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.

Olivia Marie Braida-Chiusano
Artist, Author, Educator
Founder of the Academy of Botanical Art
an OM Art Designs Company
2068 Sunnyside Lane
Sarasota, FL 34239
941-953-9999 Telephone
941-952-9990 Facsimile
olivia@omartdesigns.com
www.omartdesigns.com
www.academyofbotanicalart.com
www.botanicalartsupplies.com
Member Organizations
Founder and President Emeritus
     of the Florida Society of Botanical Artists
American Society of Botanical Artists
Guild of Natural Scient Illustrators
Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators
Florida Watercolor Society