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Archive for the ‘Learning Opportunities’ Category

Study Botanical Art in Tranquil English Countryside

Posted in botanical art, Learning Opportunities on April 25, 2011| 2 Comments »

Ros Franklin Botanical Art
Ros Franklin studied botanical illustration at the Chelsea Physic Garden and received her Diploma after studying with the renowned Anne-Marie Evans. Most of Ros’s work is created for The Eden Project Florilegium and private commissions. Ros teaches botanical illustration to small groups in her studio and loves teaching beginners. Her beautifully equipped studio is located in a cottage in the tranquil countryside of Dorset, England. Students studying with Ros can forget the world and enjoy creating beautiful works of art. Accommodations at a local B&B are available. Here is Ros to tell us about her classes…

Botanical Illustration / Botanical Painting

My classes are small and friendly, with no competition between class members. Keeping the classes small (up to 8), I can give lots of individual attention. I offer a one-year structured course for the beginner and for those with little experience. We work through drawing techniques, tonal shading to create 3-D form before moving on to watercolour techniques, where we work through a 5-step method to create a 3-D effect with paint. For those with more experience, I encourage work on subjects of the student’s choice – where I can then offer individual guidance and help.

Everyone in the class in encouraged to work at their own speed. With experienced class members who have been attending for a while, I occasionally suggest topics so we are constantly looking/observing and refreshing our skills.

Weekly classes are £20 per session. I offer three terms a year, each with 10 or 12 classes per term. Three-day courses are currently £150.

Please contact Ros Franklin for more information and to obtain a registration form.

An abbreviated listing for this learning opportunity can be viewed at Classes Near You > England.

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Learn About Pomological Art at the Academy of Botanical Art

Posted in botanical art, Learning Opportunities on April 25, 2011|

The Academy of Botanical Art is based in Sarasota, Florida and operates programs in four states. In August, Academy founder Olivia Marie Braida-Chiusano will teach alongside the directors of her programs in Ohio and Kentucky.

Now at Classes Near You > Ohio:

Academy of Botanical Art
www.academyofbotanicalart.com
Founder and Director of the Academy of Botanical Art, Olivia Marie Braida-Chiusano is an award-winning artist with work in public and private collections. She is the author of twelve books on the subject of botanical art instruction and the founder of the the Florida Society of Botanical Artists. Her Academy currently has locations in Florida, New York, Kentucky, and Ohio; and it provides a distance learning program with students in the United States, South America, Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand with Certification for programs offered by the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.

Authorized Director of the Academy@Ohio, Diane Harm is an award-winning botanical artist and a Certified Academy Instructor. A former pupil of Ms. Braida, Ms. Harm is now conducting classes in Ohio. Learn more about Ms. Harm at www.dianeharm.com.

The Art of Fruit – Part One

New at Classes Near You > Kentucky:

Authorized Director of the Academy@Kentucky, Leslie Ramsey is an award winning botanical artist and a Certified Academy Instructor. A former pupil of Ms. Braida, Ms. Ramsey is now conducting classes in Kentucky.

The Art of Flowers – Part Two

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Trees, Leaves & Botany

Posted in botanical art, Learning Opportunities on April 20, 2011|

Experience the arrival of Spring at the Brenton Arboretum!

Here is what’s new at Classes Near You > Iowa:

Brenton Arboretum, Dallas Center
www.thebrentonarboretum.org
The Brenton Arboretum is a 140-acre arboretum established in 1997 featuring 2,600 trees and shrubs. Most of the more than 175 species of trees and shrubs are organized by species to facilitate learning and to emphasize the importance of trees in our world. The event schedule for 2011 includes:

Tour Spring Budding and Flowering Trees – May 1, 2011; 1-3 PM. Celebrate May Day with a walking tour of trees! View and identify flowering trees, emerging flower buds and leaves, and the cones of conifers. Celebrate the beginning of Spring color at the Arboretum.
Watershed Walk – Saturday, June 11, 2011. What is a watershed? Follow a tiny trickle as it grows into a river tributary.
Basic Botany – Saturday, July 23, 2011
Bird Migration South – October 2011
Leaf Collection Show – Sunday, October 22, 2011; 1 – 3 PM
Looking for Trees to Plant in 2012 – November 2011
Recognizing Evergreens – December 2011. Learn how to identify conifers.

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A Reminder About EE Week 2011

Posted in botanical art, EE Week, environmental education, Learning Opportunities, Special Announcements, Special Events, tagged environmental education on April 6, 2011|

A quick reminder that EE Week begins on Sunday and, like last year, I will post to this site everyday during EE Week. This means I will post daily through Saturday April 16, 2011.

This year’s EE Week theme is Ocean Connections. The generous and enthusiastic contributors to EE Week 2011 have made it possible to link plants, art, and the ocean in support of this year’s theme. I hope you enjoy learning from them as much as I have.

You are invited to participate in a live conversation with author Glynis Ridley on the Facebook page on April 16th. Glynis will discuss her new book, The Discovery of Jeanne Baret: A Story of Science, the High Seas, and the First Woman to Circumnavigate the Globe. The story of Jeanne Baret is fascinating and Glynis conducted several layers of research to piece together Baret’s story. You don’t want to miss this conversation. Mark your calendar and please join us on the Discussion page at 11 am (PST) / 2 pm (EST) on April 16.

If you’re in southern California, consider kicking off EE Week with ArtPlantae at the Spring Fair & Art Festival at Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary this weekend, April 9-10 (9 AM – 4 PM, daily). There will be live music, art & craft demonstrations, guided nature hikes, and more. Tucker Wildlife is operated by the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at California State University, Fullerton.

Can’t kick-off EE Week with a Spring festival? Then consider ending EE Week at the 25th Annual Avocado Festival in downtown Fallbrook in north San Diego County. ArtPlantae will on the Avenue of the Arts during this one-day festival occurring on Sunday April 17 from 9 AM – 5 PM. The Avocado Festival brings in about 70,000 people each year, so come early, bring your walking shoes, and your appetite!

And don’t forget your map…

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More Leaf Drawing Tips in Current Issue of “Botanical Painting Today”

Posted in Learning Opportunities on April 4, 2011|

More tips about how to draw leaves, plus new workshops through November 2011 have been posted by Marianne McPhie.

Here is what’s new at Classes Near You > England:

Marianne McPhie, Nottinghamshire
www.botanicalpaintingtoday.com
A full-time botanical artist and instructor, Marianne teaches throughout the UK and abroad. She has launched a new newsletter. Download the Easter issue of the newsletter Botanical Painting Today to read about her upcoming classes and to read the second installment of tips about how to draw and paint leaves.

Botanical Painting – May 10-12, 2011. Students choose their own subjects and what they would like to learn. Students have the option of completing this course as a 2-day or 3-day course.
Botanical Painting -June 14-16, 2011. Students choose their own subjects and what they would like to learn. Students have the option of completing this course as a 2-day or 3-day course.
Drawing & Composition – July 12-14, 2011. Learn how to measure, how to create perspective using scale and tone, and how to compose a plant portrait.
Botanical Painting – August 16-18, 2011. Students choose their own subjects and what they would like to learn. Students have the option of completing this course as a 2-day or 3-day course.
Botanical Painting – September 6-8, 2011. Students choose their own subjects and what they would like to learn. Students have the option of completing this course as a 2-day or 3-day course.
An Introduction to Botanical Painting – October 4-6, 2011. Learn the skills of observation, drawing, and painting. This class is for beginners or those who need a refresher course.
Drawing & Composition – November 1-3, 2011. Learn how to measure, how to create perspective using scale and tone, and how to compose a plant portrait.

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Draw the Flora of the South with The Illustrated Garden

Posted in Learning Opportunities, sketchbook on March 30, 2011|

New classes for spring and summer have been announced at The Illustrated Garden!

Alabama artists are invited to join Val Webb and thousands of artists worldwide on Worldwide SketchCrawl Day. Local artists will gather at 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center on the Causeway on April 16 ( 9 AM – 3 PM). This is a free event and open to all artists. If you can’t make this event, stop the Earth Day Mobile Bay event near the Fairhope Pier on April 23 (10 AM – 6 PM). Val Webb will be at The Illustrated Garden’s booth drawing heirloom vegetables and handing out free seeds from Sustainable Seed Company.

Here is what’s new at Classes Near You for Alabama and Louisiana:

Draw and Paint Six Culinary Herbs – Saturday, April 30;
10 AM – 4 PM. Learn the basic structure of a leaf, then put that knowledge to work as you create a color rendering of six culinary herbs in layered watercolor and colored pencil. No previous experience necessary, and all supplies are provided. Take home completed botanical art and six potted herb plants. Lunch will be at a nearby cafe in downtown Fairhope. This is a very limited small-group workshop, and it is expected to fill-up quickly. Your registration fee must be received to reserve your spot. This class will be taught at Val’s studio in Fairhope, AL. Cost: $60 includes refreshments, all art supplies and six potted herb plants to take home. Contact Val Webb if you plan to participate.
Old and New: The Lost Art of Hand Lettering… and a New Way to Make “Vintage” Photo Transfers – Saturday, May 21; 10 AM – 3 PM.
This is not calligraphy, but the “drawn letters” used by old-fashioned sign painters and type designers. Learn to adapt this method to label your botanical artwork or write beautifully in your sketchbook or art journal. Learn how to letter on curves, how to use perspective in your lettering, and how to design your own personal lettering style. After lunch in a nearby cafe, learn how to transfer photos. Val will show you how to transfer a vintage-looking image to paper, cloth or wood using butcher’s paper and acrylic medium. The original photo is not affected in any way, and the final product has a hauntingly ephemeral look that is quite beautiful. Plus, you will learn how to tint your transfer with watercolor for a more impressionistic result. This works especially well with old family photos and garden subjects. Embellish a journal or family album, make truly lovely greeting cards, frame them as keepsakes or gifts — the possibilities go on and on. Class size is limited. Early registration required. Cost: $60 includes refreshments and all art supplies, plus illustrated tutorial pages to take home. Contact Val Webb if you plan to participate.
Botanical Drawing in Pencil and Watercolor – Saturday, May 28;
9 AM – 3 PM. Join Val for an intensive day of botanical drawing and watercolor at the New Orleans Botanical Garden, New Orleans, LA. With more than 2,000 varieties of plants from around the world to choose from, participants will create plant portraits using layers of graphite pencil and watercolor. This class will be held in the historic Garden Studies Center, a charming renovated 1930s potting shed that would look right at home in a Beatrix Potter story. The day will begin with a detailed demonstration and some guided practice time before heading out into the gardens to draw and paint. This workshop is appropriate for ALL levels of art experience, and there is no supply list — all art supplies and materials (plus admission to the gardens) will be provided. Morning refreshments will be provided. Participants must bring their own lunch. Class size is limited. Early registration required. Cost: $120, includes refreshments and all art supplies. Contact Val Webb if you plan to participate. A detailed itinerary and information about a very reasonable and dog-friendly hotel in New Orleans is available upon request.
Botanical Drawing: Springtime in the South (daytime class) – Tuesdays, April 5 – May 9, 2011; 2 -5 PM (six weeks). Alabama’s botanical world gets all dressed up with the arrival of spring. Draw and paint Louisiana iris, native wildflowers, flowering bulbs and more, working from live specimens. Participants will use traditional scientific drawing methods to create realistic botanicals in pencil, ink, colored pencil and gouache. Learn in a relaxed, encouraging atmosphere. No experience necessary. Everything you need for this class will be provided. In addition to regular class meetings, participants have the opportunity to attend one optional weekend field sketching trip. Class size is limited. Early registration required. Cost: $140 includes art supplies. Contact Val Webb if you plan to participate. Location: Val’s studio in Fairhope, AL.
Botanical Drawing: Springtime in the South (evening class) –
Tuesdays, April 5 – May 23, 2011; 6:30 – 8:30 PM (eight weeks).
Same course description as the daytime class. This class has been designed for people who need a class with evening hours. Cost: $140.
Every Picture Tells a Story: Illustrating Children’s Books –
Wednesdays, May 18 – July 6, 2011; 6:30 – 8:30 PM (eight weeks).
This lively, relaxed and encouraging course will cover character design, creative page layouts, how to draw for publication and how to use pictures to move a story forward. Have questions about submissions, copyright or publishing markets? We’ll cover those topics, too. Our drawing work will focus on depicting children and animals in action settings. ALL levels of art experience are welcome. Class size is limited. Early registration required. Cost: $125 includes art supplies. Contact Val Webb if you plan to participate. Location: Val’s studio in Fairhope, AL.
Botanical Drawing: Tropical Summer (daytime class) – Thursdays, May 19 – June 23, 2011; 2-5 PM (six weeks).
It’s the season of brilliant colors and unusual forms! Participants will use watercolor and colored pencil to create realistic renderings of summer plants including palms, succulents and tropical flowers. Butterflies and other insects associated with summer blooms will also be painted. In addition to regular class meetings, participants have the option of sketching one day in the field. No experience necessary. All art supplies are provided. Cost: $140 includes art supplies. Contact Val Webb if you plan to participate. Location: Val’s studio in West Mobile, AL.
Botanical Drawing: Tropical Summer (evening class) – Thursdays, May 19 – July 7, 2011; 6:30 – 8:30 PM (eight weeks).
Same course description as the daytime class. This class has been designed for people who need a class with evening hours. Cost: $140.

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Bold Botanicals, Country Living at Gibson House Bed & Breakfast

Posted in botanical art, Learning Opportunities on March 28, 2011|

The Gibson House Bed & Breakfast in Haverhill, New Hampshire proudly presents a five-day botanical art workshop with Mindy Lighthipe. Participants have the option of taking a 2 1/2-day drawing class, a two-day watercolor class or both while relaxing at The Gibson House.

Immerse yourself in the quiet of country living and get in some serious drawing and painting!

Bold Botanicals: Flowers in Graphite PART 1

Bold Botanicals: Flowers in Watercolor PART 2 – June 22 (1:00 – 5:00 PM, begins after lunch) through June 23-24, 2011 (10:00 AM – 5:00 PM). In this class, Mindy shares her bold approach to botanical painting. Learn her two-layer process in which she creates form with the first layer and detail with the second layer. Cost: $250

Enroll in both classes and save $75!
The cost to enroll in both classes is $425. Botanical artists, floral and landscape painters, beginners to advanced are welcome.

More information about Mindy’s Gibson House program is available at her Studio 16 website. Please send all questions about the Gibson House program to Mindy Lighthipe.

This information has also been posted to the Classes Near You sections for New Jersey and New Hampshire.