Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

Composition FOR BOTANICAL ILLUSTRATION
FOR NON-CERTIFICATE STUDENTS

Composition plays a fundamental role in the final result of an artwork. This virtual course will address the main principles of composition and design that can turn even apparently uninteresting subjects into enticing elements with great artistic and aesthetic attributes. Some principles of design–shape, proportion, value, contrast, pattern, emphasis, center of attention, movement, balance and harmony, spatial or environmental context, perspective and illumination–can conduct the observers’ view to tell them a visual or naturalistic story and magnetize their attention. In this process, we will understand why we need to avoid symmetrical forms, as well as coincident lines and circumscribed shapes that lead to optical illusions or confusing visual information. Creative process, group discussion and articulating ideas (including how to break the rules) are encouraged, all while maintaining the pillars of botanical art and illustration, scientific accuracy, aesthetics and skill.

Fees: Member $140, Non-Member $168

All programs are subject to change. Pre-registration through our website is required.

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden strives to be a Garden for all and we are committed to offering diverse adult learning opportunities that are inclusive and accessible to all learners. If you would like to request an accommodation to support your participation in an adult learning opportunity at the Garden, please contact [email protected] or call 804-262-9887 x328 and we will make our best effort to help.

REGISTER MEMBER $140

REGISTER NON-MEMBER $168

Dates:
Saturday, February 24, 2024 - Saturday, March 16, 2024
Time:
10:30 am - 12:30 pm
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Event Details

This course will be offered virtually via Zoom. A Zoom link will be shared with all students one day prior to the course beginning.

Students who are not currently enrolled in the Botanical Illustration certificate program are welcome to participate in this course, but will not be eligible for any certificate credit. Are you a certificate student? You can take this course, but need to sign up here.

Supplies: Click here for the supply list. Please note that the Garden is not providing any materials for this course. Non-certificate students are not required to purchase any materials for this course.

Pre-Requisite: None

Course Dates: This course takes place over 4 Saturdays from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm EST:

  • February 24
  • March 2
  • March 9
  • March 16

Course Format: This course is open to Botanical Illustration certificate students and non-certificate students. The course format for non-certificate students is as follows:

  • 10:30 am – 12:30 pm: All registered certificate students + non-certificate students join the virtual meeting for the day’s main lesson (with some time for Q&A)—after this, non-certificate students leave for the day.

Are you a certificate student? You can take this course, but need to sign up here.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Rogerio LupoRogério Lupo was born in São Paulo, Brazil, where he graduated as a biologist and studied classical art in the 1990s. Inspired by the traditional techniques of scientific illustration found in ancient and contemporary books, he sought to learn and research about the employment of several media like graphite, pen nib and ink, watercolors, acrylics, colored pencils, pastels and scratchboard. He has been working on commissions from the scientific community and teaching biological illustration since 1998. In 2019, he toured some states and cities in the USA, teaching a series of lectures and workshops on graphite and pen nib and ink applied to biological illustrations. Since 2021 he has been teaching numerous online courses and lectures for his personal program of classes or for institutions across the world. Among some of his awards, he won twice the first prize in the Margaret Mee National Contest of Botanical Illustrations (Brazil) in 2002 and 2003, and also twice the first prize in the Margaret Flockton Award for Excellence in Botanical Illustration (Australia), in 2010 and 2013. In this same contest, he won second prize in 2021, and the “highly commended” prize in 2006, 2010 and 2017.

You can learn more about and follow Rogério on social media:

Banner image credit: Alstroemeria stramonia, rendered in acrylics, graphite and colored pencil on toned paper by Rogério Lupo

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