More Peak Tips For Winning An Rhs Gilded Medal For Botanical Art

Last twelvemonth I wrote Ten Top Tips for winning an RHS Gold Medal for Botanical Art - which proved really pop with botanical artists roughly the world. So this twelvemonth I'm dorsum with to a greater extent than Top Tips from this year's "crop" of Gold Medal Winners

Gold Medal winning Exhibit of Parasitic Plants inward Situ with the Host Plant past times Lynda de Wet
The ikon mo from left with the blood-red spot was bought for the collection kept at the RHS Lindley Library

Last twelvemonth the tips highlighted were equally follows

1. Only submit top notch work
2. Find a Helpful Grower
3. Never ever forget that the RHS is a Horticultural Society
4. Get the Botany right - know what to present in addition to highlight
5. Practice to attain top quality
6. Size your operate to gibe the Panels
7. Have a goodness squad behind you
8. Take tending with your presentation
9. Start really early!
10. You demand many to a greater extent than line of piece of work organisation cards than yous mean value possible!

This twelvemonth nosotros receive got some dissimilar ones. The quotations yous volition notice inward each department come upward from either the Guidance or the Regulations relating to the Royal Horticultural Society Botanical Art Show held every twelvemonth inward the Lindley Hall.

1. Be happy - arrive at what yous love

Işık Güner with her ikon of Gunnera which won

Best Painting inward RHS Botanical Art Show 2014

This 1 came from the winner of both a Gold Medal in addition to Best Painting inward the present Işık Güner.

She thinks artists tin operate actually long hours on a projection when they genuinely relish what they do. Having the right dependent plain tin brand for a actually relaxed in addition to meditative fourth dimension in addition to actually brand yous happy!

I receive got to nation I'm really much inward understanding with this. There has to live on an emotional connectedness betwixt subject, media in addition to creative somebody for an creative somebody to attain their best work. Plus when tackling a long complex projection it's ever best if yous honey your subject!

TIP #1: Truly relish what yous do

2. Do non rush!

This 1 is the resultant of diverse comments from dissimilar people. Some of the exhibits had a long gestation catamenia piece artists collected all the fabric they needed BEFORE they settled downward to paint. They emphasised the existent importance in addition to positive impact of really thorough preparation.

EXAMPLE: Isik Guner took 3 years to develop her studies in addition to sketches. Nikki Marks took ii in addition to one-half years to consummate her projection - because of a relatively curt flowering period.

The Genus Arisaema - 4 works inward the serial past times Nikki Marks

By the same token I could also consider how somebody who was ikon to a high touchstone suffered because of the relatively curt timescale available for the projection prior to exhibition. I personally receive got no doubtfulness at that spot would receive got been a much amend consequence if to a greater extent than fourth dimension had been available.

So, in 1 lawsuit assessed in addition to accepted for exhibition, alone apply and/or concur to exhibit when you're underway in addition to receive got a pretty goodness thought how long each artwork in addition to the staging of them volition take.

Also - arrive at non underestimate the fourth dimension it takes to larn the presentation right (see 15 Top Tips for presenting operate at an RHS Botanical Art Exhibition)

TIP #2: Don't exhibit also early on - consequence is to a greater extent than of import than speed.

3. Do your query - inquire experts for help

The importance of really thorough query was emphasised past times Gold Medallists in 1 lawsuit again in addition to again.

Louise Lane recommended that yous should read in addition to read in addition to read some to a greater extent than - in addition to know everything yous demand to know nigh the phytology BEFORE yous arrive at the fieldwork so yous know what to expression for in addition to what yous are looking at.

Plus to a greater extent than than 1 Gold Medallist emphasised the importance of getting aid from the experts - earlier yous start painting. Help tin come upward inward diverse ways - but it won't go on unless yous ask.

Believe it or non people similar beingness asked to aid - especially if it relates to areas they are proficient in. Plus the worst that tin go on is that they nation 'No'.

This includes non beingness afraid to approach the writer of the authoritative mass on your dependent plain thing to cheque whether your identification of specimens is correct!

TIP #3: Know your plant. Identify the best people - in addition to inquire for help

4. Pay attending to the brief

Gold Medals are alone awarded to exhibits of outstanding in addition to consistent excellence.

The RHS is really precise - inward the Guidelines in addition to Regulations - equally to:

what they desire to see
how they assess the exhibit

However I could consider exhibits which did non win Gold which I mean value slightly lost sight of some aspects of the brief. In my thought the Gold Medallists are almost invariably people who know the brief backwards in addition to stick to it.

TIP #4: Read the brief 3 times earlier yous start. Keep reading it equally yous progress

5. Selection - avoid the obvious or commonplace

Gold Medals are awarded for all sorts of plants including those which are establish inward ordinary domestic gardens in addition to the local nursery.

Higher awards tend to live on given to exhibits illustrating a especial theme or flora family.

However time in addition to fourth dimension in 1 lawsuit again I consider Gold Medals awarded for plants which are NOT obvious or commonplace.

It reminds me of what I used to live on told when doing dissertations for maiden of all a grade in addition to so a professional person qualification. It's a LOT to a greater extent than hard to arrive at good on a dependent plain which many people receive got done before. The benchmark has been created in addition to yous ever receive got to arrive at better. On the other hand, yous tin live on master copy in addition to innovative when yous come upward up with something that nobody has ever done earlier before - in addition to automatically yous are the benchmark!

Innovation tin live on roughly alternative - in addition to it tin also live on roughly how they are presented.

Part of the Best Exhibit inward Show

Hye Woo Shin (Korea) - Heterotrophic Plants inward Korea

- such a compassion that the correspond the best exhibit inward the present was placed inward expanse where the lite was poor

This twelvemonth nosotros had Gold Medals awarded for:

two dissimilar types of parasitic plants - presented inward completely dissimilar but advanced ways of documenting their botanical storey (by Hye Woo Shin and Lynda de Wet)
two dissimilar suites of paintings based on plain trips away from abode - to see

plants belonging to the woods in addition to forests of Republic of Chile (by Işık Güner.) and
bee orchids inward Menorca - based on studies done inward the plain (by Louise Lane)

a projection which took nearly 3 years to collect the flora fabric roughly varieties inside the Genus Arisaema (by Nikki Marks)
and sunflowers from Tesco (by Sharon Tingey) - merely to essay that there's ever reach for the to a greater extent than accessible but alone if done to a really high standard!

So at that spot yous are. Your chosen flora powerfulness live on waiting for yous at Tescos - but it's much to a greater extent than probable that yous powerfulness receive got to become farther afield in addition to pass a lot to a greater extent than fourth dimension collecting all the flora fabric yous demand to brand a atomic release 79 medal exhibit.

TIP #5: Think long in addition to hard earlier selecting your theme in addition to dependent plain matter. Have yous challenged yourself enough?

6. Tell a story

It's ever interesting when an exhibit tells a story. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 storey has a beginning, a middle in addition to an terminate - pretty much similar the life wheel of a plant.

This twelvemonth the RHS bought a ikon for its collection from an creative somebody who told the storey of the "The life wheel of Castrospernum australe 'Black edible bean tree' or Moreton Bay Chestnut". Not a Gold Medal but for certain something that I'm sure silver-gilt medal winner Penny Price is really proud of.

TIP #6: Find plants with an associated storey or present the consummate life wheel of 1 plant

7. Design the exhibit equally a whole

This actually relates to some of yesterday's tips and the presentation criteria contained inward the Regulations

However it was fascinating to consider in addition to listen nigh how artists had made decisions equally to where paintings should live on placed relative to 1 some other - in addition to how studies made at the starting fourth dimension in addition to the emerging grand blueprint so influenced the blueprint of each paintings in addition to the emphasis of dissimilar parts inward dissimilar paintings.

TIP #7: Don't pigment private paintings. Plan your entire exhibit in addition to the blueprint of paintings inside the blueprint of the exhibit from the beginning

8. Think nigh the construction of the dissimilar elements

B. The next may live on regarded equally positive features inward assessing an exhibit:

Good draughtsmanship and, when applicable, goodness painterly skills

That the depiction of plants or flora fabric is botanically accurate

That each motion ikon is good composed

This was a tip which emerged from observation of operate past times Gold Medal Winning Artists in addition to comparing to those whose operate was really goodness but who had missed out on Gold both this twelvemonth (and inward the past).

Gold Medal winning fine art is invariably coherent inward damage of a theme in addition to actually good organised on the page.

There's a clear in addition to sometimes transparent construction to the layout of the grand blueprint in addition to the private blueprint of each painting. Examples include:

Lynda de Wet had all her botanical elements lined upward at the bottom of the ikon in addition to grouped according to the multiple used for the scale in addition to magnification.
Louise Lane displayed her sketches in addition to color studies below each ikon to demonstrate:

she had made the studies inward a specific location
what she had recorded during the infinite of a ii calendar week plain trip

she so displayed her paintings at 10 times scale!

I'd non seen sketches displayed inward this agency before. The Judges liked them. There in 1 lawsuit again they did include the color notes, a detailed measured life size drawing, studies of the flora from every angle, studies of the anatomical construction in addition to annotations summation the location, date, fourth dimension in addition to GPS location data!

I rather mean value this volition arrive at wonders for the evolution of sketches equally preparatory work....

Orphys Balearica past times Louise Lane

This really structured display - inward dissimilar styles - contrasted with some of the other exhibitors whose botanical dissection studies led a less ordered life. One silverish atomic release 79 medal winner discovered during feedback that the RHS alone likes to consider dissections either vertical or horizontal - definitely non angled at 45 degrees!

I must confess I lean towards the notation indicating the scale multiple equally opposed to the line in addition to a length. I notice the lines distracting if at that spot are also many of them. They're a fighting similar writing - they push clit the eye.

TIP #8: Get your 'bits' organised! :) Provide all dissections in addition to studies with a structured design which leads the oculus through the painting.

9. Use best character media

In my experience, botanical artists operating at the top aeroplane are ever really fussy in addition to especial nigh the character of the media they job - equally yous would expect. After all if there's a goodness adventure your operate powerfulness terminate upward inward the permanent collection of an of import fine art collector or establishment yous desire to job the best!

For the tape the count this twelvemonth with the Gold Medal winners is equally follows - in addition to some caveats were expressed nigh possible falling standards

Paint

M. Graham Watercolors - favoured past times Nikki Myers next the displace of Winsor & Newton industry to French Republic in addition to what she felt was a deterioration inward the character of the pigment inward relation to colours she uses. She's non lonely inward making this observation - I've heard it from other artists elsewhere. I at in 1 lawsuit inquire artists whether they are using quondam or novel W&N paint. Incidentally, I noted some adverse comments during the twenty-four hr catamenia nigh the novel W&N Professional Watercolours in addition to how hard it is to read the text on the subway scheme due to this beingness silver.
Winsor in addition to Newton Artists Watercolours - favoured past times 4 artists - although they seemed to live on working for the most job from quondam stock
Other manufacturers who got a advert were Daniel Smith (Bright Yellow), Schminke (Brilliant Blue Violet in addition to greens), Sennelier (Tyrian Rose).

You tin read to a greater extent than nigh Watercolour Paints on my weblog in addition to website - see:

Paper

It was interesting that heavyweight newspaper was favoured past times at to the lowest degree ii of the Gold Medal winners

2 x Fabriano Artistico 300 lb / 640gsm extra white (no stretching required)
2 x Fabriano five 300 gsm (I had comments from artists nigh the variability inward standards of recent batches of paper)
1 x Arches HP 300gsm

TIP #9: Don't convey less than the best - go on an oculus on character command re. the media yous use.

PLUS If you've non even so tried Fabriano Artistico 300lb, now's the fourth dimension to give it a try. You tin read to a greater extent than nigh Fabriano inward Fine Art Paper in addition to Vellum for Artists

10. Make to a greater extent than than yous demand to

You alone demand to present half dozen artworks - downward from the nine required inward the past. Whatever release yous programme to present yous definitely demand to mean value really seriously nigh creating to a greater extent than so yous tin convey the best paintings yous produced.

Pictures are judged equally a consummate exhibit so that if 1 or ii works are of a lower touchstone than the others with which they are shown, the aeroplane of accolade volition live on affected.

This is because the exhibit volition live on judged equally a whole in addition to the focus volition live on on the weakest merely equally much equally on the best. Thus the weakest ikon may lose yous a Gold Medal.

Sharon Tingey in addition to her 3 of her Gold Medal winning exhibit of Helianthus

Sharon Tingey recommends beingness totally ruthless in addition to pruning out whatsoever which don't run into Gold Medal touchstone earlier hanging your exhibit. She had 1 which she felt was weaker in addition to she didn't desire to allow it to permit downward her display - so she left it at abode in addition to won a Gold Medal instead!

This signal also relates to yesterday's TIP seven - job an independent somebody to review. Just because a ikon has taken yous a calendar month to arrive at doesn't hateful it has earned its passage to the Lindley Hall. It's easier sometimes to convey this is the illustration if yous larn an independent proficient to expression at your operate earlier yous move to London from both a botanical in addition to artistic perspective.

TIP #10: Maintain high standards right to the terminate - in addition to eliminate all paintings non upward to standard

More nigh Botanical Art

These are links to previous weblog posts in addition to my resources for botanical artists websites.

Ten Top Tips for winning an RHS Gold Medal for Botanical Art 14 Apr 2013 - Have yous ever wondered whether your artwork is goodness plenty to submit to the RHS Botanical Art Exhibition; Have yous got the phase where you've started to wonder nigh the logistics of what's involved inward submitting an entry?
Interviews with RHS Botanical Art Gold Medal Winners 18 Apr 2013 - Interviews with 8 botanical artists who won Gold Medals at the RHS Botanical Art Show inward Apr 2013.

RHS Botanical Art Show 2013 - Selected artists 09 Mar 2013 - List of thirty botanical artists from 10 countries selected for The RHS Botanical Art Show 2013 inward London inward April.
7 Gold Medal Winners at RHS Botanical Art 2012 17 Mar 2012
RHS Botanical Art Show & Five Gold Medal Winners 21 Mar 2011
How to larn inward the RHS Botanical Art Show 22 Mar 2011
RHS Gold Medal Botanical Art 23 February 2007

You tin notice to a greater extent than resources nigh Botanical Art inward my resources for artists websites:

Botanical Art - Resources for Artists This site shares information nigh botanical fine art - societies, collections, books in addition to other resources which back upward the evolution of botanical art. It also links to leading botanical artists inward the past times in addition to present..
The Best Botanical Art Instruction Books Learn nigh the best botanical fine art teaching books.
The Best Books nigh Botanical Artists & Illustrators
Botany for Botanical Artists
A History of Botanical Art
Makingamark's Botanical Art Compendium This is a compendium of all the sites nigh botanical artists in addition to botanical fine art equally resources for both artists in addition to botanical fine art lovers.