Class Schedule September-December 2024

Color Mixing for Botanical Illustration | September 14, 28, October 5, 12 | IN-PERSON

New opportunity for creatives and nature journalers to learn more about everything related to seeing and creating color inspired by nature! There is no need to have prior drawing skills in realism since the exercises are guided step-by-step, incorporating hands-on experience, group discussion, and observational activities. Watercolor paint is included, but paper and brushes must be provided by the student. Students may wish to bring a sketchbook or a nature journal if they have one.

It is essential for watercolor artists to observe and recreate the highlights, mid-tones, and shadows of specimens in a variety of hues and values. The ability to manipulate the medium and utilize materials (think: water, pigment, paper, brush) is essential as a watercolorist. Color theory and basic watercolor painting techniques are introduced through hands-on exercises, including creating color gradients, painting a basic color wheel and its grayscale counterpart, and creating basic forms using fruits and vegetables.

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DRAWING WORKSHOP SERIES WITH INTERNATIONAL ARTIST ROGÉRIO LUPO

Explore various drawing techniques through virtual workshops with award-winner, scientific illustrator and artist Rogério Lupo, who will teach from Brazil. Each course includes drawing demonstrations of the various skills discussed. Students enrolled in the Garden’s Botanical Illustration certificate program will earn elective credit.

NEW! Toned Papers with Black, White and Grayscale Pigments | September 18, 25, October 2, 9, 23 | VIRTUAL 

Whether for quick sketches or fine-finishing artwork, toned papers provide numerous advantages. They are quite handy in greatly reducing the difficult work of applying midtones–the most time-consuming in most media. In addition, white pigment for highlights and other light values appears more realistic and, when desired, can really pop! Toned papers can also be great teachers, as they convey invaluable lessons about contrast and the relativity of light, shade and reflections. To use this paper correctly, however, the artist must take its very tonal value into account, so that it makes a large contribution to the final result. Excessive use of white pigment might give the impression that the subject is sprinkled with flour or snow, whereas low usage of the paper’s midtones might result in the subject appearing metallic, overly shiny, odd, or even unreal. Explore the potential as well as the challenges of this technique, and learn essential tips for achieving moderation and balance that will take your art to whole new level!

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NEW! Abstracted Fall Landscapes and Still Lifes | September 24 | IN-PERSON

Create rich vignettes loaded with fall colors and layered shapes. View a variety of landscape and still life works for compositional ideas, then make multiple sketches before choosing one or two to fully develop. Work mainly in the primary medium of colored pencil, but add beautiful embellishments with watercolor and drawing pens.

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Beginning Watercolor Endeavors | September 25, October 1, 16, 23 | IN-PERSON

This is your opportunity to put a paintbrush to paper! Inspired by the surrounding Garden, learn basic watercolor techniques and practice drawing skills. We’ll reference landscapes and/or florals for ideas and inspiration for our primary painting. With the absolute certainty that everyone possesses the ability to create, all are welcome to this beginners class. You’ll leave with your own examples and an 11” by 14” finished watercolor painting! All supplies are provided. Previous class participants should note that while basic techniques will be reviewed, inspirational reference images will be new and different from past classes.

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NEW! The Art of Natural Dye and Flower Pounding | October 15 | IN-PERSON

In this course, you will have the opportunity to learn and practice the art of natural dyeing fabric like our ancient ancestors. We will start the class off with a visually interactive discussion about our deeply rooted history with nature and natural pigments. We will then shed some light on the current reality of the global dye industries environmental impacts and speak about how we are all capable of making a difference through awareness and education. The discussion will be followed by a hands-on eco-printing activity where the participants will have the chance to hammer dye plant material into a cotton tote bag to use as a reusable bag in their daily life.

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Introduction to Alcohol Inks | October 17 | IN-PERSON

Alcohol inks are a relatively new fascination of painters and crafters. A vibrant, fast drying medium they are used to paint on non-porous surfaces such as glass, tile, or metal. The possibilities for experimentation are limitless. Experience the almost instant magic of these inks on tile. Using florals and/or landscape views as inspiration, participants will create colorful, abstracted tiles. Painting expertise or even any experience at all is not necessary. Designed to be a creative adventure, this class is for everyone.

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NEW! Dia de Los Muertos Linocut Paint Night | October 24 | IN-PERSON

Celebrate with Art and Spirits! Join us for a vibrant evening of creativity and cultural celebration at our Dia de los Muertos linocut print painting wine night! Immerse yourself in the rich traditions of Dia de los Muertos as you create unique artworks inspired by this festive Mexican holiday. Explore Dia de los Muertos Art: Discover the symbolism and themes of Day of the Dead as you learn to paint prints that reflect its colorful and lively spirit. Receive step-by-step guidance from our talented instructors on painting your own Dia de los Muertos-inspired prints. Sip on delicious wine, enjoy cheese and crackers, as you mingle with friends and fellow art enthusiasts.

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Botanical Monotypes/Eco Prints on Paper | October 30 | IN-PERSON

In this workshop we’ll create a few sets of original nature prints using a variety of methods. We’ll start off with eco printing leaves on cotton papers. This process includes dipping and soaking leaves with tannins before arranging, bundling and steaming them on paper to create permanent prints. While they steam and set, we’ll experiment with even more leaves, inks, paints, stencils, and other fun printing materials and tools to create layered monotypes, or one of a kind prints.

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NEW! Drawing and Painting Fall Leaves | November 5, 7, 14, 19 | VIRTUAL 

As green summer leaves change to glowing fall leaves, drawing and painting them becomes almost imperative. During this four-day workshop, with award-winning artist Patricia Savage, students will learn how to apply aerial perspective to create a bright and colorful painting with depth. Students will also receive instruction in to how draw leaves, paint loose washes, apply dry-brush watercolor, as well as instruction on how to achieve value gradations with color and how to “see” color temperature and chroma.  Instructor: Patricia Savage

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Ceramic Botanical Ornaments | November 13, 20 | IN-PERSON

Create one-of-a-kind glazed ceramic ornaments using textured stamps and clay tools. We’ll press botanical designs into the clay body and glaze fire them to create a gloss finish. We’ll design and make 4-8 ornaments during the first class, and glaze them during the second. The resulting ornaments will be colorful flat ceramic pieces suitable for hanging in groups or individually on your fireplace, in your windowsills, on festive garlands or holiday decor–the possibilities are endless!

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NEW! Winter Inspired Intermediate Alcohol Inks | November 14 | IN-PERSON

Alcohol inks create instant magic, and the possibilities and surprises of this versatile media are infinite. Vibrant and fast-drying, they can be applied to non-porous surfaces such as glass, tile, or metal. Using the images and colors of winter and the beauty of the Garden as inspiration, participants will create their designs on large tiles. Your instructor will briefly review the basics, and then dive right in to demonstrating new techniques. It is strongly recommended that you have prior experience working with alcohol inks on tile. If you have taken the Introduction to Alcohol Inks workshop here at the Garden, this class is for you! All materials are supplied and completed tiles will be yours to take home.

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LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL SERIES 

We believe that all adults in our community should have access to plant-based, nature-focused learning opportunities. The learning opportunities in this series offer several pricing tiers so you can register at the amount you’re able to pay.

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Snowy Winter Trees | December 4 | IN-PERSON

Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow! Create a peaceful evergreen forest where snowflakes drift down to softly blanket branches using watercolor paints along with a few tricks of the trade. Fun for any experience level, this class is sure to put you in a holiday mood! Learn basic drawing skills, practice painting with watercolors, and complete a wintry work of art to take home. If time allows, participants will also create a custom holiday card.

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For creative workshops where you can use live plants to make plant creations to take home, check out our Plant Play: Make and Take Workshops learning category!