Quarterly Newsletter
FA L L 2 0 1 0
R o c k y M o u n ta i n
Society of Botanical Artists
President’s Notes
Hello Everybody!
I hope to see
everyone at my
house soon!
December 12th,
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.,
2193 South
Juniper Street, Lakewood, CO
80228 (phone 303-456-5175). Sorry but we don’t appear on
any GPS yet as the development is new. Here is my best
(hopefully) directions. Please see the back cover for the details
on directions.
Well, what has happened this summer in my world? Carol
Till and I went on the Plein Aire paint-out at the Governor’s
mansion. Once again I proved to myself I don’t paint outside!
But it was a lovely day. They fed us and, I really enjoyed
seeing what everyone else was creating! Wow! I submitted
my picture for judging, who knows, wait and see.
I got a great reply from the curator of the living collection at
the Phoenix Desert Botanical Gardens. I was trying to paint
a certain rare cactus for the Museum collection in Tucson.
It is so rare I couldn’t find it! Wrote the Phoenix garden
and they were so helpful. My husband and I went down in
September at his request (Mr. Raul Puente) and he showed
us around and spent time helping me and then cut off a
piece of the plant, gave me several of the fruits to take away
and work on. What a great experience. It also turns out that
he is the one who helped set up the Opuntia collection at
the gardens in Mexico “El Charco” Had a good time doing
Above illustrations on studying the plant Opuntia courtesy of
Susi Olson
First Chapter of the ASBA
small sketches outside in the morning before it got HOT!!
He’s a good person to meet if you are ever in Phoenix, and the
gardens are fabulous! Make the loop go see our buddies, Susan
Fisher and Rhonda at the Tucson Arizona Sonoran Desert
Museum!
Spent a lot of time painting this summer and enjoying every
minute of it I sincerely hope you all did the same! Let’s get
together at my house and share all the good things we did this
year. Remember the fun and plan for next year. Remember
what I said when I first started this year “Art should be fun,
Art should enrich your life, not make you crazy!” Enjoy!
Botanically yours,
Susi Olson
President
Contents
About RMSBA
Founded in 1997 ......................................... 2
Upcoming Meetings
Winter/HolidayMeeting ............................. 2
RMSBA Calendar
November, December, January ............. 3, 4, 5
Tidbits
Keep in mind .............................................. 6
Rare Exhibit Thanks
Thanks to all who helped . ............................7
Directions to Susi Olson’s
For the Winter Holiday Meeting ............. BC
Retail Displays for Art Work
www.robinleemccarthy.com . .................... BC
About the RMSBA Upcoming Programs Coordinator: Annie Reiser
annieandrolf@q.com
Meetings Hm: 303-772-1721, Cell: 720-841-6296

The Rocky Mountain Society of Botanical Artists founded in At our winter 2010 meeting, we will celebrate the close of
1997 is the first chapter of the American Society of Botanical the year by gathering at Susi Olson’s new home on December
Artists and is open to all persons interested in botanical 12, 2010, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Visit with the RMSBA
illustration. colleagues you may not have seen for a while, meet new
RMSBA Officers 2009 members, talk about shows and art in general. Bring the
latest works you would like to share as well as a favorite hors
President . ................................................. Susan Olson d’ouvres or sweets for the season. We will hold elections for
Vice President........................................... Dorothy DePaulo openings on the RMSBA Board, and invite all members to
Secretary . ................................................. Jan Boyd Haring
participate in committee work. Please think about how you
Treasurer . ................................................. Vicky MacWilliam
Marketing . ............................................... Julie Sprinkle might participate!
Membership Chair ................................... Sharon Garrett
Programs Chair ........................................ Annie Reiser
Exhibits Chair .......................................... Libby Kyer
Logistics (Refreshment) Chair.................. Susan DiMarchi
Web Master . ............................................ Susan Rubin
Newsletter Editor ..................................... Katie Nichols

To join the RMSBA, please contact Vicky

MacWilliam,Treasurer
Tele.: 719.495.2986
E-mail: hgvmacwm@worldnet.att.net
8285 Freeman Drive • Black Forest, CO 80908

ASBA Journal and RMSBA Newsletter $90.00 membership

includes regular individual membership in the RMSBA and
American Society of Botancial Artists and entitles you to
receive both the ASBA Journal and the RMSBA newsletter,
as well as participate in all open exhibits and functions.
Membership is for one calendar year. Memberships received
after the first of November in any year will be applied to the
following calendar year.

Questions or contributions, please contact

Katie Nichols, Editor
E-mail: katienichols@comcast.net
Tel.: 303.513.5453
7636 Gray Way • Arvada, CO 80003

• Artwork is donated to RMSBA for exclusive use in this

newsletter. Any other use is strictly prohibited without
written authorization of the artist.
• The membership list is printed in whole in the Spring
Edition of the newsletter.
• Reproduction of this newsletter is prohibited without
written permission from RMSBA.
• We welcome your articles, calendar events and images.
Please submit all text as an electronic file in .DOC (Word),
.XLS (Excel), or the body of an e-mail. Please submit
images in digital format; .JPG, .TIF, .PDF and at least 300
dpi (resolution; dots per inch) in color.
“Pinecone” , Courtesy of Bonny Anthony

2
 Tidbits

Art Work Wanted!

Please send me you recent digital captures of any of your recent art work. Running out and I would like some new and fresh
art to display in the newsletter, PRETTY PLEASE!

Congratulations!
Dorothy DePaulo’s illustration of Cannabis, originally for the Culpeper Exhibit has been accepted into the Economic Botany
Show at the New York Botanic Gardens March 2011. Next time you see Dorothy please congratulate her on her accomplishment!
Please see the illustration below.

“Cannibis” , Courtesy of Dorothy DePaulo

3
NOVEMBER
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 2 3 4 5 6
Cafe
Botanique

7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Gone to
the Dogs
2 Exhibit
last day

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27
Happy
Thanksgiving

28 29 30
BOTANICA
Studio
Botanica

• BOTANICA at Studio Botanica • ASBA and RMSBA links to workshops/classes

Loveland Museum/Gallery
503 N. Lincoln Avenue, Loveland, CO 80537
November 28, 2010 to February 27, 2011
Reception: December 10, 5-8 p.m.
Watercolor and acrylic paintings, colored pencil and
etchings all with a botanical theme will be exhibited by
Susan Rubin, Carol Till, Heather Myers, Constance Sayas,
Bonnie Anthony, Susan Olson and Jan Boyd Haring.
• “Gone to the Dogs 2”
Patty McAuliffe and Carol Till had pieces accepted into
this juried exhibit of artwork depicting dogs.
October 15 - November 13, 2010
Thurs-Friday 1-5 p.m., Sat. 12-4, 1st and 3rd Fridays
until 9 p.m.
Niza Knoll Gallery, 915 Santa Fe Drive, Denver CO 80204
www.nizaknollgallery.com
4
www.amsocbotartists.org
www.botanicalartists.org
• General Links to Events and
Workshops/Classes at the Denver Botanic
Gardens:
• DBG
www.botanicgardens.org
• 2010 • Café Botanique Lectures
www.cb-lectures-mervi.blogspot.com
Time: 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Place: M
 orrison Center, Denver Botanic Gardens
(SE corner of York St & 11th Ave
• November 4: Endangered Species in Furniture
Industry (Abstract and further information)
 DECEMBER
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 2 3 4
Chanukah
begins

5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Chanukah
ends

12 13 14 15 16 17 18
RMSBA
Holiday Party
1 - 4 p.m.

19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Merry
Christmas

26 27 28 29 30 31
New Year’s
Eve

• RMSBA’s Holiday Party/Meeting:
At Susi Olson’s home, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Please see
back cover for driving directions.
“Every artist was first an amateur. ”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
It’s time to put away all of the gardening tools and perhaps get
out all of the art producing tools! I know I will be doing just that
now that the landscaping part of my business has ceased for the
year. This winter I’ll be focusing on producing art that you would
find in the land that I’m from, Maine. What are your goals for
this Winter season? If any of you find that you have the desire
to write a little blurb or two of your goals for the quiet winter
season and have it published in a this newsletter, please do and
send them to me by January 12, 2010. I can always use new and
different submissions for the newsletter!
Thanks,
Katie M. Nichols

5
January
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15
RMSBA
Newsletter
Submission
Deadline

16 17 18 19 20 21 22
Tu B’Shevat
The New Year
for Trees

23/30 24/31 25 26 27 28 29

“Pinecone” , Courtesy of
Jan Boyd Haring

6
Rare Exhibit Thanks from Carol Till
The RARE, Imperiled Plants of Colorado has concluded its
tour of the state. The exhibit traveled 1200 miles, showing in
four cities over an 18 month period. Three of the receptions
had attendance exceeding 300 people. Steamboat Art
Museum recorded 4500 visitors to the exhibit from May 18
through September 30. Numerous programs were held in
conjunction with the exhibit including talks by artists and
botanists, lectures on botanical art and botanical drawing for
kids.
The production costs for exhibit merchandise (cards, tees and
catalogs) have been recovered and the remaining material
sales will be pure profit for RMSBA.
At my talk at the ASBA conference in Pittsburgh in
September I was told that ASBA is considering using our
RARE exhibit as a template/example for other chapters to
follow.
At the risk of missing someone, I would like to acknowledge
and recognize the many RMSBA members who contributed
to the production and success of this exhibit. This exhibit
was possible due to the support of the following members
who energetically contributed their time. I hope that this
exhibit serves as inspiration to our group of the potential to
do big things! The Culpeper exhibit was great. What’s next?
RARE Honor Roll:
Thanks to the two members who surreptitiously invited me
to dinner, suggested uniform frames and started this exhibit
on the path to a professional presentation: Susan Rubin and
Connie Sayas. Susan also made the frames, Connie made
the travel packages and Renee Jorgensen came up with a
matting solution and all three framed the work.
Thanks to our pals in Arizona: Susan Fisher, for heading up
the jury and Libby Kyer who ran the computer for the jury
and compiled the results.
Renee Jorgensen established labeling criteria and presented
at a meeting. Mervi Hjelmroos-Koski offered her advice on
proper botanical naming and labeling. (Mervi also lobbied
behind the scenes to place our exhibit at DBG.)
Saundra Dowling, Katie Nichols and Bev Coogan got card
and print quotes.
Dorothy DePaulo and granddaughters, Heidi Snyder,
Patty McAuliffe, Sharon Garrett and Katie spent evenings
packaging card sets.
Tee shirt quotes were obtained by Jan Boyd Haring and
Mary Jo Ramsdale. Jan saw the printing through and stored
those tees.
Help on the ‘killer catalog’ goes to Patty McAuliffe, Terry
Ruiter, Mary Barnes and Mary Clark for their proofreading.
The catalog was produced on a very short timeline by Denver
Botanic Gardens staff. We had from December 15 to January
11 to get artist’s biographies and plant descriptions done. Huge
thanks to you all for working over the holidays to do this! (Next
time you are in the DBG herbarium give a pat on the back to
Dina Clark, who pulled a couple of 13 hour days proofreading
and correcting this information.)
Susan and Gregory Olson donated wine for the DBG reception
which no doubt helped account for the $6100.00 in sales that
afternoon. Thanks to Cathy Cridlebaugh and the Olson’s for
traveling to Steamboat especially to work the reception.
Susanne Wuerthele put together a lovely binder that traveled
with the exhibit with a page on each of the artists.
Susan DiMarchi, Dorothy DePaulo, Vicky MacWilliam,
Sharon Garrett and Peggy Turchette all get my undying praise
for their heroic cashiering efforts at the DBG reception. I had
NO IDEA what kind of response we’d get and was woefully
unprepared for two hours of purchasing frenzy. You guys were
rock stars!
Julie Sprinkle got the word out in the publicity department and
helped book our spot at BAC.
Sharon Garrett got hooked into presenting a children’s drawing
program at BAC. I owe you lunch for that one, Sharon.
Vicky MacWilliam in her usual unassuming and calm,
competent manner keep track of all of the bookkeeping for this
enterprise.
Susan Dimarchi, Vicky MacWilliam, Patty McAuliffe and I
drove the exhibit around the state. I got to drive the exhibit to
Steamboat and saw two sandhill cranes in the snow at the top
of Rabbit Ears pass! This state has no end of natural wonders.
Also thanks to Terry Ruiter for arranging for Jim VonLoh
to speak to our group about rare plants. Susan Olson, Patty
McAuliffe and Susan Rubin hosted committee meeting at their
homes.
So, as you can see, this exhibit had great member participation.
Special thanks to those listed above who did not have pieces in
the exhibit, but selflessly contributed anyway!
See you all at our December meeting or at Studio Botanica’s
reception in Loveland on December 10th.
Thanks,
Carol Till
7
Directions to Susi Olson’s home:
2193 South Juniper Street, Lakewood, CO 80228
If you are coming from the South take I-25 to C-470 heading
west to the Alameda Parkway exit, it will be after the Morrison
exit. Get off and turn towards Denver – up the hill to the crest
and you will see stone markers for the Solterra development.
Turn right on Indiana St. and go down the hill to the first left
on Evans Place, quickly make a right and you are on South
Juniper. We are the fourth house on the right (there are no
houses on the left. If you are coming from the city direction
you can come towards the mountains on 6th Avenue or I-70,
get on C-470 towards Colorado Springs take the first exit
Alameda Parkway and see above. Any other directions needed
call me, 303-456-5175 … and I will have my husband tell you,
not me.
Are you looking for displays for selling you art
work?
I would like to recommend that you shop from Robin Lee
McCarthy. I found her on eBay, however she has her own
Web site, www.robinleemccarthy.com. If you by chance saw
my display at the Echter’s show this past September, you
may have noticed a white wire display rack that held all of
my Gift Enclosure Cards. I bought this display from Robin
Lee McCarthy. She was pleasant and very helpful with
figuring out if my items would fit any of the displays she
had available.

Click HERE for a link to Susi’s address via Google Maps:

7636 Gray Way • Arvada, CO 80003

www.botanicalartists.org

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