"Botanical illustrators... need to know the science of plants, their parts and their seasons, and have a command of technique and composition. ... Joan Frain... a botanical artist and instructor for almost 30 years, may teach the only ongoing class in the Philadelphia area...
In the first century, Pedanius Dioscorides, a Greek botanist and physician, had to travel all over the ancient world to gather plants for his meticulously drawn five-volume work on medicinal herbs. Called "De Materia Medica," it remained in use, reproduced in manuscript, until the 17th century and is considered a precursor to all modern pharmacopeias, or medical compendiums. Beautifully illustrated plant books followed in the 18th century... with botanical illustrators -- mostly men until the 19th century... Today..., botanical illustrations are commanding impressive prices in England, where the art has always flourished. ... 500 artists a year... take a botanical illustration class at the New York Botanical Garden. ... There isn't much call in the workplace anymore for botanical illustrations, though they are sparingly used in some scientific research, in a few seed catalogs and publications" article URL : http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070224/Lives03/702240434 photo : [caption : Pat Gregg paints an oncidium orchid during a class on botanical illustration in Exton, Pa.] http://sbimg.sv.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=SB&Date=20070224&Category=Lives03&ArtNo=702240434&Ref=AR&MaxW=580&; **************** Regards, VB _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [email protected] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
