I Am to Present Two Botanical Art Talks and Display Art in Ventura County

BAGSC News:

BAGSC member Ellie Tu will have two displays of her botanical art, and will present two talks this coming weekend:

Saturday, March 19, 2016 at 1 pm
Ojai Library, Ojai, California

Ellie will present a talk entitled “Channel Islands National Park Guide Book Illustrations and a Glance at Traditional Botanical Art.” This talk will include a brief history of traditional botanical art and explain the equipment and materials used for painting and drawing.

Ellie will also speak on the process of creating the Channel Islands National Park guide book illustrations and give a drawing demonstration. She will bring some plant samples for guests to experience from a botanical illustrator’s point of view.

Ellie Tu illustrated the Channel Islands National Park guide books.

Ellie Tu illustrated the Channel Islands National Park guide books.

Ellie’s artwork will be on display in the library until the end of June, 2016.

This event is free and open to the public. For additional information, contact the library at (805) 646-1639. The E.P Foster Library is located at: 111 East Ojai Avenue, Ojai, California 93023.

Pen and ink illustrations of California native plants by Ellie Tu,© 2016, all rights reserved.

Sunday, March 20, 2016 at 2 pm
Oak Park Library, Oak Park, California

On Sunday, March 20, Ellie will present a talk entitled “Botanical Wonders: An introduction to Traditional Botanical Art.” Ellie will give a brief history of botanical art, show the step-by-step process of botanical painting, and give a watercolor demonstration. Those who attend get to create (and take home) their own botanical art! Ellie’s artwork will be on display in the library until April 3, 2016.

This event is free and open to the public. The address for the Oak Park Library is:897 North Kanan Road, Oak Park, CA 91377.

Additionally, Ellie will be giving a talk at Channel Islands National Park auditorium on April 9th. Stay tuned — details will be posted to our BAGSC News blog.

Magnolia Seedpod: Pen and Ink Sketch in My Temporary Studio in The Bay Area

I was given a magnolia seedpod a couple of days ago while taking pen and ink classes at Filoli Gardens in the Bay Area. The alien looking seedpod is a mixture of intriguing shapes, textures and colors. I made 2 pen and ink sketches with watercolor in my 'temporary studio', which is actually the living room of the hostel during its quiet hours.

Finished sketches.

Channel Islands National Park Guidebooks Illustrations- California Native Plants With Pen and Ink

If you have a chance to visit Channel Islands National Park, don't forget to pick up a copy of new guidebooks at the Native Plant Garden in front of the visitor center. I did the original pen and ink illustrations for these two informative and beautifully designed guidebooks 'Guide to Island Plant Adaptation' and 'Guide to Island Chumash Plant Usage'. This is a very rewarding experience knowing that my illustrations play a part to help the public better understand these unique islands!

Here are a few pages of the books:

May The Bb Power Be With You,

Ellie