On behalf of the ABA Team we wish all our Members and Followers peace and happiness over the holiday season and for the coming year. We have loved your company in 2024 and look forward to more artistic opportunities for 2025.
Please note we will be taking a short break from 20th December 2024 - 6th January 2025.
For something a little different we have added some seasonal images and thoughts from some of the ABA Team.
Warmest wishes,
Elaine Allison
ABA President
Santa baby, just slip an easel under the tree for me
Been an awful good girl
Santa cutie, a Schmincke watercolour set too, brand new
I'll wait up for you, dear
Check the art books off my list
And that Shirley Sherwood bio that I cannot miss
Next year I’ll work twice as hard
If you’ll just design my website and a business card…
Santa honey, I want an exhibition - it's not a lot!
I’ve been painting all year
Santa baby, so hurry down the art shop tonight
Season’s Greetings from Sarah Gardner!
Dearest Santa,
For Christmas I have only ONE wish – botanical art travel in 2025!!
~ Florida in winter for the Rory McEwen exhibition would warm me up!
~ Spring would be perfect painting wildflowers in Greece with Shevaun Doherty and Margaret Fitzpatrick! Or France on a holiday with Ann Swan, Billy Showell or Lara Gastinger!
~ London in June/July for the RHS Botanical Art and Photography Show, Kew Gardens and shopping at Cornelissens.
~ Late summer at the Grootbos Private Nature Reserve in South Africa would be divine!
~ And in autumn, Transylvania, Romania for a class with Asuka Hishiki or Sarah Morrish!
You see…there’s only one thing on my list!
Happy Holidays! Mary Crabtree
A Botanical Art Christmas Wish by Emma (thank you AI)
A Christmas wish, so clear and bright,
For colours bold and paper white.
Botanical art dreams, so lush and green,
Of blossoms bright in winter’s sheen.
Oh Santa, hear my artist’s plea—
Bring brushes soft, and ink pens for me!
A sketchbook thick, with pages wide,
To paint each leaf with love and pride.
Watercolours, rich and rare,
In shades of moss and garden air.
Emerald greens and rosy pinks,
For capturing petals on the brink.
A magnifying glass, so I might see
The smallest veins in every tree.
To paint each line, each curl, each seam,
A closer look at nature’s dream.
With petals, stems, and ferns to find,
In every hue that I designed—
This Christmas wish is all I seek,
To bring the garden to my feet.
So here’s to blooms and leaves that start
To blossom forth in works of art.
With Santa’s gifts, I’ll make them mine—
A Christmas lush, in green and vine.
Best wishes, Emma van Klaveren
Season's Greetings from the ABA team - we look forward to sharing more botanical articles with you in 2025!