"Art is the only way to run away without leaving home" (Twyla Tharp)

Anne Marie Evans Workshop ...



In between all the chaos of the course I took up an invitation to attend a botanical painting workshop with renowned teacher Anne Marie Evans, who had flown from the UK to teach at the Botanical Art School of Melbourne.  I had finished the final assignment and was in the midst of preparing for the long haul of diploma portfolio works - so yes, why not add a week of intense concentration and art for a change?  I had to travel to Melbourne to attend the masterclass so include lack of sleep, time difference and staying with family in a confined area to the mix.  It was an exhausting week but it was nice to catch up with old friends at the BASM and to meet new artists from many different areas and all walks of life. 


Peonies - the challenging subject

My friend Sigrid Frensen had spoken often of Anne Marie and her teaching method - and although I could have done with a break from painting - it was a great opportunity to focus on technique, botanical structure and depicting plants in the most accurate and informative way to enhance the artwork.  Anne Marie has a method referred to as her  'six stages of painting'.




Anne Marie spoke about the lack of art education specifically geared for botanical artists which refer to plant structures and how to show them in an informative way  - making the viewer see the fundamental characteristics to each petal, leaf, stem etc., by its accurate portrayal.  Her method assists the artist to ensure all aspects of the plant are well depicted in order to give the viewer as much knowledge as possible in the botanical illustration.


Anne Marie Evans is a wonderful teacher, a very elegant lady and very generous with her time and the phrase "...does that make sense" was heard often in her quest to ensure the student was on the same wave length.  She spent a lot of time with each student and made sure that everyone was seen to.  Anne Marie also ensures there is no talking in class, a welcome relief - with around twenty students it can get a little distracting so everyone benefits from a quiet classroom with only the teacher's voice to be heard.




We spent a lot of time drawing the flower, observing the overall shape and how the petals form and develop from the centre, also ensuring we depicted that well enough so that the viewer could understand clearly the structure.  Anne Marie said to treat it as though you are showing the viewer something they have never seen before and that there is no doubt about what you have illustrated and its accuracy.  Form was terribly important in the early stages of the painting and we spent a great deal of time working on showing the form in each petal.


Anne Marie is a wealth of information and reflected back to the early masters of botanical illustration - Redoute and Bauer among them - and used many pictures to give examples of how the form was shaped in a painting using great shadow and light.   It was stressed often how important it is to go truly dark in the shadows as she felt that three dimensionality was missing in many contemporary botanical works.    This was just a brief introduction to her method - and there are many techniques  to assist in creating such form - most of which are covered in her well respected book.



I had also managed to secure a copy of "An Approach to Botanical Painting" -  authored by Anne Marie and Donn Evans in 1993 and no longer in print.  It is highly collectible and I was lucky to purchase one at a reasonable price from a fellow botanical artist.
It arrived from the UK the day before we left  - I took it to Melbourne and Anne Marie kindly signed it for me, which makes it even more valuable,  but I won't be parting with it any time soon!  I need to spend some time going back over the wealth of information Anne Marie Evans touched on.  We spoke quite often during the week and she has intentions of writing another book in the near future to add to this edition.  I am always a diligent student and take on board what is being explained - no doubt her voice will be ringing in my ears as I progress with the diploma portfolio works over the next few months.

Anne Marie refers to quotes often (as do I) and this is one which resounded with me:

"There is scarcely a person so void of genius as to fail of success, if he apply earnestly to one branch of study and practise it continuously"

Leonardo Da Vinci






18 comments:

  1. I wish i could have been there with you. You described very well your seminar and gave me the ''taste'' to assist to one of her workshops.
    xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for sharing this Vicki Anne Marie sounds amazing.

      Delete
    2. Thanks Billy - my pleasure. I was fortunate to spend the time with her.

      Delete
  2. Sounds like a marvelous workshop! I am glad that you got to participate in it. I would imagine that the hands-on learning and in-person demonstration would be invaluable at this point, plus you get to apply what you learned immediately.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Janene - it was valuable although the technique takes some mental effort rather than instinctive - I am not sure I fully grasp it just yet but it will certainly help in the future.

      Delete
  3. Fab post Vicki - I met Ann-Marie on a train once. It was before I had committed to botanical art 100% - just before the plunge really. We hardly spoke but I knew who she was instantly. She was sat on another table with some american artists who were knitting. I think they were on their way to the South West. I remember they remarked on my sewing (as that's what I do on trains) and I though how funny. Maybe sewing/knitting activities are something that botanical artists do on trains?!! LOL! Anyway - I am so very happy that you met Ann-Marie. She is frequently in the Shirley Sherwood Gallery and she always comments on the fact that hardly any of the artists in there paint greens properly. The words of a true critic!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jess - funny you should say that - Anne Marie spent her break watching a fellow artist and her needlework ... they seem to go hand in hand somehow. I also did a lot of applique and quilting back in the day ... I hope to meet up with her in London

      Delete
  4. I took a class with her a few years ago and learned more than in all my other courses. I really appreciated having a quiet room to work in. Often the yammering drives me nuts in these classes. Why do people do that? I do hope she writes another book!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Elisabeth - the only thing I would say is that I prefer visual demonstrations - although Anne Marie covers this - she does not draw or paint as such as a demo so you have to grasp the concept. Jenny Phillips is a fabulous teacher because you watch her paint and the penny drops quickly, for me anyway.
      Yes about the noise in the room - I don't like it - especially when the class costs a lot and you want to listen to the teacher, not the students.

      Delete
  5. Your posts are always greatly interesting Vicki - many thanks. It's great to have a "window" into your botanical art class - I've attended two and found them to be very different experiences... The point Anne Marie makes about showing the viewer something they have never seen before, reminded me of a similar idea covered in the wonderful "Drawing on the Right Hand Side of the Brain" by Betty Edwards. If you haven't read this book I heartily recommend it. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Denise - each workshop has been different for me also - and you gather a bit from each teacher I think. I will keep a look out for the book, thanks so much.

      Delete
  6. Such a wonderful post Vicki, I re-read it twice just to get the insight from your experience. Anne Marie sounds like a wonderful teacher, you must have got so much out of it. As for the needlework, I knit and sew on trains, on long car journeys and find it relaxing after a days painting. Happy Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jarnie - it was a good experience but I think really it's the practise that makes it all make sense! Happy Christmas to you too x

      Delete
  7. I seem to be the only one of your readers who hasn't heard of Anne Marie, so it was really interesting to learn a bit about her Vicki and it sounds like it was very worthwhile experience for you. I've mentioned before the respect I have for your painting but it's always good to get a fresh bit of inspiration now and then oui!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Grace - it is always worthwhile to listen to new perspectives.
      And yes, very inspiring to be around like minded.
      Hope you enjoyed the beautiful weather today and are looking forward to a blessed festive season xx

      Delete
  8. Dear Vicki,

    How exciting that you have Anne-Marie's book. I'm in Tasmania and would have loved to attend her workshop, but it wasn't possible. Please keep us informed as to whether she does release another book.

    Ruth
    ruthbosveld@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. How on earth did I miss this??? You even mentioned me up there! I must have been in some kind of *period* with no time on the computer (I think tennis arm?). So glad you had a good time (but I knew you would). She is the best of the best. She really opens your eyes, doesn't she? I hope I'll get so lucky one day and find a book too that is affordable enough for me. Or better, that they will finally get to some agreement and will start publishing it again.
    Well, at least I got to be in her classes ;)

    ReplyDelete