Bringing artists, scientists and environmentalists together
to promote appreciation of
our natural wildlife and botanical heritage

Meetings

Members as well as non-members are welcome to attend our meetings. A $2 fee is requested from members to cover costs.

Upcoming Meetings

Christmas Lunch - Saturday 10th December, 12.30 – 2.30pm

Xmas get-together at the Australian National Botanic Gardens. Please bring a plate of finger food to share, as well as a rug to sit on. WABA will provide drinks. Members can meet at the carpark steps near the visitor centre/ bus shelter at 12.30. If it is raining we will still meet, but will have a sheltered spot arranged for lunch.

Flannel flower Painting

Trip Dates: Friday 2nd OR Saturday 3rd December, from 10am – 12 noon at ‘Moondani’, 387 Back Creek Road,
Gundaroo, NSW.

Activity: Field trip to visit wildflower farmer, Lana Mitchell, who grows flannel flowers. The flowers are in full bloom now, and we will have access to Lana’s greenhouses at her property in Gundaroo.
Bring: Watercolour paints, drawing materials, cameras and a small chair, water and snacks.
RSVP: Please confirm with Julia on 0414 342 839 or by email to ajlandford@gmail.com if you would like to attend either day (or both); car-pooling is welcome.
Directions: From Canberra, travel north via Federal Highway, take first exit to Sutton/Queanbeyan, left to Sutton, then Back Creek Road (3.87km), letterbox on the left ‘Moondani’, take the right hand fork to the greenhouses.

Walk-in Aviary Bird Painting Field Trip

Date: Friday 17th February 2012 (9.00-12 noon),

Activity: Painting and sketching birds – see 57 different species, over 550 birds in the aviary and we will have access an hour before the aviary opens to the public.
Bring: Watercolour paints, drawing materials, cameras, water and snacks
Cost: $11.00 per person, Seniors $9.00 (discounts apply for 10 or more people).
RSVP: Please confirm with Julia on 0414 342 839 or by email to ajlandford@gmail.com
Address: Federation Square, Gold Creek, O’Hanlon Place, Nicholls

4 February 2012 , 1.00 – 3.00pm, Australian National Botanic Gardens Theatrette (behind Visitor Centre)

Topic: How to complete a commission
Presenter: Frances McMahon

Internationally recognized wildlife artist, Frances McMahon, will be our guest speaker for the first quarterly WABA meeting. We will also hold an afternoon workshop on learning to observe and paint birds in the field, led by Peter Marsack and Julia Landford.

Frances was recently commissioned to prepare a brochure for the Australian National Botanical Gardens. She will discuss the "ins and outs" of accepting an art commission, particularly for artists who are preparing paintings that will be printed and used for promotion by the client. Her presentation will include everything you need to know about having a contract drawn up, how to go about gathering reference material, layout and design, client meetings, agreeing on a price, and other issues such as ‘who gets to keep the original works?’ Original works will be on display for members and guests.

Peter Marsack and Julia Landford will run a workshop for artists interested in learning how to draw or paint birds on sight. This workshop is about learning to observe birds accurately so that you can record what you see quickly. Please bring a field sketch book, pencils, water colour paints and brushes that you would typically use in the field.

For any enquiries, please contact Julia Landford on 6166 7002.

Donation: $2 (room hire and afternoon tea)

'Rosellas' by Frances McMahon

Past Meetings

22 October 2011
Sharon Field - Is Graphite Really Black and White?

Meeting report by Di Stockbridge

Many thanks to Sharon Field for her extremely inspiring talk on ‘Is Graphite Really Black and White?’. Thanks also to the patience of the Botanic Garden’s Technician, who eventually got the PowerPoint illustrations working for us!

Sharon highlighted five basic rules to embrace when planning your next graphite work, and apparently a glass of red wine also helps! Sharon also kindly showed us some of her work and offered suggestions to members who had brought their work in for discussion.

Briefly: Five rules or ideas to work with:
1. Inspiration - "the creative mind plays with the things it loves". A great drawing is an expressive drawing. Think about what inspires you?
2. Observation - How well do you look and see? Look carefully and fully understand what you are looking at.
3. Style - Does your style change depending on the teacher you are working with? Find your style & recognize your style, and then accept your own style of drawing - it is you! Use teachers to hone techniques and aim for excellence. “He who knows others is wise, he who knows himself is enlightened" – LaoTzu
4. Expression - Are you just doing a drawing or are you expressing yourself? Think about love, passion and soul. Know your subject. Think of drawing as a language.
5. Colour - "life is like a black and white photograph, there's black, white and lots of shades in between" - Carl Heiner.

16 July 2011
Ian Fraser - Canberra naturalist and author

14 May 2011
Peter Marsack - freelance natural history artist and illustrator
Lesley Wallington - botanical artist and teacher
Nilavan Adams - botanical artist and teacher
Julia Landford - wildlife and botanical artist & WABA president