ArtPlantae Today

Cylburn Arboretum and the Natural History Society of Maryland will offer natural science illustration workshops this Fall.

See what’s new at Classes Near You > Maryland:

Cylburn Arboretum
http://cylburnassociation.org
The Cylburn Arboretum is the home of a post-Civil War estate built as a summer home for the President of Baltimore Chrome Works and his mother. Now a center for environmental education and horticulture, the Cylburn Arboretum hosts tours, events and activities for children and adults. The botanical art classes at Cylburn are taught by botanical artist, Molly O. Hoopes. Learn more about Molly in the ASBA Members’ Gallery.

• Botanical Illustration Series – Thursdays, November 3, 10, 17, 2011; 6-9 PM. Traditional watercolor techniques, color theory, composition and plant morphology are the focus of this class. Participants will draw and paint berries, seeds and flowers. Greenhouse Classroom. Cost: $90 members, $120 non-members. To register, contact the Cylburn office at (410) 367-2217.

The Natural History Society of Maryland (NHSM)
http://www.marylandnature.org
Two classes about the plants and pollinators of Maryland will be offered. Classes will be taught at St. James Evangelical Lutheran Church, 8 West Overlea Ave, Baltimore, MD, 21206. Contact Linda Davis at (410) 252-4154.

Botanical Illustration: Native Bees, Butterflies, and Wildflowers of Maryland
Learn about Maryland’s important pollinators and how to identify them, while practicing traditional watercolor techniques. Participants will learn the traditional techniques of dry brush, wet-in-wet, wet-on-wet, and graded wash, while enhancing their skills of observation. Color theory and composition theory will be discussed. Honeybee morphology will be discussed using specimens from the Natural History Society of Maryland. Learn about pollinators and how they have been affected by climate change, pollution, and habitat loss. Participants have the option to contribute to a collection of watercolor illustrations—a ‘bee-ilegum’—to educate the public about native bees. Some drawing experience is helpful. Everyone is welcome.

Workshop A (3-hr. classes) – Sundays, November 6, 13, 20 and December 4, 11, 18, 2011; 1-4 PM. Cost: $150, NHSM members; $180 non-members. Drop-in students: $30 per class meeting. Limit: 10 participants.

Workshop B (4-hr. classes) – Thursdays, November 3, 10, 17 and December 1, 8, 15, 2011; 10 AM – 2 PM. No meeting on Thanksgiving. Cost: $200, NHSM members; $240 non-members. Drop-in students: $40 per class meeting. Limit: 10 participants.

A reduced rate is available for college students and low-income attendees with a portfolio to show and proof of income. Contact Linda Davis for more information.

To pay for the class, send a check or money order to:

The Natural History Society of Maryland
P.O. Box 18750
6908 Belair Road
Baltimore, MD 21206

Please indicate if you are registering for Workshop A or Workshop B.

Materials List:

• Kolinsky Sable or Windsor-Newton series 7 brush (or any natural sable brush that can be shaped into a sharp point when wet), size 0 or 00 and size 3 or 4. The larger one is for mixing paints and could be a less expensive style.
• Palette paper (or paper palette), white plastic or ceramic palette with wells and a lid, if possible
• Tracing paper or tracing vellum
• Tubes of lightfast transparent artist-grade watercolors – suggested colors: Ultramarine blue, Cerulean blue, cobalt blue deep, Winsor blue (green shade), lemon yellow, yellow ochre, burnt umber, neutral, cadmium red, alizarin crimson, scarlet lake red
• Syringe for squirting water
• Mechanical pencil .005 with F or H leads
• White eraser
• Kneaded eraser
• Any size block of Arches or Fabriano hot press watercolor paper
• Desk lamp with full-spectrum bulb