Class Listings

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 me during the peak of summer to draw from the beautiful summer harvest!

Grocery store vegetables, farm market produce or straight from your home garden, the summer crops provide the perfect drawing subjects!

Work on a different vegetable each week as we explore our natural world using colored pencil.

Class meets online for 4 weeks, Tuesdays from 5-7pm eastern time

In this course, you will:

• Learn about the different types and qualities of graphite, and how and when to use them

• Explore the different results that can be achieved according to the procedures, style, manners and the materials deployed

• Investigate the essential role of accurate observation associated with a simple system of progressive depiction of shades

• Understand how to achieve precision and uniformity of lines and edges

• Practice rendering smooth and beautiful gradients and how to make eventual corrections to them

• Examine methods for correcting errors and avoiding causing severe damage to the paper and the finishing

Join Anna Marley, Director of Curatorial Affairs, Toledo Museum of Art for an illustrated lecture where she will intertwine stories of American artists, Impressionism, and the growing popularity of gardening as a middle-class leisure pursuit at the turn of the 20th century. This lecture will be presented hybrid from Sturm Auditorium at Denver Botanic Gardens with a Zoom link provided for our online audience.

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

Lecture registration link: https://tickets.botanicgardens.org/events/0194fc3f-fc80-852f-8a8a-06b0f12b69ed

There will be discussions on several materials and their quality (papers, pencils, erasers, extra tools etc.), detailed explanations and demonstrations on techniques applied for achieving better results, focusing particularly on the procedures of layering and blending (dry mode blending, wihout solvents) to obtain a smooth and realistic finish, rich in nuances of value and color. We will also discuss the refinement of visual perception, detection and choice of color, and much more.

There will be discussions on several materials and their quality (papers, pencils, erasers, extra tools etc.), detailed explanations and demonstrations on techniques applied for achieving better results, focusing particularly on the procedures of layering and blending (dry mode blending, wihout solvents) to obtain a smooth and realistic finish, rich in nuances of value and color. We will also discuss the refinement of visual perception, detection and choice of color, and much more.

In this class, we will:

• Examine the physical aspects of colored pencils in their dry modality (without solvents) and how to obtain the best result and refined finishing. 

• Understand the importance of choosing the best paper’s texture to suit our own individual style and why we should always maintain our pencils sharp. 

• Learn to work softly and gradually to capture the correct contrast and precise strength of light and shade, and also avoid damaging the paper or creating waxy, smudgy clusters. 

• Explore the use of the colorless blender pencil or stiff brushes, and understand the advantage of lighter colors overlapping darker ones. 

• Comprehend how, with colored pencils, the pigments are mixed on the paper (and not on a palette), hence the importance of planning which color comes first and which last in the layering sequence, and how different the final resultant color is, depending on the order of layering.

• Perceive and represent colors by detecting first their general aspects regarding temperature, vibrance, and position in the color wheel.

• Assess the convenience of using colored or toned papers and understand the part they play in the color building.

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 David Dunlop, landscape painter and host of the Emmy-winning PBS program “Landscapes Through Time” as he shares stories about the American Impressionism movement followed by a live painting demonstration. Watch as he creates a composition, mixes color and develops an oil painting before your eyes. You won’t want to miss this unique online lecture-demonstration!

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

Registration link: https://tickets.botanicgardens.org/events/01955d2f-1b4c-167f-bb98-e30f3aa1a60d

Dr. Linda Ann Vorobik takes you through her experiences as a botanist and artist, including discussing different applications and media used for botanical art in scientific and creative fields.

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

Registration link: https://tickets.botanicgardens.org/events/0196a295-b21a-e069-9450-2aba5bc29181

Interested in the idea of digital painting, but intimidated by the thought of learning how to use new software? Learn to use Adobe Photoshop to create your own digital paintings, taking advantage of the software's unique ability to work in layers, experiment with color, apply blending modes, textures and more.

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

Class registration link: https://tickets.botanicgardens.org/events/0196a161-94bc-9bd9-640a-72c08d06487a

Join New York Botanical Garden instructor and historian Marta McDowell for this engaging lecture. At the turn of the 20th century, cultivating flowers came into fashion. Enter a group of painters who stepped into the garden for inspiration and subject matter. Join us in this engaging lecture as we explore how landscape history, horticulture, and art converged in the vibrant movement we now call American Impressionism. This lecture will be presented hybrid from Sturm Auditorium at Denver Botanic Gardens with a Zoom link provided for our online audience.

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

Registration link: https://tickets.botanicgardens.org/events/0194fc49-5229-17ff-3694-81bab22d7297

The botanical world is full of plants of varying sizes. Explore methods of enlargement and reduction to scale botanical specimens accurately. Learn to use grids, dividers and architectural scales to size compositional elements.

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

Class registration link: https://tickets.botanicgardens.org/events/0196a167-065b-e1f2-7c86-ac74ae4d7992

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.

Explore hatching and stippling techniques with pen nibs to depict light, shade, form and texture. Learn how to select the right materials, correct mistakes and how to best represent botanical subjects through demonstrations and exercises.

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

Class registration link: https://tickets.botanicgardens.org/events/0196a16f-4868-658e-3f9e-e984f38ae45c

Join Helen Byers for a week of botanical drawing at spectacular Ghost Ranch—the 21,000-acre, high-desert education & retreat center in northern New Mexico, where Georgia O'Keeffe often resided. Fall at Ghost Ranch is a fabulous time of year, when the air is warm & the nights are cool, the cottonwoods and aspens light up the riverbanks and hills, and the colors of land and sky are spectacular. Helen has been teaching here annually since 2005, and now lives nearby. This week, she's offering one of her most popular courses: Drawing from Nature: Autumn Leaves.

During morning sessions, Helen’s in-depth demonstrations and personalized instruction will guide you in looking closely and rendering what you see. We'll practice detailed graphite and colored pencil with watercolor techniques to achieve accurate proportions, tones, colors, and textures. An inspiring array of leaf specimens will be provided (and you may bring or find your own). Afternoons will offer time to continue drawing semi-independently, or to rest, hike, take a tour or horseback ride, or visit nearby sites such as Ojo Caliente spa, the O'Keeffe house in Abiquiu, or Taos or Santa Fe.

This is an intermediate level course (some drawing experience helpful). Space will be limited to 10, so sign up soon!

Jenny Rowe, creative director of Stoneground Paint Co., discusses the remarkable plants, animals and minerals that have been used to make pigments throughout history, and the ways they influence the art we create.

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

Registration link: https://tickets.botanicgardens.org/events/0196a297-e430-d27d-4688-12d899f5e379

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

INTO THE DARKS: Mastering tonal values and form

This one day pencil/paper workshop focuses on fundamental concepts and techniques. With a mastery of values and big form modelling, it’s easy to head into the dark, and to gain confidence working in colour.

INTO THE DARKS: Mastering tonal values and form

This one day pencil/paper workshop focuses on fundamental concepts and techniques. With a mastery of values and big form modelling, it’s easy to head into the dark, and to gain confidence working in colour.

Discover the fascinating history of the agave plant with ethnobotanist and author Gary Nabhan, from early archaeological findings to current obsessions with craft mezcal and tequila.

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

Registration link: https://tickets.botanicgardens.org/events/0196a28c-fc60-63b7-b59e-544740dc4902

Nature in Graphite

Chiang Mai, 5-10 January 2026 

Escape to the serene landscapes of Chiang Mai for an exclusive 6-day, 5-night Nature in Graphite Retreat. Immerse yourself in the beauty of nature at a private property, where a gentle stream flows nearby and lush fruit trees and a small orchid farm surround us. With the cool, comfortable weather, you'll have the perfect opportunity to indulge in outdoor drawing and capture the intricate details of botanical wonders.

We want you to maximize your time in Chiang Mai, so this programme includes a pre-workshop online tutorial session (2hours) to get you started on the exercises. To ensure you have continued support, there will post-workshop online feedback and guidance for up to two months.

Create your own botanical sketchbook in this week-long course with Dianne Sutherland in South-West France.

Whether you want a sketchbook to be part of your regular practice as an artist, or as an occasional activity for relaxation and to engage with nature, this course is an ideal starting point.

During the week Dianne Sutherland will provide demonstrations and instruction on how to get started with your botanical sketchbook. On day one you will be provided with materials to make your own small sketchbook, after which you will be guided through the process of filling the pages with beautiful drawings and paintings of plant material from within the grounds at the beautiful Clos Mirabel. Working both indoors, with collected plant material and some outdoor work in the surrounding area.

You will learn about the drawing and watercolour painting techniques that Dianne uses in her own work, which is applicable to both sketchbooks and other artwork. This will include the necessary sketching and watercolour techniques, such as the wet and dry painting techniques, which Dianne specialises in teaching. Subjects such as leaves, flowers, dissections and all of the relevant plant parts as well as surrounding plant habitat will be demonstrated.

You will also learn how to compose a page in your book by identifying the important parts of the plant to record, as well as how to annotate the pages with written texts and plant stories. At the same time you will be encouraged to develop your own interests and individual style as an artist. By the end of the week you will have made the first steps in your botanical sketchbook journey, and if you are like Dianne, you will always be looking for your next sketchbook subject.

To find out more and book, visit:

atelier.clos-mirabel.com

Learn Denise Walser-Kolar's approach to painting on vellum during this five-day workshop at the beautiful Atelier Clos Mirabel in the south of France.

You 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, you will explore the grounds of Clos Mirabel to choose painting subjects – roses, hellebores, poppies, columbines, fruit trees, iris, and so much more will be blooming this time of the year...there may even be a few vegetables ready in the 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:

atelier.clos-mirabel.com

Join Botanical Artist Ann Swan as she returns to Atelier Clos Mirabel in April 2026.

Ann Swan works primarily in graphite and coloured pencil. She is well known for her fine detail, vibrant colours and strong contemporary style. She favours the underdog or the unusual in the plant world, drawing our attention to their beauty through her striking compositions. She is constantly experimenting with her chosen medium, trying to achieve a more painterly effect and ever brighter colours and has recently started a series of ‘Larger than Life’ images magnifying small sections of plants and pushing the boundaries of botanical art a bit further.

Further details of Ann Swan’s 2026 Botanical Art Workshop to follow.

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

Catherine will be returning to Atelier Clos Mirabel in June 2026 to deliver her week long Botanical Art Workshop.

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 a PowerPoint presentation, numerous demonstrations and an exhibition 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:

atelier.clos-mirabel.com

This workshop is strictly for students of botany and other natural sciences keen to improve their scientific illustration skills. Just 6 places available to residents of the seven Carpathian Mountains countries.

Join botanical artist and experienced tutor, Mary Dillon, for an immersive botanical art retreat at Clos Mirabel, where you’ll explore the beauty of summer blooms and refine your artistic skills in a serene, stunning setting.

You will connect with fellow artists, discover new techniques, and let the vibrant surroundings inspire you. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to create, relax, and grow — all while surrounded by the enchanting landscapes of South West France.

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 you will 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 you will enjoy a simple lunch in a village auberge.

Back in the studio, Mary will guide you in exploring the nuances of colour through easy exercises to help you grow in confidence with 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, you 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!

To find out more and book your place, visit:

atelier.clos-mirabel.com

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.