School of Botanical Art & Illustration https://www.botanicgardens.org/education/school-botanical-art-illustration Classes Coming this Spring! Registration is now Open!
Color Mixing in Watercolor:The first step to watercolor painting is mixing colors. Learn a system for combining colors consistently to eliminate frustrating trial and error. Exercises, demonstrations and discussion will show you how to achieve the broadest possible spectrum. Learn about paint properties and important information when choosing pigments. Practice mixing colors to match a variety of plant material. You will gain confidence and skill to improve your color work. Prerequisites: None Online: May 5, 12, 19, 26, June 2 - 6-9pm
Pen & Ink 2:Take your pen and ink skills to a new level of sophistication. Explore the limitless world of color, texture, complex botany and incorporate this information into black-and-white illustrations. Working with both technical pen and traditional quill, learn advanced techniques to make strokes mimic the fuzz on a fern, the down in a milkweed pod or the mottled colors of a variegated begonia. Learn how to layer and manipulate lines and stipples to develop a full range of value, texture and atmospheric perspective. Prerequisites: Pencil I, Light on Form, Pen & Ink I Online: May 13, 20, 27, June 3, 10 - 6pm-9pm
Pencil 2: Simple and classic, pencil drawing is a timeless art form. Expand on the drawing skills you learned in Pencil I as you refine your knowledge of working with graphite pencil. Learn additional techniques for shading, texture, perspective, depth and composition. An accurate representation through drawing skill is the basis for botanical illustration for all medias. Prerequisites: Light on Form, Botany for Botanical Illustration, Composition for the Botanical Illustration, Perfecting Perspective Online: May 13, 20, 27, June 3 & 10 – 1-4pm
Watercolor 2:Develop your confidence as you work toward completing a finished illustration, also known as a plate, from a live specimen in this most traditional of botanical media. In this class you will have the chance to bring your skills together, learn and refine additional techniques and focus on layering, shading and building form. Try new brush techniques and learn to use colors that enhance perspective and depth. Follow painting steps through completion, from broad washes to final detail. Learn how to fix mistakes and understand why watercolor is a forgiving medium. Prerequisites: Botanical Illustration in Pencil I, Color Mixing, Botanical Illustration in Watercolor I, Botany for the Botanical Illustrator, Light on Form Online: May 12, 19, 26, June 2, 9 – 1-4pm On Location @ the Denver Botanic Gardens: June 17, 24, July 1, 8 15 – 1-4pm
Introduction to Watercolor Pencil:Discover the amazing versatility of watercolor pencils for illustrating and painting. Learn tips and techniques on how to manage the color wet or dry. Used as a mixed media or alone, watercolor pencils are perfect for developing a botanical illustration, botanical art, great for travel, for journaling, and quick sketching applications. Prerequisites: none Online: June 9 & 16 – 6-9pm
The Beautiful Hand of Copperplate:Copperplate, sometimes known as English Roundhand, was adopted as the traditional style for labeling early botanical plates. Popular in England in the 17th and 18th centuries, this elegant writing complements botanicals beautifully. Start with an introduction to the letterforms using pencil, then graduate to the oblique pen, flexible quill nibs and ink, and write in this classic calligraphy lettering style. Prerequisites: Improving Your Handwriting (recommended but not required) Online: June 23, 30, July 7, 14 & 21 – 6-9pm