7 Questions, Artist Statement and Biography

1.    1.) What type of medium and paper do you work on?

I am primarily a watercolor artist and paint on paper or velum (calf skin).  My methods are based on the "golden   era" of botanical art in the French Court Tradition.

2.    2.) What artist has most influenced your work?

I am inspired by Gerard van Spaendonck 1746-1822 .  He was a Dutch Floral Master and painter to the court of Louis XVI and Napoleon from 1780 to1822, succeeded by his pupil Pierre Joseph Redouté.

3.    3.) What is your process for capturing accurate plant portraits?

All of my drawings are made from live specimens.  A careful study, which often includes working with a microscope, is documented in sketches, color swatches, and library research.  Research materials usually make up "research boards" which contain the most pertinent information about the plant that I wish to convey in my painting.  Many drawings are made to decide composition.  Complete value studies and color studies are made before I begin to paint with watercolor.

4.    4.) Do you ever draw from photographs?

I do not trace or draw from photographs.  Macro photography of the subject's detail is used for reference. Drawings are made from the live subject.

5.    5.) Do you work on commission and who selects the subject for the artwork commissioned?

Yes.  The client may select the subject, or they make consult with me, or they may leave the decision to me.  Often the subject is chosen once I have seen the space in which the planned painting will occupy.  The location and its surroundings often influence the decision.

6.    6.) Can someone with absolutely no experience attempt this art form?

Most definitely.  I have written ten books and another 16 course pak materials in support of teaching individuals this beautiful art form. My school has many students who begin with no skills and after a period of tuition are creating beautiful artwork.

7.    7.) Can established artists learn something from studying this genre?

Most definitely.  I have students who are jewelry makers, potters, oil painters, sculptors, etc. and those who are looking to increase their drawing and painting skills find my school, the Academy of Botanical Art, a helpful environment to advance their skills.

Artist Statement

"Botanical art, one of the oldest art forms, represents the ascent of man and custom, of knowledge and thirst for knowledge.  Its evolution parallels the human spirit and its quest for self knowledge. In this wonderful world of nature, plants by their proximity to various cultures have acquired their own meaning.  And so as I strive for realism to achieve actualization each one of my works takes on both appearance and message.  The inspiration for the quest is by grace, the outcome a gift, and the process is gratitude.  The finished work reverberates with a multitude of strokes - each a memory of my beloved.  I hope you will enjoy these conversations with God.  And, with each work find your own mystical revelation."  O.M. Braida

"Olivia's work marries science and art and presents a sound knowledge of botanical accuracy while incorporating fine art standards of color, form and classical design.  Immersed in shadows and light that create an ethereal quality her exquisite compositions are of the highest professional level and pay homage to the great masters."     Suzanne White, Curator, South Florida Museum 2007

Artist Brief Bio

Olivia Marie Braida-Chiusano is freelance certified botanical artist, author, and educator.  Her work has received many exhibition awards and publishing honors and is featured in "TODAY'S BOTANICAL ARTISTS" by Cora B. Marcus and Libby Kyer, Schiffer Publishing 2008 and in "Kirpal Singh, His Grace Lives On" published by Ruhani Satsang 2001.   She created a florilegia reflecting the biodiversity study in the Caribbean that now hang in the Theodore Kheel Conference Center for Biodiversity and Medicinal Plants, in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.  Ms. Braida has been recognized by The Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation, Research Division of Carnegie Mellon University, in Pittsburgh, by the purchase for their private collection of her original watercolor, "Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem' #2 and the South Florida Museum in Bradenton, Florida by their acquisition of "Nelumbo ‘Baby Doll' a Dwarf White Lotus.  She has developed a network of clients within the United States, the Caribbean, Europe, and Thailand.  Ms. Braida is the founder and director of the Academy of Botanical Art which offers a botanical art certificate program through her local and Distance Learning Program that has attracted students from the US, Canada, Europe, South America, Australia and Mexico.  She is the founder and president emeritus of the Florida Society of Botanical Artists, Inc. (FSBA) a chapter of the American Society of Botanical Artists. A graduate of the State University of New York, Ms. Braida holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Art and a Botanical Art and Illustration Certificate from the New York Botanical Garden. She received her professional art training at SUNY Purchase, Pratt, the New York Art Students League, the New York Botanical Garden and studied under Master Painters Caesar Borgia and Anne Marie Evans in the New York and in the United Kingdom. Ms. Braida teaches and works in Florida, Kentucky, and New York with her team of Certified Academy Instructors who have graduated from her botanical art certificate program and her teacher training program. She lives in Sarasota, Florida with her husband.  More about Ms. Braida and her school is available on her websites: www.omartdesigns.com or www.academyofbotanicalart.com

5 questions, Biography, Information about Sinfonia Toronto and 2 CD\'s


1.) What are your basic ideas or concepts about the art of conducting?

One must become first a complete musician before becoming a conductor. The conductor must have a great technique and must be an inspiring musician with magnetic leadership qualities. 
A good conductor\'s qualities must be a synthesis of many professions. That is why it is an extremely difficult art form. Besides being a great musician, a conductor must have the good qualities of an educator, a diplomat, a communicator, an actor, a psychologist, a fund-raiser, a salesman, an administrator and the list goes on. And needless to say a great conductor must be familiar with all forms of performing arts, visual arts and literature. 
Therefore it is truly ars lunga, vita brevis! (art is long, life is short. Ancient Greek aphorism by Hippocrates.)

2.) You were a violinist before you took up conducting. Are there differences in music making between these two forms?

Yes, enormous differences. The role of a conductor is persuade a group of musicians to perform creatively under his or her vision of the composition. The conductor\'s art depends on the skills and collaboration of the musicians who will ultimately produce the magical sounds. 
However at the end the conductor is totally responsible for the artistic outcome. Therefore the means of producing the results differ from conductor to conductor. As an instrumentalist one can obtain immediate results from an instrument and is in control of the outcome in a more immediate manner.

3.) What is your Favorite Repertoire?

Generally speaking my favourite repertoire is what I am working on at the time. I need totally to assimilate the music in order to convince others. That can happen only if I am myself totally in awe of the composition. So there is no choice. I must love whatever I am working on.
Having said that my listening preference is music that matters. Music that means something for our immediate daily lives. Whether it is the issues of petit bourgeois love affairs and sensibilities, or politics of world issues such as environment, human rights, wars, social justice etc.

4.) What distinguishes Sinfonia Toronto among many other chamber orchestras?

As founding Music Director of Sinfonia Toronto I have envisaged a chamber orchestra where we combine soloistic playing and chamber music intimacy with the discipline of an orchestra. 
In addition to the basic concept we are also distinguished by our repertoire. In the last ten years we have performed music from all periods and premiered many new works. We have also premiered many orchestral arrangements of some chamber music literature that possesses symphonic proportions.
We were pleased that our tour of Germany last November received wild critical acclaim. We were praised for some of the very qualities that we have been trying to develop over the years.

5.) You spent some time working in Florida. Have you any plans to visit Florida either by yourself or with your Orchestra?

Indeed I lived five years in Orlando where I was a first violinist with Florida Symphony and two years in Fort Lauderdale as the concertmaster of the Florida Chamber Orchestra. I also started my own conducting career in Florida as the conductor of Florida Youth Symphony.
I have performed with many orchestras throughout the beautiful Sunshine state and have always been fascinated by the energy of the classical music scene. I have performed in Sarasota\'s Purple Cow as well. (Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Sarasota, Florida USA)

It would really be a great pleasure to return to the beautiful Florida one day.  

Maestro Nurhan Arman
Music Director & Conductor
Sinfonia Toronto

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