ABOUT BASNL

Botanical Art Society NL (BASNL)

The Botanical Art Society of Newfoundland and Labrador (BASNL) is a registered, not-for-profit organization established in 2016. Its aim is to promote and grow a sustainable, vibrant, and interactive community of individuals/groups who share a common interest in botanical art. Its purpose is to also raise ecological awareness and appreciation of botanical art in the community.

BASNL meets once each month throughout the calendar year. Meetings are scheduled for the third Monday of each month and are held at the MUN Botanical Gardens in the Conference Room of the main building. (In case of inclement weather or any other reason, members will be notified by email of cancellation). The formal meeting takes place from 9:30-10:30 am and is followed by painting/drawing/information sharing, ending at 4:00 pm.

You can plan to stay for all or any part of the day.

Executive Members

Margaret Walsh Best, President

Kathie Chalker, Vice President

Glynn Bishop, Treasurer

Beverly Brazil, Secretary

Karen Seaward, Exhibition Director

Cynthia Metcalfe, Membership Director

Sharon Smith, Education Director

Marni Mahle, Communication Director

What is Botanical Art?

Throughout human history, people have been drawn to the beauty and elegance displayed in the planet's wide spectrum of plant life. Botanical art is the representation of this beauty in a manner that captures the essence of the plant. In botanical art, the plant is portrayed in a way that accurately depicts its image with reference to colour, scale, form and structure. Any stage of the plant form can be rendered and may include details of leaves, stem, roots, flowers, seeds, fruit, spores. etc. The two sides of botanical art blend to combine scientific accuracy with the beauty of artistic expression. From beginners to experienced artists, all are welcome to participate and explore in this expression of the beauty of our botanical world.

Mission of BASNL :

To promote and grow a sustainable, vibrant, and interactive community of individuals/groups who share a common interest in botanical art.

Goals of BASNL:

To enrich the lives of members and the general public through instruction, education, networking, exhibitions, collaborations, educational outreach, events, and website information.
To identify, reach and connect individuals and institutions that include members such as botanical artists; academic/government institutions; collectors; curators; museums; botanical gardens; and libraries.
To raise ecological awareness and appreciation of botanical art in the community, provincially, nationally, and internationally re the study, collection and practice of botanical art.
To access and tap into the collective knowledge and experience of those individuals and institutions who are at the forefront of botanical art technique, botanical art instruction, plant science, plant conservation and other contemporary issues related to botanical art