Class Listings

Develop strong drawing skills using graphite while learning a structured approach that takes your work from initial sketch to accurate, full-value rendering. In this virtual classroom course, students explore observation, perspective, proportion, texture rendering, scientific drawing conventions, lighting, and techniques for transferring drawings. All drawing assignments are completed from life. Students also gain practical digital skills, including scanning artwork, uploading files, preparing digital submissions, participating in video conferences, and managing course-related files. The course includes an introduction to pen-and-ink techniques as well as professional and business practices relevant to artists.

The course fee includes all assignments, tutorials, handouts, video conferencing sessions, and email support.

6-7 DAYS PAINTING - under the expert tutorship of Vincent

Jeannerot in the

Floral Kingdom/ Namaqualand region

Cape Town - Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens

A 3-Week Watercolor Course

In this 3-week course, we’ll explore the rich and surprisingly colorful world of black botanicals through watercolor and layered observation. While black may initially appear simple or flat, nature reveals it as incredibly complex. Black is filled with subtle temperature shifts, reflected light, deep chromatic variation, and hidden color relationships. Using dramatic floral and botanical subjects as our inspiration, we’ll investigate how to create luminous, dimensional darks

that feel alive rather than heavy or opaque.

Throughout the course, students will learn how to mix and manipulate rich blacks using triadic color combinations rather than relying solely on tube blacks. We’ll study how black changes in different lighting situations, how reflected color influences shadow passages, and how to maintain depth and atmosphere within dark subjects. Emphasis will be placed on careful observation, color temperature, value structure, and preserving luminosity within layered watercolor washes.

What Students Will Learn

• How to create rich chromatic blacks using triadic mixtures

• Understanding warm vs. cool blacks and subtle temperature shifts

• How black surfaces change in light, shadow, and reflected color

• Developing dimensional form within dark botanical subjects

• Layering watercolor to build depth without losing luminosity

• Controlling value structure and edge variation in low-key paintings

• Strategies for balancing detail and atmosphere within dark compositions

This course is ideal for students looking to deepen their understanding of color mixing, value relationships, and expressive botanical watercolor techniques through a more dramatic and unexpected palette. Photo references will be provided each week.

Register Here:

https://lymeartassociation.org/online-class-black-botanicals/

Join internationally recognized botanical artist, Mary Dillon, for a 3-day immersive workshop exploring how to create botanical paintings that are not only accurate, but alive with personality and presence. Students will learn how to let the spirit of their plant shine through thoughtful observation, expressive composition, and refined watercolor technique. Focusing on interpreting plant habits, growth, movement and structure, you will create dynamic botanical compositions that stand out from the crowd while remaining rooted in botanical integrity. Mary will help you deepen your understanding of transparent botanical watercolor techniques, with particular emphasis on managing water content, building luminous layers through washes and glazes, and finishing with controlled, refined detail. For botanical artists at the intermediate to advanced experience level.

On this exploratory week-long course, you will begin by creating experimental hand embroidery samples. You will develop these nature-inspired hand embroidery techniques, ultimately making a textile artwork or embellishing a pre-made item of your own (such as a cushion cover or clothing).

The beginning of the week will start with simple drawing exercises. Lora will then guide you in how to best translate your drawings into stitch. Looking at a variety of classic hand embroidery and embellishment techniques, you will learn how to play with scale and materials to create different qualities of line, 3D relief and texture. You will learn how to combine this with three dimensional fabric flowers using Lora’s fabric pleater.

This will be an intensive and experimental week where you can learn Lora’s trade tips and tricks to create an original and dynamic mixed-media textile design of your own. This workshop will also be the perfect opportunity for anyone who wants to push their hand embroidery skills in different directions—and exploring what can be done with this very traditional craft. It will be a playful week, centred around developing ideas and making sure that all participants can go away with samples to reference for future projects and a finished piece of work.

This week is suitable for all skill levels, the course is designed to be flexible to enable participants to go in the direction they please with what they have learnt. Lora will provide embroidery patterns to work from if you are not keen on drawing your own.

Please note:

• Supplies are included in the tuition fee cost.
• We will spend half a day drawing.
• This is a hand embroidery workshop, there will not be any machine embroidery taught.

Optional Yoga:

• In addition to the embroidery and drawing schedule, the classes will be broken up with optional short yoga stretches led by guest tutor Eleanor from Art of Rest.
• These will be offered at convenient times of each day, and an optional (but highly recommended) restorative yoga class will be led one evening at no additional cost.

To find out more and book your place, visit:

https://atelier.clos-mirabel.com/makers-retreats/botanical-embroidery-with-lora-avedian-makers-retreats-france

Or email:

atelierclosmirabel@gmail.com

Celebrate the transition from summer to autumn through the timeless technique of botanical ink stippling. In this workshop, students will create a detailed botanical drawing inspired by late summer and early fall blooms and foliage while learning how to translate botanical form into beautiful, dimensional ink illustrations.

The class will begin with the fundamentals of botanical drawing, focusing on observing plant structure, establishing accurate proportions, and creating a strong line drawing that serves as the foundation for the finished illustration. From there, students will learn how to use thousands of carefully placed dots to build value, describe form, and capture the delicate textures found in petals, leaves, and stems.

Through demonstrations and guided exercises, we’ll explore techniques for controlling dot density, developing smooth tonal transitions, and creating convincing depth while preserving the clarity and elegance of botanical illustration.

Suitable for both beginners and experienced artists, this workshop offers a thoughtful introduction to botanical stippling and observational drawing. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of plant structure, and the confidence to continue exploring ink-based botanical illustration.

Registration: https://lymeartassociation.org/workshop-botanical-ink-stippling-late-summer-early-fall-blooms/

Join renowned botanical artist & illustrator Lara Call Gastinger, to learn field skills for drawing outside that she uses in her perpetual journal. For the first day, we will explore different techniques and approaches to making observations and then we will spend time putting these skills into practice. This will be combined with some indoor time refining the sketches, composing the full page, and adding value, color, boxes and text. We will use one sheet of 11 x 14" Fabriano Artistico to create a full sketch page. Artists should have completed at least two botanical art drawing & painting classes, or equivalent.

Discover the quiet beauty of dried botanicals in this three-week watercolor course exploring the subtle colors, intricate textures, and sculptural forms of nature’s final stage. From delicate seed heads to weathered petals and fading foliage, students will learn how to capture the elegance of often-overlooked botanical subjects.

We’ll focus on building convincing form through transparent watercolor, with techniques for soft ombré transitions, nuanced textures, and mixing harmonious neutral palettes. Students will learn to translate vibrant pigments into muted browns, warm grays, soft golds, and complex earth tones that give dried botanicals their richness and character.

Through demonstrations and guided instruction, we’ll cover observational drawing, layered watercolor techniques, edge control, and color mixing strategies that add depth and realism. We’ll also explore how drying transforms plant structure, texture, and color, and how to interpret those changes in watercolor.

This course offers a focused study of botanical form while strengthening observational skills and building confidence with nuanced color and texture.

(Photo references will be provided.)

To Register and learn more: https://lymeartassociation.org/online-dried-botanicals-texture-color-form-in-watercolor/

White flowers may appear simple at first glance, but their petals contain a beautiful world of reflected color, subtle value shifts, and delicate transparencies. In this three-week watercolor course, we’ll explore how to create luminous white botanicals by learning to see and paint the colors that exist within white petals rather than relying on white paint.

Through a series of carefully selected winter-white botanical subjects, we’ll explore reflected color, warm and cool temperature shifts, transparency, layering, soft edges, and subtle value changes to create petals that feel delicate, dimensional, and luminous. We’ll also look at how surrounding foliage and reflected light can influence the color we see within a white flower.

Each class will introduce a new botanical subject and build on the techniques from the previous week, giving you the opportunity to develop your understanding of painting white while creating beautiful finished studies along the way.

Register or learn more here: https://lymeartassociation.org/online-class-winter-whites/

Classes are held live on Zoom with recordings provided after each class for students to revisit at their own pace. Reference subjects will be provided in advance.

Wednesday, December 2: A Zoom link and welcome email will be emailed to students with the first reference subject.

Discover the fascinating world of Botanical Art, starting 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. 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.

The course will include presentations, numerous demonstrations and the chance to exhibit your work on the last day. 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.

Students will work with graphite and watercolour. If you prefer, you can use coloured pencils. All levels of experience are welcome.

To find out more and book your place, visit:

https://atelier.clos-mirabel.com/botanical-art/colours-of-clos-mirabel-botanical-art-retreat-catherine-watters-2027

Join Sarah Morrish as she returns to Transylvania for the third time. The focus of this early summer masterclass will be on how to use gouache (an opaque water-based media) to depict bugs, birds and botanicals. With a maximum of just 5 students, the best student-to-tutor ratio of any botanical art retreat on offer in Europe today, this masterclass is suitable for those with experience of detailed botanical drawing. It will give you the opportunity to advance your drawing and painting skills. You will receive expert tuition tailored to your individual needs. The fee includes six night of accommodation in your own room with bathroom, 30+ hours of tuition over 5 full days, all meals and drinks throughout your stay, all adventures at dawn and dusk to explore this wonderfully unspoilt pastoral landscape and Sibiu airport transfers.

This workshop offers the perfect balance of structured demonstrations, guided exercises, and personal tuition.

Specific areas covered include:

• How to observe and interpret light on botanical subjects
• Ways to use layering, transparency, and controlled washes to create luminous watercolours
• Practical methods for confident colour selection and mixing
• Techniques to express both botanical accuracy and emotional connection

Early in the week, the group will travel into the mountains to sketch alpine plants in their natural light. Back in the studio, these studies will be developed into finished paintings, working step-by-step with Mary Dillon’s guidance throughout the course of the week.

This creative retreat also offers time to rest, reflect, and enjoy delicious meals from locally sourced produce in a peaceful, inspiring setting. With beautiful accommodation, a spacious studio and warm hospitality, Clos Mirabel provides the perfect environment to focus on your art and recharge your creative energy. This workshop is ideal for artists who wish to deepen their botanical practice and learn to paint with light as their guide.

To find out more and book your place, visit:

https://atelier.clos-mirabel.com/botanical-art/painting-with-light-botanical-art-retreat-mary-dillon-2027

During your week with Lara Call Gastinger, you will be observing, drawing and painting the local flora of Atelier Clos Mirabel in the French Pyrénées.

Lara will guide you 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 meadows of the Pyrénées. 

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

This workshop is the perfect opportunity for all levels of experience.

To find out more and book your place, visit:

https://atelier.clos-mirabel.com/botanical-art/fall-botanical-sketching-and-painting-with-lara-call-gastinger-2027

Learn Denise Walser-Kolar’s approach to painting on vellum during this five-day workshop at the beautiful Atelier Clos Mirabel in South West 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 from the grounds, orchards, and kitchen garden.

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 and bring your work to the next level). The workshop combines demonstrations, discussion of materials and techniques, hands-on time for developing skills, and lots of individual attention and feedback.

You may also choose to do a Hoefnagel-Inspired painting of the treasures you find in the gardens. Experienced vellum painters can use this as a studio class to work on anything they like.

To find out more and book your place, visit:

https://atelier.clos-mirabel.com/botanical-art/painting-on-vellum-in-france-botanical-art-workshop-denise-walser-kolar-2027

During this botanical art retreat at Atelier Clos Mirabel, Jarnie Godwin will focus on some of her favourite and most loved autumn finds. In the ‘Abundant Autumn’ workshop you will be exploring and painting rose hips, seeds, chestnuts, leaves, and Jarnie’s most loved acorns in all of the rich, vibrant, and beautiful colours that the season has to offer.

Your botanical art retreat will begin by taking in the enchanting grounds of Clos Mirabel, where you will source the most intriguing and inspiring found subjects. Curiosity is the key, as you open your mindset to look for character and presence in your subjects.

During the week, Jarnie 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 explore, play and experiment with colour mixing and layering clean, and vibrant watercolours. Take your practice further as you learn how to manipulate and form natural texture, pattern and contrast using wet into damp, and dry brush techniques. Jarnie will also demonstrate how to deal with mistakes with her successful techniques for troubleshooting.

There will be plenty of time for Jarnie to offer dedicated one-to-one tuition to all students, supporting and encouraging you every step of the way. Each day introduces new opportunities to pick up ideas and techniques for your own practice through Jarnie’s unique and relaxed teaching style. Her experience as a teacher informs Jarnie’s warm, knowledgable, and approachable tuition, as she aims to inspire, and empower her students to develop their own style and skill with confidence. This will make for a relaxing, fun and inspiring week away at Atelier Clos Mirabel ideal for all.

To find out more and book your place, visit:

https://atelier.clos-mirabel.com/botanical-art/abundant-autumn-jarnie-godwin-botanical-art-retreat

or email:

atelierclosmirabel@gmail.com 

Kathleen Speranza is an American painter. She works in oil and is best known for her series of work with Garden Roses.

Kathleen approaches roses as individuals in a poetic dialogue with space and light; despite their fragile appearance, roses are powerfully designed pieces of living architecture. This class will focus on perceiving their underlying structure and simplifying their forms. Students will learn a specific limited palette in order to translate their exquisite colour shifts. Roses from the garden at Clos Mirabel will provide the class with the best kind of inspiration!

Students will learn the proper technique for lighting their own small still life motifs. We will do some preparatory drawing and a monochrome “wash in” technique on the first day. Subsequent days will be spent working from life with an emphasis on mixing accurate colour. A custom “colour checker” will be provided to each person for this purpose. We will work to find an emotional connection through close observation and proper technique.

To find out more and book your place, visit:

https://atelier.clos-mirabel.com/painting-holidays/painting-garden-roses-with-kathleen-speranza-2027

or email:

atelierclosmirabel@gmail.com 

Join Julia Trickey on her fourth visit to us in Transylvania for a week of botanical and artistic fellowship! With a maximum of just 5 students, the best student-to-tutor ratio of any botanical art retreat on offer in Europe today, this masterclass is suitable for those with experience in detailed botanical drawing. It will give you the opportunity to advance your drawing and painting skills. You will receive expert tuition tailored to your individual needs. The fee includes six nights of accommodation in your own bedroom with bathroom, 30+ hours of tuition over 5 full days, all meals and drinks throughout your stay, all adventures at dawn and dusk in this remarkable pastoral landscape, and Sibiu airport transfers.