Intermediate to advanced sessions –

Here is an opportunity to take a comprehensive and holistic approach to learning how to create captivating botanical art. These project-oriented sessions follow the four stages of Margaret’s “creative process” – a pathway to success!  Instruction is designed to support a smooth progression in the learning process starting with observational studies through to the completion of an expressive, artistically composed and well-executed final art piece.

Sessions include relevant practical demonstrations, focussed discussion and one-on-one guidance.  Each stage of this creative process presents opportunity to learn valuable art and illustration concepts and techniques through the following –

* Observational studies – Explore, observe, discover, and be inspired! Gaining knowledge from closely observing the complex beauty of plants leads to a sense of greater connection with nature and expressive botanical art. This initial stage involves sketches, research, colour notes, your own reference photos, and detailed pencil tone studies of selected elements. The latter not only helps create lifelike artwork, but it also fosters the immersive mindset for crafting beautiful botanicals.

* Composition – create a well-considered structural and tonal arrangement.

* Paint mixes – reflect a plant’s entire colour scheme crafted with just three selected colours.

* Brush skills, watercolour painting and optional supplementary colouring techniques.

* Know How and When to Finish your art piece.

Participants are asked to select a plant they love, either potted or selected sprigs from a plant in their garden.  For these sessions it is advised the final composition should be contained within an area of approximately A4 page size, with the main part of the illustration scaled at the subject’s natural size. Further information is sent, and questions answered with confirmation of attendance.  NB: As practical input will need to be undertaken by each participant while away from class, Margaret always encourages further communication via email to ensure steady progress continues.

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Margaret has designed step-by-step, customized instruction over many years, ensuring each participant can make progress, whether they are beginners or have prior experience in this art form. Practical demonstrations, class notes, and exercise sheets are provided as needed.

Margaret thoroughly enjoys volunteering her time to share her expertise in illustration using pencil, pen, or brush – skills honed during four years of traditional art school education and thirty years of experience as a natural science illustrator and botanical artist. Since 1978, she has developed a passion for teaching in this field, founding and directing two successful schools of botanical art and illustration with stimulating, holistic style curricula – in Australia and the USA.

DETAILS –

Schedule:  Wednesdays, 10 am – 12:30 pm. These are the remaining sessions for 2024

Cost of tuition:  Free

Dates:  Intermediate to advanced sessions – August 14 & September 11

Venue:  The Link at Ginninderry, 1 McClymont Way, Strathnairn ACT 2615.

Class limit: 12  – booking required

Bookings and enquires:  Please email – margaretsaul@botanicartist.com and type “LINK SESSIONS” into the email subject line. Include your name and telephone number and any questions you may have about these sessions.  Bookings close one week before the scheduled session. If you book but later find you are unable to attend, do please cancel and free up places for others.  Many thanks, Margaret.