Revealing the beauty, diversity and wonder of the plant world TM
2020 Classes Now Open for Registration!
Gift Certificates Available -HERE-
One Day Workshop - Try Botanical Art (Saturday, February 29, 2020)
No experience necessary. 10 am - 5 pm; try your hand at botanical drawing and painting in this one day workshop. Work from life. Depending on what’s in season - subjects might include orchids, cacti, tulips, daffodils, magnolias, lilacs, peonies, iris, roses, lilies, mushrooms, pine cones, seed pods, fruits, vegetables, fall leaves, pumpkins, gourds, poinsettias and more. Advance registration required.
One-Day Workshop: $100 (includes materials!)
Comprehensive 3-Day Botanical Art Workshop (March 6, 7, 8, 2020)
By Appointment - Friday/Saturday 10 am - 5 pm and Sunday noon - 4 pm. Students will be introduced to the genre of botanical art and learn a repeatable approach to observing a botanical subject, creating a compelling composition, completing contour and tonal drawings, basic color theory and watercolor painting techniques. Seasonal subject matter. Open to all levels, beginning to advanced - no experience required. For all with an interest in plants, pens, pencils & paint. Group & individual instruction in a small class setting.
Customized workshops (days/times/location/focus) available by special arrangement.
Comprehensive 3-Day Workshop: $300 (includes materials!)
Ongoing Botanical Art Instruction:
Open to all levels, beginner to advanced - no experience necessary. Personalized instruction. Begin any time. Register for six 3-hour sessions during one of the following times (you may mix times and schedule your sessions over as little as two days or long as three months):
- Wednesday Afternoons, 2 pm - 5 pm
- Wednesday Evenings, 5 pm – 8 pm*
Beginners will learn the basic skills used for botanical drawing and painting through demonstrations and personalized instruction. More advanced students will improve their skills and increase their confidence taking on increasingly challenging subjects. An overview of the genre, materials, selecting and composing a subject, contour & tonal drawings, perspective, color theory and practice, and watercolor painting techniques are covered.
Instructor will teach new techniques, demonstrate and provide exercises for you to practice and apply to a finished artwork.
Materials list will be sent upon registration.
Six-Sessions of Ongoing Instruction: $150
Friday Focus Workshops 2020:
More in-depth instruction on specific topics of interest to the botanical artist and photographer.
Select Friday afternoons 1 – 5 pm. Sign up for individual workshops to address current challenges or a series to form a foundation for pursuing botanical art studies.
February 28 - Composition: for botanical artists and photographers.
Explore and practice a variety of approaches to composition. Class includes lecture and hands-on activities to build your confidence and creativity. $75
March 27 - Botany from an Artist’s perspective: which means “no big words”.
Learn about plant parts, plant families, what to observe, and what to record in reference sketches and photographs to enable you to create a beautiful and accurate piece of botanical art as well as recommendations for helpful reference sources online and off. $75
April 24 - Contour Drawing: for botanical artists.
Explore and practice a number of techniques for observing and drawing accurate and realistic line drawings of plant subjects in preparation for subsequent paintings or finished drawings. $75
May 22 - Tonal Drawing: for botanical artists.
Explore and practice shading (pencil) to give three-dimensional form to your botanical subjects as a preliminary study for subsequent paintings or as finished drawings. $75
June 26 - Before You Buy: essential supplies for the botanical artist.
Purchasing art supplies is a big investment. Learn what to look for and what to look out for when buying watercolor paints, paper, brushes and more. Try out a variety of products. $75
July 24 - Color Theory & Practice: for the botanical artist and watercolor painter.
Learn about hue, saturation and lightness, mixing vibrant colors and achieving rich neutral tones, effective color schemes and more. $75 (includes materials)
August 21 - That’s a Match! : color mixing for the botanical artist and watercolor painter. Learn to utilize a 6-color palette to mix and match virtually every color found in your subject. A variety of botanical specimens from saturated hues to dull grays will be available to try your hand at matching by mixing and layering just 6 colors. $75 (includes materials)
September 25 - Mastering the Wash: the fundamental technique for watercolor painters and botanical artists.
Learn and practice different techniques for doing flat and graded washes, achieving hard and soft edges, blending colors and avoiding dull overworked areas. $75 (includes materials)
October 23 - Keeping Things in Perspective: for botanical artists.
Explore and practice a variety of techniques for achieving realistic and accurate perspective in your drawings and paintings. $75
November 20 - Creativity: in Art & Life : Fun experiential activities to expand your creative side. $75
All classes are geared to adults. Serious students under the age of 18 should contact Jody prior to registering.
For More information contact Jody Williams
Online Registration: CLICK HERE
To Register by Mail: send check payable to "Botanical By Nature" to Jody Williams - Studios 2 &3, The Foundry Art Centre, 520 North Main Center, St. Charles, MO 63301. Please indicate the class(es) and session(s) for which you are registering and provide you name and contact information. Materials lists will be sent to students upon registration.
No Classes on the following dates:
February 4-12, 2020
March 24-31, 2020
June 6-15, 2020
October 12-20, 2020
November 25, 2020