ArtPlantae Today

New schedule for Wellesley College Friends of Horticulture posted at
Classes Near You > Massachusetts:

Wellesley College Friends of Horticulture
Certificate Program in Botanical Art and Illustration
www.wellesley.edu/WCFH
This program offers several weekly classes on botanical art and scientific illustration with Sarah Roche and Jeanne Kunze and seminars with visiting instructors including Carol Ann Morley, Wendy Hollender, Carolyn Payzant, Elaine Searle, and more. The courses offered through this program cover all aspects of botanical art. The list below is only a glimpse of what this program offers.
Download 2010-2011 Program Brochure & Instructor Bios

• Foundations of Botanical Drawing and Painting
• Techniques of Botanical Drawing and Painting
• Pen & Ink I
• Tonal Drawing Fundamentals/Tonal Drawing Applied: Leaves
• Ink Brush Painting
• Color Curriculum: Palettes That Work
• From Flowers to Fruit: Botanical Textures in Gouache
• Going Underground – Bulbs & Roots

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Now at Classes Near You > International > England:

Greystoke Cycle Café & Tea Garden
www.greystokecyclecafe.co.uk
You may remember learning about the Greystoke Cycling Café & Tea Garden during an interview with Billy Showell. This rest stop for cyclists not only provides everything a cyclist needs, it also provides a full schedule of workshops taught by artists and other professionals. The cafe hosts several botanical art classes by members of the Society of Botanical Artists and instructors such as Irene Sanderson who teaches a relaxed and alternative approach to botanical art.

Flowers in Far Eastern Brush Painting with Irene Sanderson – September 24, 2010; 9:30 AM – 3:45 PM. Students will learn how to create relaxed and loose brush strokes, how to load one brush with a variety of colors and intensities, how to use solid ink blocks, and how to exploit the qualities of Xuan paper. The tradition and language of flowers in Far Eastern art will also be discussed. Cost: £45, includes course lunch and refreshments.

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New at Classes Near You > California:

Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Gardens
www.arboretum.org
Courses in introductory botanical drawing, beginning and intermediate watercolor, colored pencil, sketching and Chinese brush painting are taught throughout the year. Go to the Events & Classes for more information. The Arboretum is located in Arcadia, CA. To register, contact Jill Berry or call (626) 821-4624.

Introduction to Chinese Brush Painting – 4 Thursdays, October 28-November 18, 2010; 1-3PM / Oak Room. In this introductory course, students will learn the difference between Chinese brush painting and other watercolor painting. Students will learn how to use Chinese brushes and ink to create beautiful paintings on rice paper. Students will end the course with a completed painting ready for framing and display. Instructor Gloria Whea-Fun Teng, is a botanical artist who has taught a variety of courses over the years. Cost: $120 members / $130 non-members. Pre-registration required.

Week One: Introduction to Chinese brush painting. Discussion and demonstration will address: how to mix color, brush painting style and techniques, how to use the brush on rice paper, the use of newsprint to practice strokes, and how to paint a bamboo branch. Assignment #1: bamboo branch

Week Two: Bamboo branch with leaf. Discussion and demonstration will address: using black ink, how to paint a bamboo leaf, a single leaf, a double leaf and how to paint a set of leaves. Students will learn how to control water with their brush. Assignment #2: bamboo branch and leaf

Week Three: Flower (Rose). Discussion and demonstration will address: how to paint flower stems and buds; how to start using color, how to include different angles and shapes; how to paint multiple layers of petals and different leaves. Students will also practice painting a single petal flower. Assignment #3: Rose

Week Four: Final Critique of bamboo painting in black ink and colored rose. Students will complete one painting in the class.

Download course syllabus/flyer here

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The Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden (LGBG) in Richmond, VA is home to 2,500 botanical watercolor paintings by cartographer and artist, Alexandre Descubes. While much has been researched by the garden’s research staff, there is still a lot to learn about Descubes and his paintings. The garden is asking for your help. Learn more about this research project and how you may contribute here.

New classes for Fall and Winter have been announced. The information below has been added to the Garden’s listing at Classes Near You > Virginia:

• Plants and Pollinators for Botanical Artists – September 8, 15, 22, 29, 2010; 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM. Select a plant in the garden and learn about its pollinators. Cost: $175 members, $225 non-members
• Photographing Colors, Textures, and Patterns – 2 Thursday evenings (6-8 pm), 2 Saturday mornings (9-11 am), 1 Tuesday evening (6-8 pm); September 9, 11, 16, 18, 21, 2010. Instructor: Lynda Richardson, nationally recognized nature photographer.
• Nature Journaling – September 11, 2010 – FULL
• Learn to Use Your Digital Camera – 5 meetings, September 23, 25, 30, October 2, 5, 2010. A combination of lectures and field trips. Designed just for you, your camera, and your user’s manual. See details
• An Introduction to Photographing Birds – 5 meetings, October 7, 9, 14, 16, 19, 2010. A combination of lectures and field trips. See details
• Beginning Botanical Art and Illustration – Wednesdays, October 13, 20, 27 and November 3, 10, 2010. Introduction to botanical illustration and plant morphology. Materials will be provided. Students will complete assignments in pen & ink and graphite. Cost: $195 member, $245 non-member
• Anatomy of a Flower for Botanical Artists (Monocots), Part 2 – Wednesday, December 1, 8, 2010; 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM. Students will create a painting or drawing of a monocot to present to the class in botanical terms. Cost: $96 member, $115 non-members

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New at Classes Near You > International > England:

The Wagon House
Lost Gardens of Heligan, Cornwall
www.thewagonhouse.com
A bed-and-breakfast in the English countryside where you can eat breakfast at a time that is convenient for you, visit the gardens in Cornwall, and take botanical art classes too!

• Four-Day Botanical Painting Course – September 3-6, 2010. Classes are taught in a renovated, well-lit studio. The studio building itself is a 250-years old. Cost: £270.00, includes lunch each day.
• Five-Day Botanical Painting Course – September 29 – October 3, 2010. Cost: £335.00 including lunch each day during the course. One day per week Termly Fees: £250.00 bring your own packed lunch.

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