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Sarasota News Leader October 25, 2013 Page 103 Rega's teacher and the founder of the Academy, Olivia Marie Braida-Chuisano, is featured in the intimate Rincon Gallery. A quote from Albert Einstein is at the gallery entrance: "Look deeply into nature and then you will understand everything better." Braida's five-step painting process is described in the video next to her large-scale watercolor painting, Luminous Rain. The painting of the chandelier tree, a rainforest shrub, represents the three stages of its life: from bud to bloom to decline. I ran into Rick and Sharon Farmer, neighbors of Braida, at the opening reception of the show. They enthusiastically told me of the John Bartram by Howard Pyle. Contributed photo In one sampling from the exhibit, the notes afternoon when four live specimens for the accompanying Sarasota artist Carol Gorin's rainforest painting arrived at Braida's home. painting, Spanish Moss on Laurel Oak That enabled her to begin her months-long Branch, quote William Bartram from his classic book, Travels: "a singular and surprising vegetable production." John Bartram noted that "[Spanish moss] makes a fine appearance in windy weather." This juried museum show, with works by members of the American Society of Botanical Artists, exemplifies botanical portraiture at its best. Two special exhibitions on the second floor of the museum continue the celebration of nature. Julia Rega, who studied as a teenager at the Academy of Botanical Art in Sarasota, shows remarkable technical sensitivity toward her subject matter. Her young art life was inspired by her immersion in the traditional techniques taught at the Academy. Spanish Moss on Laurel Oak Branch by Carol Gorin. Contributed photo