NatureArt Lab Blog

David Reynolds is a botanical artist from Melbourne who teaches in Canberra and Brisbane with NatureArt Lab.In this article talks about his art practice and the importance of getting to know your subject. He also asked the question about botanical art and gender. Hopefully more men will join this creative pursuit and enjoy the productive meditation the art of botanical painting provides. 

Australia boasts a rich and diverse range of flora, and one of the largest groups that stands out is the Eucalyptus genus, consisting of over 800 species spread across three genera: Angophora, Corymbia, and Eucalyptus. These native plants are not only iconic but also play a vital role in Australia's natural environment, earning recognition worldwide. With their various shapes and sizes, the workshop aimed to explore the captivating forms and colours of eucalypts, with a particular emphasis on species with rounded leaves, such as Eucalyptus kruseana, E. cinerea, E. pulverulenta, and E. orbifolia.

Last month, we had the incredible opportunity to explore the captivating world of one of Australia's most iconic species. Snakes and lizards, often misunderstood or overlooked, took centre stage as we delved into their beauty and uniqueness in the course, Illustrating Australian Reptiles with Zoe Lawrence.

Over the course, our students were given the rare chance to intimately interact with live reptiles, gaining firsthand knowledge and mastering techniques to accurately capture their essence through coloured pencil illustrations. It was a harmonious fusion of art and science, allowing us to raise awareness and foster a deep appreciation for these magnificent creatures and our native fauna as a whole.

Nicole Crosswell is a practising visual artist, arts facilitator, and the scientific illustrator for The Queensland Herbarium at Mt. Coot-tha Botanical Gardens. Her arts practice embodies the phrase ‘to draw’; from contemporary manipulation of physical thread and line through to traditional methods of drawing and mark making. In both her professional and personal life is Nicole’s passion for the natural world and its dynamic evolution.

Lesley Wallington is a professional, award-winning artist and tutor with more than 30 years’ teaching experience. Her journey in water based media, through studies at the ANU School of Art has resulted in innovative approaches to her painting and competency across a range of mediums. With a background in Biology, Ecology and Mathematics Lesley brings together in her work, a love of art, science and nature.

Hive Studios is an exciting new arts space founded by local artists Lena Tisdall and Sandra Pearce, and is located in Banyo in the northern suburbs of Brisbane.  The Hive Studio space houses Sandra’s printmaking and papermaking studio Art from the Urban Wilderness, and is also open to the community and local artists to use for art workshops, studio hire and community events.  

In April 2019 I was lucky enough to join the second NatureArt tour to Borneo as accompanying art tutor. Not having travelled to this part of the world and knowing very little about the plants and wildlife we would encounter I was very excited to be a part of the trip. From my perspective I can think of no better way to get to know and understand unfamiliar living things than by spending the time observing and drawing them. This is when the rest of the world quietens down and it becomes possible to feel an affinity with what is in front of you.

NatureArt Lab recently hosted a two-day workshop with well-known UK botanical artist Jessica Rosemary Shepherd. With a focus on creating 'larger than life leaves', a group of 15 artists explored the possibilities of creating drama with use of light - giving the plant center stage. Jess inspired us with her ideas about where botanical art might go in the 21^st Century. Jess’ artistic projects, whether art-based, soundscapes, media or publishing ventures, explore an evolving philosophy to do with botanical artistic expression and ‘how the strategies and techniques of the visual arts can be adapted to communicate the importance of plants in the modern world’. She spoke about combating ‘plant blindness’ and using art and other mediums to focus attention on the natural world. Her work is both profoundly personal and political, environmental and cultural.

The NatureArt visit to Montague Island brought together people with shared interests in art and the synthesis between art and the natural history of the island. Explorations of bird species, marine and insect life provided much interest for the group, with artists enjoying a series of workshops with well-known artist and NatureArt Lab tutor Lesley Wallington. Chris Davey provided the scientific expertise and guided many nature walks around the island morning and evening to see the many species that make Montague home. Highlights for the visit were the thousands of crested terns and silver gulls that breed on the island at this time of the year. Observation of the birds' nesting and parental behaviours, plus the constant challenges that these species face as they raise their young is endlessly fascinating.