Contemporary botanical art captures the beauty of the natural world with precision, and our extraordinary instructors share their expertise in this nurturing yet rigorous program. NYBG offered North America's first formal botanical art certificate program and remains a leader in the discipline after more than three decades. This program offers a well-rounded array of courses that can be enjoyed singly, just for fun, or lead to a Certificate.
Click here for an overview of the Certificate Program.
Capture
the
fleeting
beauty
of
northeastern
spring
ephemerals
that
bloom
from
late
April
to
May.
In
this
class,
you'll
apply
your
watercolor
skills
to
fascinating
and
colorful
specimens
such
as
bloodroot,
trilium,
trout
lilies,
dutchman's
breeches,
hepatica
and
mayapple—to
name
more...
Accurate observation translates into sensitive, realistic drawings and is an essential skill for botanical artists. Using basic shapes, fruit, and leaves, learn contour drawing with an emphasis on proportion, and explore techniques such as foreshortening, perspective, and line weight.
Building
on
Botanical
Drawing
I
skills,
learn
to
tone
fruit,
vegetables,
leaves,
and
branches.
Focus
on
concepts
of
light
source,
value,
and
shading
to
create
form.
Learn
to
translate
color
into
black
and
white,
and
create
the
illusion
of
depth
more...
Accurate observation translates into sensitive, realistic drawings and is an essential skill for botanical artists. Using basic shapes, fruit, and leaves, learn contour drawing with an emphasis on proportion, and explore techniques such as foreshortening, perspective, and line weight.
Bumblebees
pilot
their
remarkably
un-aerodynamic
bodies
in
and
out
of
our
gardens
all
throughout
spring
and
summer.
In
this
class,
you'll
take
a
closer
look
at
their
anatomy
and
learn
how
to
use
colored
pencil
techniques
to
illustrate
the
"fuzzy"
more...
Forethought
and
an
understanding
of
basic
composition
principles
are
the
foundation
of
any
balanced
work
of
art.
Through
group
critiques,
discussions
and
a
variety
of
exercises,
we'll
experiment
with
a
wide
range
of
principles,
including
focal
point,
the
rule
of
more...
This intro class teaches you basic botanical illustration techniques to help you make realistic drawings of branches, stems, leaves, and flowers using graphite.
Accurate observation translates into sensitive, realistic drawings and is an essential skill for botanical artists. Using basic shapes, fruit, and leaves, learn contour drawing with an emphasis on proportion, and explore techniques such as foreshortening, perspective, and line weight.
Building
on
Botanical
Drawing
I
skills,
learn
to
tone
fruit,
vegetables,
leaves,
and
branches.
Focus
on
concepts
of
light
source,
value,
and
shading
to
create
form.
Learn
to
translate
color
into
black
and
white,
and
create
the
illusion
of
depth
more...
Learn
the
importance
of
a
plant's
life
cycle
in
difficult
survival
conditions
as
you
illustrate
species
with
rhizomes,
bulbs,
corms,
tubers
and
tap
roots-which
are
perennating,
aestivating
organs
that
allow
plants
to
regrow
from
year
to
year.
You'll
also
illustrate
more...
This
workshop
will
impart
the
instructor's
method
of
using
dry
brush
watercolor
to
replicate
the
colors,
form,
and
texture
of
peony
petals.
The
demonstration
will
include
color
mixing,
working
light
to
dark,
layering
colors,
adding
fine
detail,
using
dry
brush,
more...
Practice
techniques
learned
in
Botanical
Watercolor
I
using
live
subjects
such
as
leaves,
stems,
and
fruit.
Emphasis
is
on
realistic
portrayal
of
botanical
subjects
and
traditional
methods
of
dry
brush
watercolor
painting,
with
attention
to
detail
and
color
accuracy.
more...
Apply your understanding of contours, perspective, and tone to drawing three distinct types of flowers. The object is to accurately draw a fully toned flowering plant. Explore compositional possibilities, textures, and details.
Designed for both inexperienced students and those who wish to improve their skills, this class will allow you to work at your own pace on a variety of pieces. Lectures and demonstrations are enhanced by individual instruction.
Examine
the
enormous
variety
of
forms
and
structural
adaptations
of
flowering
plants—the
world's
dominant
plant
group.
Through
lectures,
demonstrations,
and
laboratory
studies,
learn
to
recognize
and
draw
the
many
plant
parts
and
growth
stages
of
the
most
common
plant
families.
more...
Peonies
are
one
of
the
glories
of
the
spring
garden-their
layered
texture,
shape,
scent,
and
color
variations
make
them
such
stunning
subjects
to
observe
and
enjoy.
Learn
to
draw
out
this
composition
before
transferring
it
to
vellum.
You'll
practice
drybrush
more...
Accurate observation translates into sensitive, realistic drawings and is an essential skill for botanical artists. Using basic shapes, fruit, and leaves, learn contour drawing with an emphasis on proportion, and explore techniques such as foreshortening, perspective, and line weight.