RE: Botanical Illustration

[Charley Bay <Charleyb@Cytomation.com>]

I second Scott's points here.  More specifically,
we see common taxonomy issues on the APD for, "what's
this?"  The relevant plant structures used in a
given identification can be most apparent through 
an illustration as opposed to a photo (recall
Liisa's nice illustrations of the SAE at
http://www.thekrib.com/Fish/Algae-Eaters/sae.jpg
).

It would be neat if a collection were available
for common species (like the Echinodorus poster
recently mentioned on the APD), or for species
commonly confused.  Of course, if we are talking
about a collection, it would be ideal if they
were all drawn in the same style so they would
be consistent amongst each other.  

I know that wasn't the original purpose of the 
contest... I'd love to see a nice potpuorri of 
watercolor paintings of aquatic plants.  I tend
to gravitate towards the anal, though.  ;-)

--charley

> -----Original Message-----
> From: S. Hieber [mailto:shieber@yahoo.com]
> Sent: Friday, March 08, 2002 9:42 AM
> To: aga-member@thekrib.com
> Subject: Re: Botanical Illustration
> 
> 
> Hello James,
> 
> Expanding the competition this way is an interesting way to help build
> the competition, TAG, and the hobby in general (IM rarelyH opionion).
> 
> While I haven't the drawing talent that God gave a catepillar, I am
> nonetheless very interested.  I think that illustrations are 
> very often
> superior to photos for identification -- a good drawing 
> artist can draw
> all the characteristic features while most photos don't show idealized
> representations.
> 
> Beyond identification, they can be as gorgeous as any well 
> done drawing
> of a beautiful subject.
> 
> So I think this is a great idea and hope that there are many out there
> with much more drawing ability than I.
> 
> Scott H.
>   --- James Purchase <jppurchase@rogers.com> wrote:
> > Folks,
> > 
> > With the recent and ongoing discussion of "Aquascaping as Art" which
> > has
> > taken place on the APD, I'd like to get some input and feedback on a
> > related
> > topic.
> > 
> > Botanical illustration has a long history in both botany as 
> a science
> > and in
> > the fishkeeping hobby. There are many really beautiful botanical
> > illustrations (as opposed to photographs) of aquatic plants in older
> > books.
> > 
> > I'm wondering if there is any interest among the subscribers to the
> > APD and
> > the membership of the AGA in botanical illustration as an 
> "art form",
> > and/or
> > if any of you actually do it, either as a hobby or professionally.
> > 
> > Why my interest??? Several reasons...., aside from the fact that I
> > really
> > like it myself.
> > 
> > While it hasn't been "officially announced" as of yet, I'm back
> > handling
> > this year's AGA International Aquascaping Contest. I'm seriously
> > considering
> > including "Botanical Illustration" as a category in the Contest, if
> > there is
> > sufficient interest in it. If there are hobbyists out there who like
> > to
> > paint and or draw their aquatic plants (fish too I suppose) it might
> > be nice
> > to include them in the Contest as a separate category.
> > 
> > Additionally, TAG could always use (and benefit from) having a bank
> > of
> > botanical illustrations for inclusion in its pages.
> > 
> > So what do you say - if we include such a category in this 
> year's AGA
> > Contest, are any of you likely to enter? Does anyone think that
> > professional
> > artists (i.e. those associated with Botanical Gardens, etc.) might
> > submit
> > enteries if given the opportunity?
> > 
> > Is the idea of including such work compatible with the Contest? This
> > is
> > after all, about YOU - what do YOU want to see???
> > 
> > James Purchase
> > Toronto
> > 
> > 
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> 
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