Botanical Drawing I: Foundation Techniques

In this beginning drawing class, you will learn to accurately observe and record what you see, render it clearly, and create the illusion of depth through light, shadow and perspective. Unlike traditional drawing courses, botanical illustration is an exacting method of rendering precise form and detail. Students will perform creativity exercises and learn some “tricks” that are used by professionals.

Please bring a bag lunch to the all-day session, or lunch can be purchased at Café Phipps.

This class is filled. Please contact us to be placed on the waiting list.

To register, call the Garden Center at (412) 441-4442 ext. 3925 or download our registration form.

This is a core course in the Botanical Art & Illustration certificate program.

History of Botanical Art

Explore the history of botanical art from its earliest beginnings in herbals through present-day contemporary works. The class includes a private session at the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation, which houses one of the world’s largest collections of botanical art and illustration. Students will have the opportunity to study some of the rare books, original paintings and drawings from the artists such as Pierre-Joseph Redouté, Georg Ehret, and Anne Ophelia Todd Dowden. Students are responsible for a research report on a selected botanical artist.

To register, call the Garden Center at (412) 441-4442 ext. 3925 or download our registration form.

This is a core course in the Botanical Art & Illustration certificate program.

Drawing Succulents

Using plants from the Garden’s collection of succulents, we will render the intricacies of these plants using graphite pencil. Succulents come in a variety of textures and forms. The colors, textures and in some cases intricate pigment patterns will be rendered using a variety of graphite techniques. Techniques will be demonstrated and practiced, and once these fundamental techniques have been learned, the process of rendering these plants in graphite will be far less daunting.

Special Rate: Members can register for both Katie Lee workshops for $450.

To register, call the Garden Center at (412) 441-4442 ext. 3925 or download our registration form.

This is an elective course in the Botanical Art & Illustration certificate program.

Watercolor II: Ruffled Edges in Watercolor or Gouache

Ruffled edges can be challenging to get right, especially when the surface is textured, shiny, translucent, or has a defined pigment pattern. Using a single, well defined light source is essential. We will study how this light source affects individual ridges, while at the same time not forgetting how it affects the whole subject. Techniques will be practiced to render this detailed information using watercolor or gouache.

Special Rate: Members can register for both Katie Lee workshops for $450.

To register, call the Garden Center at (412) 441-4442 ext. 3925 or download our registration form.

This is a core course in the Watercolor concentration of the Botanical Art & Illustration certificate program. It can also count toward elective credit if a student has already taken Watercolor II.

Garden-Scape

New Class!

Have you ever desired to portray your favorite garden in all of nature’s profusion, and glorious color when just painting a single bloom can prove to be a somewhat daunting exercise? This dream has shaped Carol’s personal pursuit of a painting methodology that she would like to share with you. In this course, you will strive to combine water color techniques that are familiar to you with some new ones. In addition, you will explore aerial perspective and composition by painting in background, and delineating with foreground detail. These elements of the course of study will be presented in easily absorbed segments over a three month period of time together with homework assignments that will perfect your personal skills.

For interested attendees, Mr. Alexander Patho, who is well known for the quality of his Art Giclee productions, has agreed to render our garden paintings into beautiful greeting cards.

To register, call the Garden Center at (412) 441-4442 ext. 3925 or download our registration form.

This is an elective course in the Botanical Art & Illustration certificate program.

Colored Pencil II: Applications

Building on the foundation of colored pencil techniques and layering principles begun in Colored Pencil I, this course focuses on more advanced layering and blending techniques to create a variety of surface textures, exercises to continue to improve color perception skills, and more advanced color theory, including understanding hue, value, intensity and temperature.

To register, call the Garden Center at (412) 441-4442 ext. 3925 or download our registration form.

This is a core course in the colored pencil concentration of the Botanical Art & Illustration certificate program.

Botanical Drawing II: Applications

In this class, students will apply basic drawing skills to accurately render plant structures: leaves, stems, flowers, fruit and roots. Students will study structural variations, learn to tone the basic plant structures and represent overlapping planes to create depth.

Please bring a lunch for the all-day sessions.

To register, call the Garden Center at (412) 441-4442 ext. 3925 or download our registration form.

This is a core course in the Botanical Art & Illustration certificate program.

Limning

Limning is a traditional painting method that dates back to the Renaissance, and has been used by botanical artists and scientific illustrators for centuries. Tiny brushstrokes are used to build up a highly detailed image, and are still favored by some illustrators who need to portray their subjects with great precision. Limning can be incorporated into larger paintings to bring crisp detail to small areas, or it can be employed by itself to create an entire painting. It is also a very useful “drybrush” method that is perfect for sensitive substrates such as vellum or fine art papers. Chris will be teaching this watercolor technique step by step, using photos of plants and flowers as reference material. Students are encouraged to bring good, clear prints and photos of plants that they would like to work from.

This class will be an extended version of the previous limning course. The first two class sessions will teach the basics of the technique for those students who have not covered it before, and then the next four sessions will focus on developing limning technique by working on an illustration project in class.

* Final four classes for repeat students: $150 members; $190 non-members.

To register, call the Garden Center at (412) 441-4442 ext. 3925 or download our registration form.

This is an elective course in the Botanical Art & Illustration certificate program.

Composition for Botanical Artists

It is relatively simple to place just one subject on a piece of paper in a pleasing composition. In this class, students will explore the option of using many images combined into one well-balanced, easily read single image. Students will learn the principles of traditional composition: placements of images on the page, balance of positive and negative space, balance of light and dark, and balance of textured and smooth areas. In addition, placement of images to indicate emotion, action, height or size will be demonstrated. Please bring a bag lunch.

To register, call the Garden Center at (412) 441-4442 ext. 3925 or download our registration form.

This is an elective in the Botanical Art & Illustration certificate program.

Illustrating Fruit and Berries with Colored Pencils

Janie Pirie joins us from her home in the UK. Come and join her for one day and discover the wonderful world of colored pencils while learning how to create rich and colorful drawings of fruit and berries without adding water!

Focusing on drawing, composition and the techniques of using colored pencils, Janie will teach you how to observe the basic shape of a subject and make it interesting. She will also show you how to use colored pencils correctly to blend colors, and create different textures and surface areas and make your subject look real. During the day Janie will give individual instruction as well as some group demonstrations during which you can watch her work and see how an illustration can “come alive” on paper.

All students will need to bring their own color pencils, graphite pencil, paper, eraser, sharpener and tracing paper if required. Janie uses Prismacolor, Faber-Castell Polychromos and Derwent Artists pencils and works on Fabriano 5 Hot Pressed paper (300g).

To register, call the Garden Center at (412) 441-4442 ext. 3925 or download our registration form.

This is an elective course in the Botanical Art & Illustration certificate program.