{"id":51754,"date":"2015-12-02T12:00:40","date_gmt":"2015-12-02T17:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.nybg.org\/plant-talk\/?p=51754"},"modified":"2015-12-03T16:53:34","modified_gmt":"2015-12-03T21:53:34","slug":"the-sisterhood-of-the-traveling-sketchbook","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nybg.org\/blogs\/plant-talk\/2015\/12\/adult-education\/the-sisterhood-of-the-traveling-sketchbook\/","title":{"rendered":"The Sisterhood of the Traveling Sketchbook"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last October, a tempting proposal popped up in the NYBG Botanical Art Program Facebook group.<\/p>\n

\"Trumpet<\/a>
Trumpet Vine Seed Pod by Monica Ray<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWould anyone be interested in a \u2018Sketchbook Exchange\u2019? And, if so, how would we go about it?,\u201d NYBG Botanical Art and Illustration Certificate<\/a> alumna Monica Ray wrote.<\/p>\n

Almost immediately, responses poured in, like \u201cSounds like fun! I\u2019m in!\u201d and \u201cI\u2019ll do it, too!\u201d<\/p>\n

By the next day, the plan was fully formed. Each of the nine participants would buy her own sketchbook and complete a nature-related drawing or painting in it before mailing it on to the next person in the exchange. Everyone would have one month to complete a new piece before mailing the sketchbooks on to the next artist. When you get your sketchbook back, the exchange is complete.<\/p>\n

They called it \u201cThe Sisterhood of the Traveling Sketchbook.\u201d
\n
\nHaving only taken Botanical Drawing for Beginners<\/a>, not even a Certificate-level class, I nervously joined \u201cto dip my toes in,\u201d as I put it.<\/p>\n

\"Poppies<\/a>
Poppies by Beth Breakstone<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With my drawing pencils and shiny new sketchbook in hand, I had one month to complete a piece of botanical art worthy of this group. I nervously sat down to capture a vibrantly colored, but small autumn leaf that had fallen from the maple tree on the sidewalk outside my apartment building, trying to remember everything that my drawing instructor, Mary Christiansen, had taught me in class.<\/p>\n

Once satisfied, I packed my sketchbook away in a bubble mailer and sent it off to the next artist, eagerly awaiting the receipt of another book. Over the next few months, I received new sketchbooks, each with more gorgeous and intricate drawings of plants on paper from the true artists\u2014nine dedicated Botanical Art & Illustration students and alumni\u2014and added my own work to them.<\/p>\n

I shared with one of my \u201csisters\u201d Monica Ray how nervous I was to send off the sketchbooks, almost chain-letter-style, especially to instructors.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first time you show or share your work in class and have it critiqued, it\u2019s downright frightening,\u201d Monica sympathized. \u201cBut it gets easier the more you do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Pussywillow<\/a>
Pussywillow by Mary Christiansen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Those critiques turn your art into an exciting process.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a journey that never ends, and shouldn\u2019t, because there\u2019s always room for improvement or for something new,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd there\u2019s always a \u2018next time.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

It seems the exchange meant much more to my fellow participants than I had expected.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a good way to stay in touch with fellow artists\u2014students and teachers alike\u2014especially those with whom you went through the program at NYBG,\u201d Monica said of the exchange.<\/p>\n

Plus, she pointed out, it\u2019s beneficial to share work with other artists.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing an artist can be a lonely business sometimes,\u201d she said. \u201cWe spend a lot of time in our studios alone and getting some positive feedback or working out problems that might have occurred is crucial for your work and progress. I find it inspiring. It keeps my creative juices flowing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another participant, Alice Kenny, wrote, \u201cIt was a wonderful exercise. \u2026I am so thankful for this!\u201d<\/p>\n

We received our completed sketchbooks in August. The sharing circle was complete.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A Composition by Alice Kenny<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I opened my sketchbook, now home from its journey around the tri-state area. There was my colorful little leaf. Katy Lyness left a delicious-looking pomegranate, cracked open with seeds spilling. Jeanne Reiner\u2019s blooming tulip was lush and shiny. Mary Christiansen\u2019s curly willow sprawled delicately across a spread of pages. I thought I might actually be able to stroll past Monica\u2019s cedar tree on a narrow countryside road.<\/p>\n

Through the exchange, I had been privy to a seat at the table with nine artists at a delightful private party.<\/p>\n

Since then, I don\u2019t think my sketchbook has been closed for a full day. It\u2019s staked a trail in my life, one that inspires artistic motivation and encourages seeking out beautiful things to remember and capture in graphite.<\/p>\n

\"My<\/a>
My Jade Plant Study and Autumn Leaf<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cArt has always been part of me,\u201d Monica said. \u201cIt is important to me, whether it involves visiting museums or shows to appreciate it, or actually creating it. For me, art doesn\u2019t always mean drawing and painting; it encompasses a lot of my interests.\u201d<\/p>\n

After the Sisterhood of the Traveling Sketchbook, art is more to me than gripping my pencil and studying shapes and drawing shadows on paper, too.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The New York Botanical Garden offers art classes<\/a> for students of all skill levels. Browse all course offerings at nybg.org\/adulted<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Last October, a tempting proposal popped up in the NYBG Botanical Art Program Facebook group. \u201cWould anyone be interested in a \u2018Sketchbook Exchange\u2019? And, if so, how would we go about it?,\u201d NYBG Botanical Art and Illustration Certificate alumna Monica Ray wrote. Almost immediately, responses poured in, like \u201cSounds like fun! I\u2019m in!\u201d and \u201cI\u2019ll… <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n