a botanical artist for around 10 years. She loves ‘trying to capture the wonder and beauty of nature. With each painting I learn something different.’
Of note are the works by Amanda Ahmed, Amanda Blake Sutterby, Deborah Chirnside, Rosemary Donnelly, Craig Lidgerwood, and John Pastoriza-Piñol. Of particular interest is the bibliography of John Pastoriza-Piñol, who also tutors in the USA, and elsewhere overseas. His artworks are included in the both the ‘Highgrove Florilegium’ and ‘Transylvania Florilegium’, projects created under the aegis of the H.R.H Prince of Wales’ Charitable Foundation. John, Rosemary and Deborah have all exhibited their work and/or contributed to the prestigious collection at the Hunt Library – Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, USA.
Artworks by Judy Lavery and John Pastoriza Pinol that will be featured in the exhibition
The exhibition showcases a very eclectic range of subjects, all inspired by nature, and nature’s detail is depicted in watercolour or gouache paintings, or graphite drawings.
Another featured artist, Judy Lavery, says that her lifelong interest in plants is what led her to botanical art. ‘What I particularly love about botanical art is that our paintings have to be both botanically correct and artistically pleasing. It bridges art and science. Through our art the very fine detail of each specimen’s structure can be readily observed.’
There is something for everyone who loves the world of art and plants.
What is botanical art?
Botanical Art and Botanical Illustration have a long history throughout the world. Before cameras it was the only means of recording the anatomical features of plants. While fashions in the world of art have come and gone, botanical art has continued to feature in botany, horticulture and in fine art. Our prestigious exhibition recognises the important role of botanical art but in a more contemporary way, and records the beauty and complexity of what is becoming even more important today; our green environment.
Event details
Exhibition Gallery, Deakin University, Waterfront Campus
Western Beach Road, Geelong
Saturday 5 March – Friday 1 April
10am–4pm, Tuesday to Saturday
Image credit: The banner images includes artworks by Corinna May, Wilma King and Deborah Chirnside that will be featured in the exhibition.