Upcoming Artisan Market for Eclectic Design Choices

One of my two fall shows is coming up the first weekend of September. I will be at the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) at their Artisan Market, which is a part of their Fall Gallery Night event. BRIT will have a member event on Friday, September 6 from 5:30 - 7:30pm, with an all day public event on Saturday, September 7. The Artisan Market will be open Friday evening and on Saturday from 11am - 9pm. BRIT will have four spaces set up with different art exhibits and two spaces dedicated to the Artisan Market. I will be located in Atrium II with my photographic art. I will have some of my ready to hang pieces as well as matted prints and note cards.

Speaking of note cards, I will have some boxed sets of my "fireworks" note cards I shared in an earlier blog post as well as my new Texas wildflower boxed set featuring a TX bluebonnet and a TX paintbrush. This project has been in the works for a couple of years. When I first decided I wanted to create a set like this, I found I did not have a suitable photo of TX paintbrush in my stock photos so I had to wait until the next spring to find suitable flowers and photograph them. That was last year. It was not until this year that I had the time to fully develop my photographic art version of my original photos and have the cards printed. This show will be the first time I have had them with me at a show. The boxed sets include three cards of each image along with six envelopes.

Fall Gallery Night at BRIT 2018

My artwork will be back at BRIT in Sept. Instead of being part of a gallery exhibit as a few pieces were earlier this year, I will have a full compliment of my photographic art with me for an invitation only reception on Friday, September 7, 2018 and as part of FWADA Fall Gallery Night at BRIT on Saturday, September 8. BRIT will be open to the public on Sept. 8 from 4-9pm. You will find me and my artwork (matted prints, note cards, coasters, ready to hang artwork and more) along with about ten other artisans and their creations in atrium II as part of the pop-up artisan market. There will also be a new exhibit in their gallery space and welcome center as well a pop-up exhibit by the Fort Worth Art Collective.

Two Photographic Art Prints Selected for Exhibit

Last year I told you about a new botanical art group formed in North Texas that I joined. They have formalized the name of the group to the Botanical Art Collective of North Central Texas and are about to open their first juried 2D art exhibit at BRIT. Members could submit up to four pieces for consideration to be included in the exhibit. Two of mine were accepted, a Mother's Day rose and a close up of a branch covered in a variety of lichens.

The opening reception will be held this coming Thursday, June 14, 2018 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Unfortunately, I have a City budget meeting that begins at 6 pm that night so I will have to view the exhibit at another time and miss getting to talk with everyone at the reception. If you are also unable to attend the reception, the exhibit will hang from June 14 - August 9 and BRIT is open to the public Tuesday - Friday 10 am - 4 pm and the first Saturday of

the month from 9 am - noon.

Having seen some of the other member's works, I am expecting this to be a fabulous exhibit. The name of the exhibit is Botanical Art - Flowers, Fruit and Fungi. This exhibit is a celebration of the world of botany and will feature depictions of flowers, fruits, seeds, vegetables, fungi, and grasses executed in a variety of mediums by local artists. Come view the exhibit and explore the joyful intersection of two distinct yet closely related disciplines - botanical art and science.

Update: My bluebonnet print was selected to hang out with the other bluebonnets in the welcome center for the duration of the show.

I have now had the opportunity to view the exhibit. As I expected, the artwork is fabulous and most of them are for sale if you find one that wants to go home with you. A portion of the proceeds helps support BRIT. The artwork must remain at BRIT until the end of the show.

New North Texas Botanical Artist Group

I attended the organizational meeting of the Botanical Artists of North Central Texas. It was held at Botanical Research Institute of Texas and organized by Dennis Benjamin, who works at BRIT. There were just over a dozen artists there. Most of the artists' main artistic expression was through painting or drawing, however there was at least one artist who also sculpts and another branching out into photography, in addition to my photographic art.

Dennis shared his reasons for establishing the group. He wants a way for botanical artists in the region to share their joint interests. The group is designed to be informal, inclusive and welcoming of all mediums and styles, but with a botanical focus. The initial plan is to become an Artists’ Circle of the American Society of Botanical Artists, with the long term goal of creating a certificate program in botanical art, possibly in concert with a regional academic art program, such as TCU, SMU or UTA.

The group welcomes additional members. You can find out more information on its Facebook page. Several activities are being planned for the upcoming year.

The poke salad image was taken by me in my backyard and digitally altered. The lilac fibre cap mushrooms (Inocybe lilacina) are a watercolor by Dennis Benjamin.

Eclectic Design Choices at Art in the Garden

Art in the Garden is a fundraiser for the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens. It is held around the FWADA's Fall Gallery Night each year. According to the Botanic Gardens' website you will find "over 60 different artists displaying oils, watercolors, sculpture, photography and jewelry." This year Art in the Garden will be Friday, September 11 from noon to 7 pm, Saturday, September 12 from 9 am to 8 pm and Sunday, September 13 from noon to 4 pm, with a wine and cheese reception during Fall Gallery Night, on Saturday, September 12. Artwork will be displayed in the halls of the Garden Center.

I'm pleased to report that I will be one of the 60 or so artists whose work will be on display this year. Two of my gallery wrapped photographic art prints were accepted. All displayed works are for sale and a portion of each sale will help fund the Botanic Gardens. If you have a chance to check out Art in the Garden you will have the opportunity to see some wonderful works of art and if one of them speaks to you enough to purchase it, you will be helping out a good cause.

If you visit Art in the Garden on Fall Gallery Night you will be close to several other venues with great artwork to view. Adjacent to the shared parking lot with the Botanic Gardens is BRIT (Botanical Research Institute of Texas) with the Best of Texas Clay Exhibit plus a pop-up gallery by the Fort Worth Art Collective for Gallery Night. Other participating venues can be found in the FWADA's Fall Gallery Night catalog.

Update 9/14/15:

I'm happy to report that I was pleasantly surprised when I got to the Art in the Garden reception. My Bald Mountain Series "Rock Ridge - Color received a second place ribbon in the photography category.

Out and About – Marmot Photographic Art

I always enjoy it when a customer sends in a photo of themselves wearing one of my creations or showing a photographic art piece off in its new surroundings. Even better is running into one of your creations in person after it has found a new home.

I had the pleasure of seeing a gallery wrapped photographic art print of mine, a marmot titled "Food?", when my husband and I visited the BRIT earlier this year. While we were taking a tour of the facility, one of the researchers asked if I would like to see what a co-worker had done to the marmot he had purchased from me for his office. While I wasn't sure what to think about something being done to my artwork, I said we would love to come up after we were finished with the tour. I needn't have worried about what had been done to my artwork though, I totally loved it. It was fun, creative and didn't actually involve any alterations to the print itself. I can't wait to see what fun thing the marmot does next.

Speaking of fun, I have found the people who work and volunteer at the BRIT to be very passionate about what they do and have a lot of fun doing it. Whether you have young or old kids or an empty nest, I strongly suggest if you are in the area that you head over to the BRIT for their upcoming Prairie Day, a celebration of native landscapes of North Texas. This year the BRIT's Prairie Day with be Saturday, May 16 from 9am – 1pm. You can see birds of prey, listen to live music, make craft projects and go on guided prairie walks to name a few of the fun activities waiting for you. Much more information is located on their Prairie Day page.

I plan on going again this year. You can see some images I took of a screech owl last year in an earlier blog post.

Eclectic Design Choices at the BRIT's Artisan Market

This Saturday, Nov. 1 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. I will have my photographic art items and feather jewelry & accessories at the First Annual BRIT (Botanical Research Institute of Texas) Artisan Market. You will be able to view most of my ready to hang photographic art creations. I'll have a selection of matted and framed prints, gallery wrapped canvas prints and prints on metal or acrylic. In addition, my matted prints, trinket dishes, note cards, purse hangers, CD clocks and bookmarks will be there too. My feather creations include hair accessories, pendants and earrings.

BRIT will be hosting additional talented artisans selling a variety of hand-crafted items including jewelry, wood housewares, hand embroidered textiles from Mexico and Honduras, photographic art, ceramics, hand-dyed accessories, all natural bath products, artisanal food and lovely hand-made children’s items.

Get a jump start on your holiday shopping. I'll see you Saturday.

Art in the Garden and Fall Gallery Night

Art in the Garden is a fundraiser for the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens. It is held around the FWADA's Fall Gallery Night each year. According to the Botanic Gardens' website you will find "over 60 different artists displaying oils, watercolors, sculpture, photography and jewelry." This year Art in the Garden will be Friday, September 5 from noon to 7 pm, September 6 from 9 am to 8 pm and September 7 from noon to 4 pm, with a wine and cheese reception during Fall Gallery Night, on Saturday, September 6. Artwork will be displayed in the halls of the Garden Center.

I'm pleased to report that I will be one of the 60 or so artists whose work will be on display this year. Two of my gallery wrapped photographic art prints were accepted. All displayed works are for sale and a portion of each sale will help fund the Botanic Gardens. If you have a chance to check out Art in the Garden you will have the opportunity to see some wonderful works of art and if one of them speaks to you enough to purchase it, you will be helping out a good cause.

If you visit Art in the Garden on Fall Gallery Night you will be close to several other venues with great artwork to view. Adjacent to the shared parking lot with the Botanic Gardens is BRIT (Botanical Research Institute of Texas) with the works of Billy Hassell. Other participating venues can be found in the FWADA's Fall Gallery Night catalog.