Many volunteers work behind the scenes to enrich the American Society of Botanical Artists. One of those people is Myra Sourkes. What led Myra to botanical art, what inspires her, and what are her favorite ASBA volunteer activities?
After a move from Montreal to Toronto in 1998, Myra’s husband, Richard, suggested she do something for herself in addition to her career as a neurologist and her family responsibilities. “How about an art class?” he suggested. “You’ve always been artistic.” Her only formal art education had been a few life drawing and still life courses during her medical school years. When a friend recommended a Toronto art school, she found a class there on Fridays, her only free day. It was a botanical art class taught by Pamela Stagg. Myra didn’t really know what that was, but she loved flowers and gardening, so she signed up. She was hooked right away—she loved the intense observation and concentration the art form demanded—and continued the class until Pamela’s retirement. On occasion, she and a few of the students from that class still meet, in person or virtually, to paint. Over the years, she has also taken invaluable workshops with Margaret Best on a wide range of topics.
One of Myra’s inspirations for her art is Louis Comfort Tiffany’s floral glass creations. She loves color and says that “the colors in Tiffany’s works are dazzling.” Her garden is full of plants that he liked, such as iris, peony, Jack-in-the pulpit, tulip, morning glory, clematis, and Virginia creeper; she often chooses them as painting subjects. Using watercolor, she explores the limitless possibilities of color.
“Richard is my biggest supporter,” says Myra. “For years I asked him to come to the ASBA conference to witness the camaraderie there. In 2025, he joined me in St Paul and thus was with me at the banquet when I was surprised and thrilled to receive the James White Service Award! Richard said that he was not prouder of me than he had been before this, but he was very happy that I had been recognized by my peers.”
And that’s what it all means to Myra. Community. She describes ASBA as an encouraging environment where everyone is welcome, and people appreciate each other’s work and share ideas: “The Journal, website, annual conference, spring symposium, and webinars are such amazing resources, and they introduce us to the unique visions of many artists.”
Myra loves working with others and has served ASBA in many meaningful roles since joining the board in 2011. Now in her second term, she has long contributed to the Artist Grants Committee and written for The Botanical Artist, including ASBA’s twentieth-anniversary reminiscences in the 2014 issues. She thoughtfully launched and led the Green Committee, helping spotlight how botanical art can foster environmental awareness. From 2022–24 she served as Member At Large on the Executive Committee and has just stepped into the role of Vice President of the board.
Myra’s favorite volunteer role is collecting and editing Stories Behind the Art for ASBA exhibitions, a project she happily embraced in 2011 at Jody Williams’s suggestion. She soon realized she could draw on her neurology experience—asking curious, in-depth questions so viewers can better appreciate each artist’s techniques and creative process. Along the way, she has gained an education in botany and botanical art, made friends around the world, and feels she has received far more than she has given.