4-Week Botanical Illustration Class: Introduction for Beginners

151 Brookdale Road,Stamford CT 06903

05 October, 2021

Description

It is a natural progression to move from admiring plants to wanting to express their beauty in art. This introductory class teaches you how to create a realistic botanical drawing using seasonal plants available from the Bartlett’s beautiful collections. This 4-week workshop will take place Tuesday mornings in person, beginning Tuesday, October 5. No prior drawing experience required and all materials will be provided for this program. The instructor will share her entire approach to composing an idea from start to finish. Classes will include demonstrations and simple exercises emphasizing key principles and drawing methods. You’ll learn to use graphite pencil in a variety of ways to achieve accuracy and the look of three-dimensions that makes plants appear fleshy. You’ll also be presented with simple methods of analyzing plant parts individually - roots, stems, leaves and blossoms - to understand structure and surface details. You’ll learn how to dissect plants and to make a herbarium sheet to use as reference material as you draw and complete a “botanical plate” - a finished drawing of the entire plant. Classes will be led in-person by Kathie Miranda, a contemporary multi-media artist and educator. A graduate of Pace University, with further studies at Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts and Paier College of Art, she coordinated the Art program at the New York Botanical Garden and is past-president of the New York chapter of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators. Registration is $200. Bartlett members can take advantage of a 10% discount at check-out! The Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens is one of Fairfield County’s leading botanical and horticultural education resources featuring 93 acres of open, green space located on the historical property of well-known arborist Dr. Francis A. Bartlett. This irreplaceable resource features the best of what Connecticut's native landscape has to offer: magnificent Champion trees, charming gardens, wildflower meadows, red maple wetlands and boardwalks, woodland walking trails, varied wildlife and native habitats. The Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens offers a wide variety of educational opportunities for people of all ages. Our adult lectures are provided by highly regarded professionals in various botany and horticulture fields. As a regional resource for science education and a nationally recognized Arboretum, the Bartlett is perfectly positioned to provide students with a unique experience of complete immersion into nature science. We currently offer several core programs to the youth of the community including school programs, after school programs, outreach programs and a summer camp. The Nature Explore Classroom, an outdoor classroom, answers the profound need for connecting young children with nature. Another great educational tool, the Bartlett Arboretum’s Herbarium and Research Library is a collection of more than 6,000 sheets of preserved plants from around the world dating back to 1887. Open during the summer months, University of Connecticut Master Gardeners, answer questions and assist the community in garden-related topics through their Plant Clinic (free).