Class Listings

New England Flora 2023

Find a natural habitat or open space close to your home and draw it throughout the growing season to create a record of both the environment and individual plants. With the guidance of Lauren Meier, draw and identify flowers, ferns, shrubs, grasses and trees in your habitat to expand your botanical art and illustration skills through the close study of natural plant communities and seasonal changes. Between meetings, work independently to create accurate illustrations of your habitat. The final product will be a field sketchbook and finished drawing or painting illustrating each season. Optional suggested text: Newcomb's Wildflower Guide by Lawrence Newcomb. For intermediate or advanced artists.

Gin Botanicals

Most gins will have four base botanicals: juniper, coriander, a root and a citrus peel. Some may have as many as 31 such as allspice, cassia bark, coriander seeds, fennel, ginger root, juniper berries, lavender, lemongrass, citrus, rhubarb, pink peppercorns and rose petals. Create a small study sheet on paper or vellum.

Suitable for those who enjoy the slow art of botanical and working with fine detail. Guidance will be given on making a collection composition and how to get the best from 'dry-brush' watercolour.

Includes an excursion to Assisi

This stunning hill town has a pristine historic centre and Unesco-listed Basilica di San Francesco, which is home to one of Italy’s most celebrated artistic masterpieces. St Francis was born in Assisi in 1181. 

Visit a traditional watercolour maker A. Gallo, who make artisanal watercolour pigments ground by hand to historic recipes. 

• Whole day trip by coach, returning for dinner at il Collaccio
• Lunch at your own expense.
• Guided visit to shop of A.Gallo with presentation.
• Time for cultural visits and shopping.

Guided by their tutor, and by the local botanical knowledge of their hosts, five students shall spend the week observing and painting seasonal plants growing wild in the wood pastures above Copsa Mare, a tiny farming village in southern Transylvania, Romania. Periods of intensive studio time will be balanced by fieldwork in this remarkable landscape, home to over 1000 plant species. Your hosts own a rare set of the Transylvania Florilegium. In 2022, they started an herbarium of plants found above the village. Both these valuable resources may be examined by students during the week they spend with us.

Residential botanical art courses for 12 intermediates or advanced beginners. Incredibly sociable and welcoming. Non-painting partners who enjoy relaxing in rural surroundings are most welcome.

Studio Day 1 usually starts with a short slideshow to introduce the theme. Daily tuition is a mixture of group discussion, demonstration and individual guidance. My aim is that everyone enjoys learning, and trying out new skills in a friendly, non-competitive environment.

Elaine Searle is lead tutor assisted by Mary-Ellen Taylor. Great ratio of 2 instructors to 12 participants.

Includes an excursion to Fabriano Museum of paper and Watermarks 

• Whole day trip by coach, returning for dinner at il Collaccio
• Lunch at your own expense.
• Guided tour of Museum in English with demonstration of paper making.
• Time for cultural visits and shopping.

Guided by their tutor, and by the local botanical knowledge of your hosts, five students will spend a week observing and drawing seasonal plants and trees in the wood pastures above Copsa Mare, a tiny farming village in southern Transylvania, Romania. Unlike our other classes, in which periods of intensive studio time are balanced with fieldwork in the landscape, this class will be en plein air, which is how Sarah Simblet likes to draw. Students should be reasonably agile and tolerant of hot weather.

This workshop will focus on using dry brush watercolor to replicate the colors, form, and texture of an Iris bud. Demonstrations will include color mixing, working light to dark, layering of colors, adding fine detail, and dry brush. Participants will be provided with a photograph of the subject, a line drawing, and color guidance. The class will meet online using Zoom, where we will discuss the dry brush technique and how to utilize it for painting this subject. Participants will paint throughout the day as the Zoom meeting will remain live. The Instructor will offer advice to each student as they progress with their paintings and live demonstrations will reinforce the learning process. Students will send a photo of the work in progress throughout the day to the Instructor so she can offer advice and answer questions. Some painting experience is recommended. Dry brush is a technique that requires patience and practice since many layers of paint are required using a minimal amount of water. This painting will not be finished in one day, but participants may send the finished painting to the instructor at any time in the future.

In this 2-day workshop at the Santa Fe Botanical Garden, students will sharpen their drawing skills along with their knowledge of succulent plants.

Through demonstrations and individualized instruction, Helen will guide participants in a technique using colored pencil and watercolor to render botanically accurate forms, textures, and colors. Our goal will be to make detailed studies of plant parts, rather than finished pieces.

The first morning will begin with a hour of field-sketching succulent plants in the garden. After a lunch break, we will work in the open-air Garden Pavilion, drawing from live, potted specimens (which participants may later take home).

The second day, we will continue working in the Garden Pavilion.

All skill levels welcome; ages 16 & up.

Boanical Drawing and Painting

Explore flowers and other natural forms, beginning with line and value drawing and progressing to full-color rendering in watercolor and mixed media. Topics will include sighting techniques, line quality, tone and value, creation of depth, composition, texture, and basic color. All levels welcome.

Using colored pencil, learn to illustrate colorful summer fruits and berries realistically on paper. A good exercise in light on form, while learning to capture their vibrant color and texture.

Students can bring their own specimen or choose from a variety of subjects offered by the instructor.

Botanical illustrator Agathe Haevermans, and her husband, botanist Thomas Haevermans, both form the Natural History Museum in Paris, shall together lead a week-long summer workshop in the field and studio in Copsa Mare, a tiny farming village in southern Transylvania, Romania. Students should be reasonably agile, the better to explore this hilly landscape, home to over a 1000 plant species and brown bears. The school owns a rare copy of the Transylvania Florilegium and has started its own herbarium. Students may examine both during their stay. For further details, please visit www.podart.space

Using colored pencil, realistically capture the beauty of summer flowers. Learn to mix and match the rich colors true to nature, and all about a flower's anatomy. As each flower comes with its own challenge; the goal is to create a small botanical illustration of a single flower. Instructor will provide a variety of suitable flowers to choose from, or students can bring their own specimen.

This workshop will focus on using dry brush watercolor to replicate the colors, form, and texture of dragon fruit. Demonstrations will include color mixing, working light to dark, layering of colors, adding fine detail, and dry brush. Participants will be provided with a photograph of the subject, a line drawing, and color guidance. The class will meet online using Zoom, where we will discuss the dry brush technique and how to utilize it for painting this subject. Participants will paint throughout the day as the Zoom meeting will remain live. The Instructor will offer advice to each student as they progress with their paintings and live demonstrations will reinforce the learning process. Students will send photos of the work in progress throughout the day to the Instructor so she can offer advice and answer questions. Some painting experience is recommended. Dry brush is a technique that requires patience and practice since many layers of paint are required using a minimal amount of water. This painting will not be finished in one day, but participants may send the finished painting to the instructor at any time in the future.

The Turkish botanical artist and illustrator Isik Guner shall return to Transylvania to lead her fifth workshop with us. Guide by Isik, and by the local botanical knowledge of your hosts, five students shall spend a week observing and drawing seasonal plants growing wild in the wood pastures above Copsa Mare, a tiny farming village in southern Transylvania, Romania. Periods of intensive studio time will be balanced with fieldwork. Students should be reasonably agile the better to explore this remarkable, hilly landscape, home to over a 1000 plant species and brown bears. The school owns a rare set of the Transylvania Florilegium and has started its own herbarium. Both these resources may be examined by students during their stay with us.

Learn my approach to painting on vellum during this five-day workshop. Begin by doing some exercises on small bits of vellum to learn technique and get a feel for painting on this surface. Then choose a small botanical subject to draw and paint. Or take inspiration from Joris Hoefnagel’s Mira Calligraphiae Monumenta and create a painting of tiny natural treasures – plants, seashells, insects, etc.

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. If you would prefer to work on paper, that is fine too.

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Take your sketchbook outdoors and reconnect with plants in their natural environment. In this course, students are encouraged to shed old habits and try new techniques as they travel through the variety of gardens and habitats in their home areas. Through a combination of guided exercises and free experimentation, students discover new ways of seeing plants, new problem-solving skills, and a refreshing way of thinking about layout and color. Several media are used, from ballpoint pen to watercolor to colored pencil. No prerequisite. 

Note: This class involves homework assignments. The amount of time students need to spend on homework varies and usually ranges from five to fifteen hours per week. The class counts towards the Certificate in Botanical Illustration course offered at NCBG

This program will be offered online via Zoom. Classes will be recorded.

A meeting link and password will be sent a few days before the program.

Read more about the class here: https://ncbg.unc.edu/learn

Visit instructor's website: www.dorotahaberlehigh.com

Join Helen Byers in this relaxed, intensive workshop at historic, scenic Ghost Ranch in Northern New Mexico to refine your drawing skills with a focus on autumn leaves. Fall is the most spectacular time to be here! We will gather leaves native to the high desert—including cottonwood, oak, aspen, & more—& draw them in layers of colored pencil & watercolor to achieve accurate colors, tones, textures, & details. All levels welcome.

Our work space will be Longhouse, a rustic structure based on a Native American design, with skylights, 2 side walls that raise up (weather permitting), electricity, & heat. Mornings will be spent in the classroom. Afternoons will offer free time to continue working, explore the Ranch or nearby sites (such as Ojo Caliente Hot Springs or the nearby Georgia O'Keeffe house), or take a tour or horseback ride. Evenings will include guided nature walks with Helen (who is a local resident & has taught here often).

Email Helen directly for more information and to register. The registration fee bundles tuition, 5 nights' lodging, & all meals from dinner, Oct 1 to breakfast, Oct 6. Lodging options include historic cottage rooms with private or shared bath, or dormitory-style rooms with communal bath.

Visit helenbyers.com to see slideshows of Helen's previous workshops and students' work.

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.

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