Build your drawing skills using graphite. Learn how to begin and take your work from sketch to an accurate, full-value rendering in a virtual classroom setting. We cover observation, perspective, proportion, rendering textures, scientific conventions, lighting, and transferring drawings. All drawings are from life. Students also become comfortable with computer and technical skills for proper scanning, uploading and preparing artwork, as well as video conferencing and creating files. Students are introduced to pen and ink, and to professional and business practices. Fee covers all assignments, tutorials, handouts, video conferencing and emailing. Beginning and intermediate students are encouraged to apply.

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.

Instructors: Pam & Sam

Level: All levels

Botanical Subjects: Seed Pods

Please bring dried seed pods that you find exciting. Some examples that could be fun to draw are seed pods from flowers such as lilies, irises, columbine, poppies, and milkweed. Some fun seed pods to draw from trees are magnolia, tulip, poplar, beech, acorns, and sycamore. The possibilities are endless. If you are a beginner, bring something relatively simple, such as acorns.

Workshop Description

Explore the enchanting world of seed pods and learn how to draw these fascinating natural treasures. We will guide you through the process of observing and drawing the intricate details of seedpods. Using colored pencil and watercolor, our experienced instructors will demonstrate techniques to help you:

🌟Capture 3D Form: Learn how to bring your seedpods to life with realistic shapes and volumes.

🌱Render Texture: Master the art of depicting the varied surfaces of seedpods, from smooth and shiny to rough and spiky.

💡Play with Light and Shadow: Understand how to use light and shadow to enhance the depth and dimension of your drawings.

🖌️Focus on Subtle Details: Discover how to highlight the delicate and complex details that make each seed pod unique.

Our workshops include a set of pre-recorded videos for you to watch as you prepare for class, as well as recordings of each workshop session, delivered via email.

We encourage collaboration and community, and we strive to create a safe environment for everyone to draw together. Instructors provide live demonstrations of relevant techniques on the first day of a workshop and constructive critiques of your work on the second day. Don’t be shy! Ask any and all questions you may have; the answers could benefit all participants.

Register at: https://drawbotanical.com/community-event/zoom-workshop-105-sensational-seed-pods/

Questions?  Email info@drawbotanical.com

Online Introduction to Colored Pencil! 4week course meets Wednesdays from 5-7:30 

To create line, form and texture in gradations of black and white, practice this traditional illustration medium with a variety of pens. Expand your drawing repertoire through step-by-step instruction, demonstration and practice so that expressive line and stipple become part of your foundational artistic vocabulary and toolkit for accurate, skillful botanical 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=4562&sch=328442

Drawing skills and color mixing experience are combined to further explore watercolor paint. From flat and graded washes, to highlights and drybrush detail, discover the delight of putting brush and pigment to paper for transparent watercolor. Demonstrations and practical exercises guide you to build washes for depth of tone and shading, and how to create soft and hard edges.

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

Registration link: https://catalog.botanicgardens.org/Selection.aspx?item=4684&sch=328443

Learn my approach to painting on vellum during this five-day workshop at the beautiful Clos Mirabel in the south of France. We will begin by doing some exercises on small bits of vellum to learn technique and to get a feel for painting on this surface. Then, we will explore the grounds of Clos Mirabel to choose painting subjects. Apples, pears, plums, figs, kiwis, and berries will be at their peak this time of the year. You might also choose to do a Hoefnagel-Inspired painting of the treasures you find in the gardens.

​This class is designed for students new to vellum (learn how to successfully paint on vellum) as well as for more experienced vellum painters (learn new tricks and techniques). The workshop combines demonstrations, discussion of materials and techniques, hands-on time for developing skills, and lots of individual attention and feedback. Handouts with step-by-step instructions will be provided.

Experienced vellum painters can use this as a studio class to work on anything they like.

​

Instructors: Pam & Sam

Level: All levels

Botanical Subjects: Mushrooms (foraged or store-bought)

SAFETY FIRST! Here’s what you need to know before, during, and after foraging. Consult field guides to identify mushrooms and DO NOT pick potentially poisonous specimens!

Workshop Description

Are you enchanted by the whimsical world of mushrooms? Join our exploration into the art of drawing these fascinating fungi. Designed for artists of all skill levels, this workshop offers a playful and friendly environment where creativity flourishes.

What You’ll Learn

Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your skills, we’ll guide you through each step of drawing marvelous mushrooms. Here’s what you can expect:

🖌️ Basic Shapes: Start with simple shapes to build the foundation of your mushroom drawings.

🍄 Adding Details: Gradually add charming details like rounded caps, intricate gills, pores, spines, or ridges to bring your mushrooms to life.

✏️ Shading Techniques: Learn how to use shading to create depth and dimension, making your mushrooms look truly enchanting.

🎨 Texture Techniques: Discover methods to depict the unique textures of different mushroom species, from smooth and shiny to rough and ridged.

Our workshops include a set of pre-recorded videos for you to watch as you prepare for class, as well as recordings of each workshop session, delivered via email.

We encourage collaboration and community, and we strive to create a safe environment for everyone to draw together. Instructors provide live demonstrations of relevant techniques on the first day of a workshop and constructive critiques of your work on the second day. Don’t be shy! Ask any and all questions you may have; the answers could benefit all participants.

Register at: https://drawbotanical.com/product/zoom-workshop-106-mushrooms/

Questions? Questions? Email info@drawbotanical.com

Find new ways to express your unique relationship with plants through abstract art. Looking at a selection of works by historical and contemporary abstract artists, use their work to inspire a project with a plant subject of your choosing. Use a range of materials and techniques including drawing, painting and collage to help you discover a medium of expression that is right for you.

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

Registration link: https://catalog.botanicgardens.org/Selection.aspx?item=5748&sch=325064

Food for Thought is a free lunchtime series that addresses professional practices for creatives and highlights botanical artists. In this lecture, hear from botanical artist Cara Cummings about how she developed multiple income streams, including art workshops, product lines, a subscription series, and more.

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

Registration link: https://catalog.botanicgardens.org/Selection.aspx?sch=328354

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.

Strong composition is essential to creating memorable works of art and this is particularly so in botanical art. Good composition can lift a work from the mundane to the sublime.

On this course we will be looking at what makes a good composition and ways of improving our own composition. Ann will demonstrate and use exercises to help you to develop a sense of your own style and give you a framework within which to compose your work and create work with ‘wall appeal’!

Ann is happy to include all levels of ability in the group, so complete beginners through to more advanced improvers. Everyone will be encouraged to work at their own pace with support, advice, individual attention and demonstrations from Ann whenever needed.

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

atelierclosmirabel@gmail.com

Workshop Description:

Bask in the beauty of Hawaii AND improve your observational drawings! From the picturesque Lawaii valley to the mesmerizing ocean views, endless inspiration awaits. Which fascinating tropical plants will you draw?

Why Join Us?

–No prior drawing experience needed – just bring your passion!

–Personalized instruction tailored to every skill level

–Daily drawing demonstrations from friendly, experienced instructors (dream team – Pam & Sam!)

–Tour the vibrant gardens with NTBG botanists and staff

–Select interesting subjects from the wide variety of tropical plants growing at NTBG to observe and draw

–Create your own detailed botanical drawings and sketchbook study pages of flowering plants, fruits, and seedpods

–Learn about plant structures and their importance through dissection and comparison

–Discover the treasures of NTBG’s extensive library collection of historical botanical illustrations (spanning four centuries!) to understand tradition and techniques still in use today

-Opportunities to arrange large compositions (OPTIONAL, for those with more experience)

What to Expect

-Instructional classes will be conducted for 5 days each week from 10 am to 4pm on the premises at The National Tropical Botanical Garden. (Students can arrive early and stay late each day, if they would like.)

–Instructors are available in the classroom 10-4pm, and do daily demonstrations and trips to the garden with NTBG staff.

-We have a large indoor/outdoor classroom for our use, with time to draw outside in the garden as well.

–Practice the fundamentals of botanical drawing using graphite pencil, colored pencils and watercolor. (Find our list of recommended supplies here.)

–We will not provide meals at this workshop. Please bring your own lunch and snacks to class. A full kitchen is of use to us, attached to our classroom.

-On off-days, students are free to explore the island, relax at the beach, or continue to draw at home.

Prerequisites are NOT required for this workshop, but if you want to gain confidence and build some foundational skills before attending, we recommend the Botanical Basics online program, practicing from one of Wendy Hollender’s books, and/or taking a Zoom workshop with us. For a look at all of our free and paid resources, see this Learn to Draw page.

Register here: https://drawbotanical.com/product/kauai-hawaii-botanical-illustration-workshop-oct-2024/

Questions? Email info@drawbotanical.com

Using fruit and vegetables, flowers and leaves from the gardens and grounds of Atelier Clos Mirabel, we will explore how to make less-than-perfect botanical specimens centre stage. We will start by experimenting with wet-in-wet techniques to create initial form and merging colours, before considering other techniques used to deepen colours and add details. There will also be opportunity to work larger than life or with black backgrounds. Teaching by Julia Trickey will be delivered via live demonstrations, slide presentations and lots of individual support.

Subjects covered may include:

• Stages of producing a botanical illustration

• Collection and observation of subjects

• Making initial records

• Painting techniques for botanical art, including wet-in-wet for initial form & graduated colours

• Composition considerations

• Finishing touches etc

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

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

 Oh My Gourd!!!!

Level: Beginner with drawing knowledge, Intermediate

Description: Learn botanical illustration while learning watercolor techniques. You will learn observation skills, watercolor techniques and a basic understanding of scientific labeling of a plant and measuring. 

Description

Botanical Art & Nature Sketching Retreat at Ashokan

With Wendy Hollender, Lara Call Gastinger, Giacomina Ferrillo, & Jean Mackay

When: Friday, November 8 – Sunday, November 10, 2024

Where: Ashokan Center, Olivebridge NY

Who: Nature enthusiasts of ALL artistic skill levels, aspiring to advanced!

Join Wendy Hollender, Lara Call Gastinger, Giacomina Ferrillo, and Jean Mackay for a special weekend retreat celebrating nature and botanical art at the Ashokan Center in the Catskill Mountains.

Watch your worries fade away as you immerse yourself in creativity, connection, and camaraderie. Develop your botanical art and nature journaling techniques alongside fellow passionate creators in a friendly, informal learning environment.

Each day, you get to choose which sessions you attend, so you can do everything you want to do (and nothing you don’t!). 

Sessions may include:

-Walk & Sketch / Forage & Draw Hikes

-Autumn Field Palette & Using a Waterbrush

-Birds

-Recipes & Greeting Cards

-Page Layout & Collecting Nature on Paper

-Autumn Leaves

-Map Your Journey (create a sense of place in your sketchbook)

-Trompe L’oeil Techniques

-Untangling Details

-Basic Botany & Plant Family Patterns

-Bird Nests

-Drink & Draw your Tea

-Artists’ Journey Panel

-and more creative activities and drawing demonstrations

Watch live instructor drawing demonstrations projected on the big screen, so you won’t miss any details. Explore the historic Ashokan Center’s gorgeous grounds on guided hikes or adventure on your own. Take supplies on your walks to draw outside, or bring your foraged finds back inside to your drawing table. 

Fun for the whole family!

Enjoy delicious meals together, groove to live music, and sleep soundly in beautiful wooden lodges. Children younger than 13 years old must have adult supervision at all times. 

Family activities may include:

–Hiking: Explore forest and streamside trails to Historic 1885 Covered Bridge, Winchell’s Falls, Cathedral Gorge, Homestead, and Sugar Shack. (Click here for trail map.)

–Art: Colored pencils and watercolor supplies will be available for families to draw on their own. Paint all of the interesting nature you find on your hikes. Maybe take inspiration from artist ​Andy Goldsworthy​ and create a temporary art installation using natural materials!

–Music: Visit the Instrument Petting Zoo to play a variety of awesome instruments, or bring your own portable instrument to practice. Groove to live music in the evening!

–Games: Whether you like running around playing sports or prefer more mental exercise, you’ll enjoy the variety of fun games we’ll have available.

–Local Attractions: Adventure around the Hudson Valley to various local attractions. (Click here for list of local sites.)

Register: https://drawbotanical.com/product/ashokan-retreat-nov-2024/

Questions: Email info@drawbotanical.com

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

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

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.

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!

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