Louise Saunders - Botanical Artist

KEY STRENGTHS

Collectable Fine Art
Fine, accurate, drawing ability
Scientific Illustration
Design, strength of colour and composition
Watercolour, graphite, acrylic, pen and ink
Public Speaking
Tuition
Residencies
Working in the Field
Exhibitions
Versatility

Louise Saunders - An affinity with the natural environment has encouraged this self-taught artist in her pursuit for perfection that only nature excels in. Louise's dedication and discipline to botanical correctness has rewarded her with solo and joint exhibitions at high profile regional and private galleries, publications in journals and scientific books and has been illustrator for two Earth Watch Expeditions to Cape York Peninsular. The University of Malaysia, Sarawak has granted Louise a Research Fellowship, further acknowledging her skills and versatility as an illustrator. As artist in Residence for four years at Couran Cove Island Resort, off the Gold Coast, Louise was able to market her work across the globe in the form of commissions, limited edition prints and merchandise.

Louise encourages and promotes botanical and natural history illustration in the arena of tuition, demonstration and public speaking. Her enthusiasm and engaging personality compliment her art in her conviction for education of, and ever-necessary protection of, our unique and precious natural environment.

ART EXPERIENCES AND EXHIBITIONS

1979-92

  • Entries of paintings and pottery, functional and sculpture, in Rotary and Art Guild Exhibitions.
  • Certificate courses in Reproduction Antique Dolls. Tuition in Reproduction Antique Dolls.
  • Production of functional and non-functional pottery.

1992-95

  • Paintings feature in the "Orchadian", an Australasian Native Orchid Journal.
  • Tuition, Reproduction Antique Dolls.
  • Production of functional and non-functional pottery.

1993

  • Halworth House Gallery, Yarrawonga, Victoria. "Ladies in Painting" - 12 works.
  • Benalla Regional Art Gallery, "Orchids of North-East Victoria", Exhibition with Museum of Victoria entitled "Drawing on Nature" -47 works culminating 4 years work.
  • Stonecrop Fine Art Galleries - 6 works.
  • Posters commissioned by Dept. Conservation and Natural Resources - 1 for commercial use, 10 for departmental information boards.
  • Wildlife Artist's Society of Australasia, Melbourne, Victoria - Highly Commended - 3 works.
  • Ararat Regional Gallery, Solo Exhibition - "Orchids of North-East Victoria" - 47 works.
  • Production of functional and non-functional pottery.
  • Moved from Benalla, North-East Victoria to Brisbane, Queensland.

1994

  • International Festival of Orchids, display of paintings - 60 works.
  • Sunshine Coast Wildflower Show, Guest Artist. - 52 works.
  • Capricorn Galleries, Melbourne, "Flowers, Flowers, Flowers"- 4 works.
  • Wildlife Artist's Society of Australasia, Melb. -3 works.
  • Wildlife Australia Magazine, feature article, "The Colour Orchid"
  • Noosa Fine Art Gallery, "Wildlife Exhibition" - 3 works.

1995

  • "Birds of a Feather", wildlife exhibition with 12 leading Brisbane women artists - 12 works.
  • Contemporary Art and Design Gallery, "Botanical and Entomological Art in Qld." - 7 works.

1996

  • Wide Bay Gallery and Orchid Conference, Maryborough. Collection on display - 56 works.
  • Illustrator for University of Qld. and Earth Watch Expedition to Mt. Mulligan, Far North Qld.
  • Wildlife Artist's Society of Australasia, Melb, Highly Commended.
  • Wildlife Artist's Society of Qld., Highly Commended.
  • Design and Illustration for signage, "Wet and Wild Walk", Redland Shire Council.
  • Illustrations for plant identification learning package, Redland Shire Council.
  • "Totally Wild" television interview, highlighting work in the field and Australian flora and fauna.
  • Instigator of Botanical Artists of Qld. Exhibition. - 15 works.
  • Invited Artist "Ramsar United Nations Convention on the Future of the Worlds Wetlands", exhibition - 5 works.
  • Illustrator for University of Qld. And Earth Watch to Mitchell Palmer Region, Far North Qld.
  • Logan City regional Gallery, "Natures Bounty", Retrospective - 41 works.
  • Qld.'s representative Botanical Artist at the 150th celebrations of the Melbourne Botanic Gardens, Melbourne, "The Art of Botanical Illustration".
  • Wildlife Artist's Society of Qld. Exhibition - Best Flora Award.
  • Commissioned to paint the flora of South Stradbroke Island for Couran Cove Island Resort by Ron Clarke, C.E.O.

1997

  • Commissions, Couran Cove Island Resort 16 works.
  • · Australian Geographic commission - illustrations for article related to expedition to Mt. Mulligan.
  • Scientific Drawings for University of New South Wales Press publication - "Flying Foxes, Fruit and Blossom Bats of Australia" by Drs. Les Hall and Greg Richards.

1998

  • Monash University Press, illustrations used in scientific publication, Mt. Mulligan Story.
  • Invited Qld. Artist for "The Art of Botanical Illustration", Royal Botanic Gardens. Melb.
  • Nugee College Exhibition, Highly Commended Award.

1998-2000

  • Artist in Residence, Couran Cove Island Resort. South Stradbroke Island, off the Gold Coast. Duties: tuition in range of art forms, administration, guest speaking, children's art classes, public liaison, floral arrangements, environmental displays and murals, Christmas themeing.
  • International commissions for artwork.
  • Commission, Bush Foods of South Stradbroke Island, 4 works.
  • Production of Limited Edition Prints and merchandise from artwork.
  • Illustrations for environmental fact sheets, Couran Cove Island Resort.
  • Commission, Globe Books, illustrations of Bats of the World, 16 paintings.

2001

  • Artist in Residence, Couran Cove Island Resort.
  • Appointment as "Research Associate Fellow" at Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation, University of Malaysia, Sarawak. (UNIMAS) 1Feb. 2001- 31Jan. 2002.
  • Travel and work in Malaysian Borneo for UNIMAS, Feb. 2001.
  • Illustrations for book on Bats of Borneo - 12 illustrations.
  • Commissions for artwork

2002

  • Artist in Residence, Couran Cove Island Resort.
  • Featured artist in Queensland Holmes magazine. December - February 2002 issue.
  • Commissions for art work
  • Travel to Thailand, batik work on fabrics.
  • Tutor for Master Classes, Margaret Saul School of Botanic Illustration.
  • Signage for Redland Shire Council, Black Swamp Wetlands.

2003

  • Invited Artist, "The Nature of Islands" exhibition, Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery, Tasmania. Three works. Talks, demonstration and tuition.
  • Private commissions for art work
  • Illustrations used for membership rewards and postcards, Bat Conservation International, Texas, USA.
  • Work on Illustrations, Flying Foxes and Blossom Bats of Australia.
  • Tutor for Master Classes, Margaret Saul School of Botanic Illustration.
  • Finalist in "The Waterhouse Natural History Prize" Exhibition level 3 David Jones, Rundle Mall from 9th-25th August
  • 2003 Winner Canson Award Queensland Wildlife Artists Society

2004

  • 2004 Redland Art Gallery Cleveland, Exhibition "The Timeless Colour of Nature", Orchids and Marine
  • 2004 Teaching workshops throughout the year at Indigiscapes, Capalaba. 6 week Botanical courses and weekend workshops
  • 2004 Teaching workshops for The Botanical Artist's Society of Queensland Inc. at Brisbane City Council's Mt. Coot-tha Botanic Gardens

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