Class Listings

The secret to portraying light and shadow on your subjects lies in understanding the science of lighting as it applies to different three-dimensional forms. Beginning with basic geometric shapes, refine your skills to illustrate the lighting and volume of any subject. This class uses graphite pencil, but the principles apply to all other media.

This program is offered by the School of Botanical Art & Illustration at Denver Botanic Gardens.

Registration link: https://catalog.botanicgardens.org/Selection.aspx?item=3960&sch=328453

This course addresses the most appropriate way to use a dip pen nib in order to get the best from it. Even experienced artists who are familiar with this tool may eventually face issues with its functioning and mannerisms, having a hard time trying to figure out how to keep the work flowing smoothly. 

I teach simple procedures to help obtain the finest lines, preserve, clean, and even restore the nibs. I also transmit my simple method for maintaining the best flow of the ink, keeping its good quality, and avoiding dehydration. Last but not least, I propose a series of exercises that embody the essentials of the visual language of hatching for light and shade, and also many tips on the different approaches to stippling. 

A guidebook is offered for free download addressing many technical issues and proposing practices and providing a thorough supplies list.

Topics Addressed in this Course

The traditional pen nib is quite a delicate tool that demands discipline from the artist and requires a variety of cautions to avoid its damage and preserve its good qualities. Not only does the nib need care but also the ink whose vial should not ever be left uncapped — otherwise it loses fluidity by dehydration. Also, the paper should not risk being stained by ink drops or spills and should remain protected from our hand’s skin oils, for this can cause the ink to be repelled. While most artists intuitively know all of that or learn it from their own experience, just a few of them do take concrete measures to prevent accidents. 

This course begins by addressing those measures, offering hints and very simple solutions on how to preserve nibs with a method of constant and perfect cleaning, and even how to restore or improve nibs through sanding and polishing them in specific ways. There are also simple – but necessary - methods for avoiding the ink to dehydrate in the tube or be spilled and also for enhancing its viscosity, thus improving the quality and consistency of lines during the drawing. 

As for the classes’ content, there will be explanations and demonstrations on the mechanisms of how the nib works; how to investigate the source of eventual issues and take measures to fix them; how to keep the nib perfectly clean and always functioning like a brand new one; how to hold and move the nib on the paper correctly so as to get the best of its resources – including obtaining the finest lines possible. Also, there will be demonstrations on how to proceed to make corrections, erase the ink and remake the drawings, how to recognize the qualities of a good paper, and much more. 

Moreover, most specific practices proposed in the guidebook will be demonstrated live for a better understanding of their mechanisms. All these practices are related to many particular needs that we face while representing light and shade using the visual language of hatching. Additionally, the technique of stippling (not addressed in the guidebook) will be covered and its fundamentals explained and demonstrated. Afterward, some biological subjects can be examined and explained regarding their form, light and shade, and especially further details such as texture, indument, ornaments etc. Demonstrations provide methods for rendering all these aspects with the language of hatching while describing how to make the best use of the pen nib technique. The students are encouraged to practice online, ask questions, optionally film their own hands while working and show their results to receive advice. 

How this course works:

There will be live online meetings via the application Zoom with all the students and the tutor. All classes are recorded – regardless of whether students are missing or not – and uploaded as private videos on the tutor’s channel on YouTube to be watched afterward (they remain permanently available).

At the end of each meeting, tasks are assigned so that students can continue to practice on the patterns proposed in the guidebook, or else draw appropriate objects of their own choice – or only parts of these objects. Then students must send their results via WhatsApp or email so all works can be assessed by the tutor. 

In order to take the best advantage of the live meetings, the assessment of exercises and the individual advice from the tutor are mostly provided through extra video classes that are recorded and posted on YouTube as nonlisted videos (only people with the link can access). Thus, every participant can also learn from the guidance offered to all the other students. Our main focus during live meetings then is the teaching of lessons and concepts, as well as the demonstrations, questions & answers. But of course, there may be some comments on the students' exercises even during these meetings, especially when the tutor recognizes some pattern of mistakes or the need for teachings that will help everyone at once.

The incredible vascular plant diversity is wrangled into over 400 plant families. Yet, we tend to encounter the same handful of families repeatedly. Plants from these families are likely to be the subject of your art. Learn the morphological characteristics of these families to hone your observational skills and review the traits most critical to include in an illustration.

This program is offered by the School of Botanical Art & Illustration at Denver Botanic Gardens.

Registration link: https://catalog.botanicgardens.org/Selection.aspx?item=5761&sch=325622

Your shoebox collection of seed pods, shells, feathers, stones or dried botanicals make perfect subjects in this class focused on small details. Learn to compose and illustrate those treasured collections of small objects with colored pencil.

This program is offered by the School of Botanical Art & Illustration at Denver Botanic Gardens.

Registration link: https://catalog.botanicgardens.org/Selection.aspx?item=5764&sch=325631

Can you grow food successfully in an urban environment? In this lively discussion, join artist Viviane Le Courtois and manager of urban food initiatives at Denver Botanic Gardens, Julia Zoltowsky, as they share their experiences and passions around growing food and engaging with communities. Hear how art and gardening intersect and go home with a new recipe to try.

This program is offered by the School of Botanical Art & Illustration at Denver Botanic Gardens.

Registration link: https://catalog.botanicgardens.org/Selection.aspx?item=5779&sch=328339

Food for Thought is a free lunchtime series that addresses professional practices for creatives and highlights botanical artists. In this lecture, learn from Christiane Fashek, a recent American Society of Botanical Artists grant awardee, about the grant process, plus how to navigate being typecast as a particular type of artist.

This program is offered by the School of Botanical Art & Illustration at Denver Botanic Gardens

Registration Link: https://catalog.botanicgardens.org/Selection.aspx?sch=328359

Artists are undoubtedly familiar with a graphite pencil. It is the fundamental medium for botanical art. Take advantage of this opportunity with Susan T. Fisher to re-examine its benefits and review concepts on how to use graphite effectively to gain improved results. Demonstrations along with exercises will boost skills in observation and guide participants in planning the crucial steps to a successful finished piece and come away with a greater appreciation for this enduring medium. Prerequisite: Completion of at least two botanical art drawing classes using graphite, or equivalent. This class is meant for botanical artists at the intermediate or advanced level.

Silverpoint, a drawing medium used by the old masters, is enjoying a revival by artists today. Styluses containing a sharpened sterling silver wire produce delicate pale lines that tarnish to golden browns. Silverpoint drawings have a lovely glow due to the myriad ways think layers of silver reflect light. Silverpoint requires a slightly abrasive ground for the metal to adhere to the paper. Kathie Miranda will lead you as you prepare watercolor papers with a simple white and a toned (colored) ground. You will learn traditional ways to draw with silver, and Kathie's not-so-traditional ones she uses in her work. A complete discussion of methods and materials will be detailed throughout the workshop. Prerequisite: Some drawing experience is required.

Silverpoint is enjoying a revival by artists today. Discover the special qualities and challenges of drawing with silver. Silver is easy to apply and will tarnish to mellow browns. With Kathie Miranda as your guide, we will follow the Old Master tradition of drawing on hand-made grounds, in white and color, applied to watercolor paper. Learn how to key a drawing to accommodate the shorter value range inherent in silverpoint. Practice drawing techniques and special effects that accurately suggest the variety of surface qualities in plant life. Select simple objects such as plants, cacti, mushrooms, fruits, gourds, curled dried leaves, seed pods, etc. Draw from life, or recycle a line drawing from previous artwork, supplemented with related reference materials to complete the work. Prerequisite: "Introduction to Silverpoint on Paper" or previous Silverpoint experience.

Workshop Description:

Draw amidst the serene beauty and endless inspiration of the McBryde Garden at the National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG) on Kaua’i. This stunning location provides an ideal backdrop for our gathering of plant enthusiasts, eager to explore their artistic side. 

Surrounded by a myriad of captivating plants, we’ll also have access to a team of knowledgeable botanists ready to enrich our experience with their expertise. It’s a rare chance to cultivate our skills, unwind, and enjoy ourselves in this picturesque environment. Which fascinating tropical plants will you draw?

Instructors: Pam Thompson, Sam McWilliams, and Wendy Hollender

Note from Wendy Hollender: My focus for this workshop will be composition and telling plant stories through botanical illustration. Pam Thompson and Sam McWilliams have been teaching with me for years, and they are excellent instructors. They do daily drawing demonstrations and work closely with beginners to help with fundamental techniques. I am always in the room working on my compositions, and a few times a week, I do demonstrations of more advanced techniques. We are all available to work individually with anyone that wants our attention.

Classes will be held at:

National Tropical Botanical Garden

Education Headquarters

3530 Papalina Rd

Kalaheo, HI 96741

(808) 332-7324

www.ntbg.org

Workshop Dates: February 3 – 21, 2025

Week 1: Monday – Friday, Feb 3 – 7, 10am – 4pm

(Beginners are strongly encouraged to start on Week 1, but are welcome all weeks.)

Week 2: Monday – Friday, Feb 10 – 14, 10am – 4pm

Week 3: Monday – Friday, Feb 17 – 21, 10am – 4pm

We recommend attending for as many days as possible; the more you immerse yourself, the deeper the learning experience.

Register here: https://drawbotanical.com/product/feb-2025-kauai-hawaii-botanical-illustration-intensive-workshop/

Questions? Email info@drawbotanical.com

Strong composition is essential to creating accurate and successful works of art with any medium. Betsy Rogers-Knox will lead you in exploring a range of basic principles and techniques through observation of Great Masters' works of art and a variety of short exercises designed to open your eyes to the importance of composition. Understanding and applying just a few key principles of composition will bring strength, balance and the "wow" factor to your artwork. Prerequisite: Some composition instruction in your botanical art classes, or equivalent.

Join Ann Swan at Atelier Clos Mirabel for a 5 day botanical art workshop in the French Pyrenees ~ South West France. Enjoy wonderful surroundings, delightful accommodation and delicious meals.

“We see objects because of light and in order to create realistic images of plants we need to fully understand light and observe how it reacts with our subjects to describe their shapes.”

In this workshop Ann will show you how to interpret light and shade and to accurately capture these contrasting tonal values to create a true sense of three-dimensional form and volume in your work.

Ann will demonstrate ways of creating realistic highlights and sheen and help you choose convincing shade colours to create depth in shadows whilst maintaining vibrant colours so that your work will come to life on the page. 

You will be able to put all this into practice on a more finished piece with guidance on composition and full support from Ann.

https://atelier.clos-mirabel.com/botanical-art/

atelierclosmirabel@gmail.com

Join Michelle EunYoung Song (SBA Fellow) for one week of botanical art using coloured pencils. Michelle will guide you on how to capture a beautiful moment at Clos Mirabel: choosing a plant in the grounds, then learning many techniques to portray it through the mixing of colours and the use of coloured pencils.

This course will focus on various techniques using coloured pencils. Firstly, you will explore the grounds of Clos Mirabel together, observing the beautiful abundance of plants growing in May. After deciding for yourself what you wish to draw, back in the studio Michelle will guide you through a detailed study of your specimen.

You will use pencil drawings in a sketchbook that will produce data for your detailed painting. You will also practice making the proper colour using coloured pencils. The tuition is exciting and clear so that by the end of the week you will have the capacity to create a more detailed botanical artwork.

On this course, Billy Showell hopes to make you all fall in love with painting green. Her aim is that each person produces a beautiful posey of leaves to show off the beauty of leaves, but also to make a beautiful and pretty composition by the end of the week. By putting the leaves into a posey, all aspects can be covered of composing a botanical painting.

During the first part of the course, you will be choosing and arranging the leaves, making sure that the posey is beautifully arranged and doable in the time we have. You will then explore all of the various shades of green that can be mixed, beginning to depict the different veining and patterns on the leaves while also focussing on creating light and shade for the posey.

During the course, Billy will aim to offer confidence for the wet in wet method, but also push attendees to produce beautiful portraits of the leaves; learning what to include and what to leave out of your study, ultimately creating a beautiful painting to be proud of. There will be plenty of time to practice all of the various techniques that will be shared with you during the week, while completing your main posey study.

https://atelier.clos-mirabel.com/botanical-art/painting-a-leaf-posey-with-billy-showell-botanical-art-france

During this week of Botanical Sketching and Painting in the French Pyrénées with Lara Call Gastinger we will be observing, drawing and painting the local flora of Atelier Clos Mirabel.

We will go through the process of how to create a botanical painting, starting with sketching and learning the important characteristics of plants.

We will seek botanical inspiration from the acreage of Atelier Clos Mirabel and with a trip to the blooming meadows of the Pyrénées.

After the first day of sketching, we will focus on using watercolours to capture the colours and textures of the plants. In the end, we will work on composition and how to create a finished botanical painting.

Enjoy wonderful surroundings, delightful accommodation and delicious meals.

https://atelier.clos-mirabel.com/botanical-art/

atelierclosmirabel@gmail.com

Join Catherine Watters for one week of drawing and painting the incredibly diverse flora of Clos Mirabel, using watercolours to capture the colours and textures of the plants.

The week will start with a walk around the magnificent Clos Mirabel property to choose your subject. A variety of plants will be in bloom including Roses, Hydrangeas, Iris, Lupin, Lilies and numerous fruits and vegetables growing in the Jardin Potager.

Catherine will introduce her 10 stages to successfully illustrate a subject. You will carefully observe, measure and draw your subject focusing on form, light and texture. Students will work with graphite and watercolour. If you prefer, you can use coloured pencils.

After composing your illustration, we will discuss the properties of watercolours and transparent colour mixing. You will apply several layers from the base tea wash to the dry brush finishing touches, using proper lighting to make your subject come to life.

Catherine will also show you how to create a Botanical Journal to document your experience at Clos Mirabel. This is a lovely way to capture a special moment in a magical place.

The course will include a PowerPoint presentation, numerous demonstrations and an exhibition on the last day. All levels of experience are welcome.

Join me in early July, 2025, as I return to Clos Mirabel to paint Summer flowers. Wild and garden flowers will be at their best, filling the air with delicious scents and delighting our eyes with an array of colour.

Everything about being in Clos Mirabel is special. From the warmth of your welcome by the family and team at Clos Mirabel to your first view of the Pyrenees, your beautifully appointed accommodation and the most delicious variety of locally sourced foods, you know that this will be a week for you!

The spacious art studio is a haven for artists. Taking your inspiration from the plants in the garden and the countryside you’ll practice some observational drawing and mark making.

Early in the week we’ll have an opportunity to travel towards the upper slopes of the Pyrenees to experience alpine plants in their natural habitat. After a gentle walk and some field sketching we’ll enjoy a simple lunch in a village Auberge.

Back in the studio we’ll explore the nuances of colour through easy exercises to help you grow in confidence in how you choose and use colour.

Exploring and practicing watercolour painting techniques in a simple but systematic way can be applied to painting any subject. Using controlled wet and damp techniques and finishing with dry techniques we will work in layers to create a painting that is both true to science and true to your emotional connection with your plant subject.

This week will be a week to rest well, eat well and to replenish your personal resources in the process of creating your botanical painting.

I’m looking forward to seeing you there!

Inspired by the beautiful nature of France, Soyoung Sin decided to organise a workshop at Atelier Clos Mirabel, where she invites you to observe the beautiful plants of France and learn the techniques of botanical art in a delicate way.

Botanical Art can be described as the marrying of three core elements; scientific exactitude, artistic agency and expression of colour.

This workshop will be a step-by-step demonstration of how to draw botanical art using watercolour pencils, tinted pencils and pens, starting from the basics. The workshop will also cover pen stippling and sketch note.

All over the world, an increasing interest in environmental consciousness has inspired people to rediscover the beauty of nature in their daily lives. The practice of botanical art can give access to a certain state of inner peace and help reconnecting to the essence of nature. It could be said that what began as a hobby for many during the COVID-19 pandemic has blossomed into a cultural phenomenon. Through botanical art, people have gained a newfound appreciation of the importance of connecting with nature.

Soyoung Sin has been the president of the Korea Botanical Arts Cooperative since 2015 and has been spreading the culture of botanical art in Korea and beyond. She has received medals from the Royal Horticultural Society of England and the Bloom Botanical Art Exhibition in Ireland. She has been teaching botanical art specialist courses at Gachon University and Yonsei University for 9 years.

Join Jarnie Godwin as she guides you into the ethereal mysteries of the fading bloom. September begins the time of mist and mellow fruitfulness with the fiery hues and late flowers that draw summer to a close. As blooms begin to fade you will learn how to capture these intimate, fragile and fleeting moments of decay. Using a range of watercolour techniques, Jarnie will show you how to create the unique acute textures and colour transitions of decay and fading colour. You will learn more about the unique form and detail of fading flowers, and will gain confidence in using and manipulating watercolour to convey an intimate moment in time.

Your week with Jarnie Godwin will begin by taking in the luscious and enchanting grounds of Clos Mirabel, where you will source the most intriguing fading blooms, petals and decaying leaves. Curiosity is the key, as you open your mindset to look for character and presence in your perfect imperfect subjects.

In the Atelier Clos Mirabel Studio, Jarnie will guide you through the techniques and processes she uses herself to help you create a composition for your painting of your chosen subjects. You will discover more about the unique structure of fading flowers and will learn how to use different brushes and paints to create a wealth of textures, contrasts and vibrant colours.

During the week, Jarnie will show you how to effectively light subjects to form beautiful contrasts and cast shadows. She will take you through her own techniques to mix a wealth of vibrant colours including pure, natural greens, rich neutral browns and soft, complex greys with just your primary hues. Using a limited palette, you will gain confidence in mixing and layering clean and vibrant watercolour mixes and will learn how to manipulate textures using wet into damp, damp and dry brush techniques. Jarnie will also demonstrate how to deal with mistakes with her techniques for troubleshooting.

Jarnie's teaching style is warm, knowledgable and approachable as she aims to inspire and empower her students to develop their own style and skill with confidence. This will make for a relaxing and inspiring week away at Atelier Clos Mirabel ideal for all.

Join Laura Silburn at Atelier Clos Mirabel for a 5 day botanical art workshop in the French Pyrenees ~ South West France. Enjoy wonderful surroundings, delightful accommodation and delicious meals.

Explore the botanical delights of this flora-rich part of the world in the Autumn. Laura will help you examine a chosen plant or vegetable through careful observation and sketchbook work. You will then compose an image that reflects its natural character whilst observing botanical truth. You will be guided on how to take your planned drawings through to a completed botanical watercolour and then the techniques to take your picture to the ‘next level’ using dry-brush finishing.

Laura teaches extensively in her home county of Cornwall in the UK and online. Laura has work in the RHS Lindley Library and the Shirley Sherwood collection, which shows at the gallery in Kew Gardens, The Hunt Institute, the Florilegium of the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, and the Eden Project Cornwall.

https://atelier.clos-mirabel.com/botanical-art/

atelierclosmirabel@gmail.com

Through ink drawing in a dedicated sketchbook, small elements of essential botany up to the basic notions of botanical watercolour, we will portray different seasonal subjects. Wild flora from the Pyrenees, flowers, leaves and seeds from the Clos Mirabel garden and vegetables from the kitchen garden to create a personal “cabinet” of botanical treasures.

This workshop is designed not only to provide basic technical notions and the main tools of botanical art, but also to approach various botanical subjects. We will learn how to keep a sketchbook and make it a study tool through the observation of Nature and the practice of drawing.

We will learn to use the ink pen with specific exercises, shadows, colour and how to compose pages. We will tackle the botanical watercolour technique by mixing colours, organizing the palette and studying the control of the brushstroke. Thus, over the course of the week, we will create a composition with various botanical subjects different in species, shape and colour, respecting their character and scientific data. Our personal collection of treasures, drawn and painted.

https://atelier.clos-mirabel.com/botanical-art/botanical-painting-workshop-france-giacomina-ferrillo

Come and explore the land of the colossal with Úrsula Romero and learn how to paint larger than life. Focusing on leaves, this workshop will explore the drama that can be created through thoughtful lighting and clever glazing.

You will have the exciting opportunity to learn how to capture the dramatic autumnal colours of leaves in an idyllic setting. From yellowing deciduous leaves to luscious evergreens; the countryside and gardens that surround Atelier Clos Mirabel are abundant.

This course will start with a short talk about leaves – their taxonomy, physiology and how paint them larger than life, then we will create our cleverly lit ‘leaf stages’. During this course we will examine the importance of composition and reveal the colours needed to mix realistic greens, browns and reds. You will learn more about capturing light in watercolour paint – how to make things look really three dimensional and how tackle trickier things, such as the translucency and hairs.

Úrsula will prepare a step-by-step process for each so you can see how to paint your subject in stages and she will be on hand, giving live demonstrations for you to watch so you leave feeling full of expert knowledge. This course is suitable for all levels.