Class Listings

Denver Botanic Gardens is thrilled to host Lyon, France-based botanical artist for a week of in-person programs. Join us in person in August for these upcoming programs. Reach out to sbai@botanicgardens.org for discounted hotel rates:

Evening in the Garden with Vincent Jeannerot

Spend a lovely summer evening at our Chatfield Farms location with watercolorist Vincent Jeannerot. Enjoy light refreshments while you tour the grounds with Chatfield Farms staff to hear about what's growing. Vincent will discuss what he looks for in botanical subjects. Wear your walking shoes and bring your questions for this special opportunity to see the farm and its gardens from multiple perspectives as the sun sets.

Register for event here: https://catalog.botanicgardens.org/default.aspx?q=vincent&tagid=10&from=04%2F09%2F2024&until=04%2F09%2F2025

Denver Botanic Gardens is thrilled to host Lyon, France-based botanical artist for a week of in-person programs. Join us in person in August for these upcoming programs. Reach out to sbai@botanicgardens.org for discounted hotel rates:

Summer Fruit and Vegetables in Watercolor - 3 day workshop

Paint the bounty from the summer garden! Join renowned watercolorist Vincent Jeannerot for this special three-day watercolor workshop. Through all-class demonstrations and personalized feedback, Vincent will guide students to select the perfect fruit or vegetable subject, prepare the composition, set up the palette and show how to build volume using the cross-hatching method. By the end of this three-day intensive workshop, you'll be well on your way to completing a finished watercolor painting!

Register for the event here: https://catalog.botanicgardens.org/default.aspx?q=vincent&tagid=10&from=04%2F09%2F2024&until=04%2F09%2F2025

Give your mind a break from the news, and join botanical artist and local resident Helen Byers to focus on orchard crops of northern New Mexico! Helen’s in-depth demonstrations and personalized instruction will guide you in the delights of botanical illustration. Drawing to scale from local peaches, pears, apples, and apricots, we’ll use colored pencil with watercolor pencil to achieve botanically accurate features, colors, and textures. All levels welcome; some drawing experience helpful. A Materials List will be provided to registrants.

Note: Tuition ($540) does not include 5 nights’ lodging or meals August 4 (dinner) through August 9 (breakfast)

Get out into the garden and draw amongst the flowers with botanical artist & instructor, Carol Ann Morley. This summer will bring a special garden exhibit of Sunflowers to the Garden at Elm Bank. Capture the beauty of Sunflowers with quick sketches, study the details of the flower’s structure through observation and add color notes of their vibrant colors. In the classroom have fun creating a color pencil palette to work from and discover what combinations work best for portraying greens and the tricky color yellow.

This class is for artists with some graphite experience.

Sarah Roche and Massachusetts Horticultural Society are excited to offer this seven-day painting experience based at Saint-Grégoire, Sarah's house in the Lot-et-Garonne region of south west France, close to the market town of Castillonnès. We will find our painting inspiration in Sarah's gardens and at the local markets, selecting and bringing back the fruits and vegetables of the harvest to study and paint at Saint-Grégoire. Each day you may tackle small studies of your market finds, or spend the week working on a full painting in watercolor. The small group setting (10 artists max.) means that each participant will enjoy plenty of guidance and demonstration. 

In late summer, the jostling crowds are gone, but the countryside is beautiful and the harvest is at its most delicious. Each day there is a market in a different ancient local bastide village. Each one is steeped in history and their narrow winding streets are a maze of beautiful old houses with hidden gardens and courtyards. There will be time to explore the beautiful Dordogne and Lot regions of south west France, enjoy the delicious local French cuisine and sample the wines of the region, as well as explore the local towns, countryside and chateaux.

Accommodations: Haven on the Hill, Lalandusse, Lot et Garonne. Travelers will stay in a shared double room, all en suite.

Some drawing experience required.

Fall in New Mexico is a time to celebrate the harvest of three crops that have been especially important to local Indigenous cultures—beans, squash, and corn. Join botanical artist/illustrator Helen Byers in this workshop to portray one or all of them in detail! Helen’s demos and personalized instruction will guide you in a versatile realistic drawing technique using colored pencil with watercolor. All skill levels welcome; previous drawing experience helpful. A Materials List will be provided to registrants.

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.

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.

​

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

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

 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. 

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