Libby in her studio
BI: Tell us a little about yourself
Libby: I work in many media, including colored pencil (my favorite), carbon, and ink to create my botanical illustrations. I admit that I am a “control freak,” and therefore I love the scientific and detailed nature of this art form. I am a member of the American Society of Botanical Artists, an editor for the ASBA Journal The Botanical Artist, as well as an instructor for 11 years at the Denver Botanic Gardens’ Certificate Program in Botanical Art and Illustration. My artworks are in public, corporate, and private collections including the permanent collection of the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation, The Packard Foundation, and The Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. I have illustrated articles for magazines, catalogs, scientists, and authors. My award-winning works have been included in many national and international juried exhibits, including Botanica Spectaculum, The Shirley Sherwood Gallery, and The Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation.
In 2008, with co-author Cora Marcus, I created Today’s Botanical Artists (Schiffer Publishing), a compendium of the works of 65 contemporary North American botanical artists. I have also begun work on a second volume of artworks from around the world by contemporary botanical artists.
Cucurbita Summer
My blog gallery can be found at http://rmsbagallerylk.blogspot.com
BI: How did you become interested in Botanical Illustration? Did you have any prior artistic interests?
Libby: I have always drawn, and expanded my love of art into my college major. Financial reality raised its head my junior year, and I had to find a job, which led me to medical management. Eventually, a bout with a chronic illness led me to botanical art. I wanted to draw and paint, but traditional paint techniques didn’t work well in bed. So, I started working with colored pencils. When I felt better, I thought the Denver Botanic Gardens Botanical Art and Illustration Program would make a great place to have a refresher course in media. One drawing class later and I was hooked!
Tulipa sketch
BI: As one of the illustrators for Botanical Interests, you must have a few favorite or memorable plants that painted for the seed packets. Which one(s) come to mind?
Libby: Two images come to mind. The first, Little Gem Lettuce, practically painted itself. The specimens are so beguiling: little single serving-size lettuce heads. The smooth creamy whites at the base of the heads blend into lovely soft greens through each leaf to the tips. I enjoyed finding the right colors, and I also loved the atmospheric perspective that was possible with this little specimen.
The second I recently completed, and it’s a broccoli Romanesque, a pyramidal broccoli plant that boggles the mind. I had first seen them a few years ago at a farmer’s fair at the Gardens. So when I was asked if I’d like to illustrate them for a packet, I jumped at the chance!
BI: What classes do you teach at the Denver Botanic Gardens?
Libby: I teach Level I and II classes (http://libby-classes.blogspot.com) in drawing, colored pencil and ink. I teach a lot of classes in electives, especially in mixed media, colored pencil and modeling. In each class, I live for the “epiphany moment” to happen in each student. That moment when the light bulb goes off over one’s head as the concepts become real in a personal way.
BI: What gallery shows and publications have you been featured in?
Libby: In 2006, ASBA member Cora Marcus came to me with a project for a book. She had contacts with Schiffer Publishing in Pennsylvania, and they had asked her if she could do a book on contemporary botanical art. She asked me if I’d like to create a book. I resisted for a long time, knowing I was committing to at least 1500 hours of work, and then decided it was foolhardy to resist doing a book that served our genre. In 2008, our book Today’s Botanical Artist published in February. It has double-page spreads for each of 65 North American artists, as well as bios and resumes, and a forward by Cora. I recruited the artists (reviewed the work of about 600 artists, selected 130 to invite, and selected 65 artists), designed the book, managed the layout and color (as far as possible – a press check was not possible, as the work was printed in China) and set all the text.
I have exhibited regularly in the past at international juried shows. I was honored to have my work included in the juried ASBA/New York Horticulture Society annual exhibit in NYC, as well as in the permanent collection of The Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation in Pittsburgh, PA, following their 12th International Exhibit. I also had the thrill recently of having an artwork included in an exhibit in the Shirley Sherwood Gallery in Kew Gardens, England for 5 months last year. I am a member of the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens Florigium Society, an invited group of professional artists who document the Gardens’ collection. Those images were submitted to Dr. Sherwood for jurying into the “Portraits of a Garden” exhibit. Approximately 80 artists of the group submitted over 140 images. Thirty-five images were chosen for exhibit, including my portrait of Pseudolarix amabilis.
Anemone
Pansy Panel
Sand Painting Sunflower
Libby’s painting, Hummingbird Haven is shown below. The ready to frame print and seed packet is available to purchase online for a limited time only.
