Beth Grobbelaar Talk: "Natural jewels and how to illustrate them" - April 2009

An illustration by Beth Grobbelaar. (Photo by Mary Lynn Kidd)

In April BAASA members were mesmerised by Beth's excellent presentation, and all the boxes of meticulously mounted beautiful "bug" specimens that she had brought with from the National Insect Collection in Pretoria. We were astounded by her facts and figures, and at the amazing diversity of insect life. Beth also discussed her illustration working methods in detail.

Some of the "natural jewels" from the National Insect Collection.

(Photos by Ann Harris)

(Photo by Mary Lynn Kidd)

Above is Beth's illustration of the African Rock Crawler, an insect from the new order Mantophasmotodea that was discovered in 2002! This illustration formed the basis of the logo that she developed for the 2008 International Congress of Entomology which was held in Durban.

Sheila Santilhano's "Bees, Butterflies and Birds" Workshop - February 2009

Photo by Mary Lynn Kydd.

Sheila demonstrating her painstaking method of painting birds in fine detail. Here she is painting a Redthroated Twinspot (Hypargos niveoguttatus).

A bee painted by Mary Lynn Kydd.

An unfinished painting of a Spotted Eagle Owl (Bubo africanus) by Samantha Haacke which was painted from a stuffed specimen.

"Natural Wonder" - Pretoria group exhibition

The Pretoria group recently held a small and successful exhibition. Of the 100 artworks on show over 40% were sold. For most of the exhibition participants this was their first art show, and seeing their work mounted and hung was a wonderful confidence booster. Well done to all involved!

Some of the participants together with Stuart Trent, the gallery owner, in front of some of their work.