Classes & Workshops
The Contemporary Naturalism
Guild of Art
contemporarynaturalismguildofart.com
learn.contemporarynaturalismguildofart.com
Teaching classical art techniques with a modern expression to honor your
personal connection to Nature
Naturalism is a late 19th- and early 20th-century movement that was inspired by adaptation of the principles and methods of natural science, especially the Darwinian view of nature, to literature and art. We aim to share our knowledge of sketching, drawing, and painting the flora and fauna of our 21st century world through online instruction, by teaching classical art techniques with a modern expression. Honor your personal connection to Nature through careful observation and depiction of natural science subjects and habitats in a contemporary style.
Classes & Workshops:
Mushrooms & Fungi
A five-part online workshop offering instruction and guidance on sketching, drawing, and painting mushrooms
Classes coming soon
GoggleWorks
Reading, PA
Botanical Sketching Class
June 12, 2022 / 1-Day session
Sunday 4:00PM—7:00PM
Gather in GoggleWorks’ Gardens at Lauer’s Park to illustrate leaves and flowers from our garden space. We will guide through the process to capture the character of the plants and design beautiful sketchbook pages in the process.
You should bring micron pens, a travel watercolor palette, and high-quality sketchbook for mixed media or watercolor i.e. Stillman & Bern Zeta Series/Moleskine.
Register here:
https://goggleworks.org/event/botanical-sketching-class/
Hershey Gardens
Hershey, PA
Botanical Sketching Class
Saturday, October 1, 9am - 12 noon ON SITE
Oak Spring Garden Foundation
Upperville, VA
Fungi & Mushroom Workshop
Saturday, September 17, 10am - 3pm ON SITE
Jenkins Arboretum & Garden
Devon, PA
Botanical Observations: Autumn Objects of Field and Forest
8 Tuesdays
September 6, 13, 20, 27, October 4, 11, 25 and November 1 (no class 10/18)
6:30 – 8:30 pm ONLINE
Let’s take a closer look at some of the wonderful natural elements that make up our autumn outdoor world! Join Margaret Saylor virtually to draw (or paint) a new specimen each week. Not only will we learn about that week’s botanical theme, but we’ll see how these subjects fit into the broader realm of contemporary botanical art. Themes will include: flowers, fungi, moss, lichens, leaves, seed pods, gourds, and fir trees.
All levels welcome; some drawing experience helpful but not necessary. A recommended materials list is available for review prior to registration.
Members: $175; Non-Members: $200
Registration coming soon
Designing a Fall Sketchbook
Sunday, October 16, 1 – 3 pm ON SITE
Botanical art draws together art and science. What better way to become familiar with our Pennsylvania plants than by beginning a sketchbook? Join Margaret Saylor to explore basic botanical art techniques, view different approaches to making a sketchbook, and take a walk around the gardens at Jenkins. We’ll reconvene to share observations and our work. A great way to start that sketchbook you have always wanted to create!
All levels welcome. A recommended materials list is available for review prior to registration.
Members: $30; Non-Members: $40
Registration coming soon
Mt Cuba Center
Hockessin, DE
Botanical Art: Spring Wildflowers (12 weeks)
Wildflowers in Color - 4 weeks
https://mtcubacenter.org/event/wildflowers-in-color-3/
Refined Botanical Drawing - 4 weeks
https://mtcubacenter.org/event/wildflowers-in-color-3/
A Sketchbook of Fungi
Friday, September 23, 10am - 3:30pm
ON SITE
September is a great month for foraging for fungi. Starting a sketchbook of mushrooms can be a wonderful way to document your finds, enhance your observational skills, and refine your drawing technique. We’ll discuss how to begin a fall fungi sketchbook. Graphite, archival pens, or watercolor – or all three…it’s up to you. Basic mushroom drawing skills will be shared along with demonstrations of how to create your very own tribute to your mycological finds.
https://mtcubacenter.org/event/a-sketchbook-of-fungi/
Fleisher Art Memorial
Philadelphia, PA
Botanical Watercolor
8 Tuesdays
April 6 - May 12, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm ONLINE
Watercolor has historically been the most used medium for creating botanical art and here is your chance to learn how it’s done! By using a combination of washes and dry brush techniques, join us as we explore spring subject matter each week in this fun online class. Working with a limited palette to start, we’ll explore color theory, dry brush layering, and detailing to create contemporary botanical art. Some drawing experience would be helpful.
Botanical Drawing: Summer Specimens
5 Wednesdays, June 22 to July 20, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm ONLINE
Let’s take a closer look at some of the wonderful natural elements that make up our summer outdoor world! We’ll draw (or paint) a new specimen each week. Not only will we learn about that botanical object, like a flower, herb, bulb, fruit, vegetable, fungi, or leaf, but we’ll see how these subjects fit into the broader realm of contemporary botanical art. Some drawing experience helpful.
Registration begins Monday, May 9 on the Fleisher website.
Botanical Garden of the University of Vienna
Vienna, Austria
A Beginner's Guide to Egg Tempera
COMING IN 2023
As part of the Get-Together of the Vienna School of Botanical Art, I'll be offering a workshop covering the basics of egg tempera. You will get a chance to make you own paint, work on a gessoed board, and experiment with the technique. This class is designed for anyone who would like to demystify the process and have some fun as well! Demonstrations, discussion of materials and techniques, and hands-on time for skill building and experimentation.
More information to come.