Botanical Art & Illustration Classes

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.


May

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.
254BIL303AO 05/13 Tu 6:00pm-9:00pm Rawlins
ONLINE

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...
254BIL332O 05/14 We 10:00am-1:00pm James
ONLINE

June

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.
254BIL140AO 06/01 Su 11:00am-3:30pm Vogel
ONLINE

All flowering plants produce fruit, regardless of whether the fruit is edible, hard or soft. In this class, you'll combine botanical morphology with illustration to gain a deeper understanding of plant reproduction—how fruits develop from fertilized carpels in various ways more...
254BIL449O 06/06 Fr 11:00am-1:00pm Leech
ONLINE

Plein-Air artist Frank Guida covers basic design principles, including focal point, contrast, perspective, line, and gesture, as well as how to choose a subject that translates well on the page. Then, you will go out on grounds to practice what more...
254CRF198 06/12 Th 10:00am-2:00pm Guida
NYBG

Learn the basic watercolor techniques used by botanical artists while painting fresh garlic from the photograph provided. Flat wash, layering and other techniques will be covered. This online course will offer live demonstrations, videos, and individual feedback.

Please note, this course more...
254BIL260O 06/14 Sa 12:00pm-4:00pm Schermer-Gramm
ONLINE

This intro class teaches you basic botanical illustration techniques to help you make realistic drawings of branches, stems, leaves, and flowers using graphite and colored pencil.
254BIL145C 06/16 Mo 11:00am-2:00pm Wry
NYBG

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.
254BIL301DO 06/26 Th 10:30am-1:30pm Grossman
ONLINE

July

Plants that "eat" animals have intrigued naturalists for centuries, from glistening sundews to vivid, almost erotic Venus flytraps. In this class, you'll learn why these plants are carnivorous as you develop your skills to accurately render their morphology on paper. more...
261BIL389O 07/08 Tu 10:00am-12:00pm Leech
ONLINE

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...
261BIL300BO 07/09 We 10:30am-1:00pm Day
ONLINE

Pen and ink, among the most versatile and useful media, can be used to create high quality, easily reproducible drawings. Learn how to produce different strokes and how to create tone by using stipple, line, and crosshatch techniques.
261BIL400O 07/11 Fr 11:00am-2:00pm Morley
ONLINE

Enhance the realism in your botanical compositions by mastering the art of drawing the fine details. In this class, you'll explore various graphite techniques that help to capture the intricate detailing of small, complex botanical subjects such as dried seedheads, more...
261BIL371O 07/12 Sa 12:00pm-4:00pm Schermer-Gramm
ONLINE

This intro class teaches you basic botanical illustration techniques to help you make realistic drawings of branches, stems, leaves, and flowers using graphite and colored pencil.
261BIL145A 07/13 Su 11:00am-2:00pm Yount
NYBG
261BIL145BO 07/14 Mo 6:00pm-9:00pm DeCicco
ONLINE

The focus of this course is on color theory and application. Colored pencil line and tone can be applied to look like either drawing or painting, making it a versatile medium for creating botanical artwork. Learn a variety of techniques, more...
261BIL415O 07/24 Th 11:00am-2:00pm Vogel
ONLINE

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.
261BIL303BO 07/26 Sa 11:30am-2:30pm Rawlins
ONLINE

August

This intro class teaches you basic botanical illustration techniques to help you make realistic drawings of branches, stems, leaves, and flowers using graphite and colored pencil.
261BIL145CO 08/03 Su 11:00am-2:00pm DeCicco
ONLINE

Capture the vibrant beauty of summer stone fruits. Using PanPastels, which are soft colors packed in a unique cake-like format, you'll create rich, soft compositions that highlight the luscious colors and forms of seasonal fruit. Enhance your artwork by adding more...
261BIL365O 08/03 Su 10:00am-3:00pm Reiner
ONLINE

Explore the fascinating world of pollinating insects and their host plants. In this mixed-media course, botanical artist Mindy Lighthipe will demonstrate techniques for accurately depicting the vibrant colors and intricate patterns of butterflies, moths, other pollinators, and their host plants. more...
261BIL507O 08/04 Mo 6:00pm-8:00pm Lighthipe
ONLINE

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.
261BIL301EO 08/07 Th 6:00pm-9:00pm Miller
ONLINE

Nothing quite compares to real time attention and feedback while working to perfect your botanical art and illustration skills. This summer, join us at NYBG for a brand-new, four-day clinic structured to aid students who have either completed their NYBG more...
261BIL268A 08/08 Fr 10:00am-5:00pm Grossman
Nemergut
Fasano
Jess
Reiner
Lyness
Sapanara
James
NYBG

Led by talented artists and instructors, this day of the clinic will focus on botanical drawing. Two instructors will guide you through specific areas of growth. You'll work on an assigned project for the morning and noon sessions and may more...
261BIL268B 08/08 Fr 10:00am-5:00pm Grossman
Nemergut
NYBG

Led by talented artists and instructors, this day of the clinic will focus on pen and ink technique. Two instructors will guide you through specific areas of growth. You'll work on an assigned project for the morning and noon sessions more...
261BIL268C 08/09 Sa 10:00am-5:00pm Fasano
Jess
NYBG

Led by talented artists and instructors, this day of the clinic will focus on colored pencil. Two instructors will guide you through specific areas of growth. You'll work on an assigned project for the morning and noon sessions and may more...
261BIL268D 08/10 Su 10:00am-5:00pm Reiner
Lyness
NYBG

Led by talented artists and instructors, this day of the clinic will focus on botanical watercolor skills. Two instructors will guide you through specific areas of growth. You'll work on an assigned project for the morning and noon sessions and more...
261BIL268E 08/11 Mo 10:00am-5:00pm James
Sapanara
NYBG

Join art historian and plant specialist Giovanni Aloi as he presents his newest publication, Botanical Revolutions: How Plants Changed the Course of Art, a richly illustrated book that unearths the representation of plants and their vital impact on art. Through more...
261LEC804O 08/12 Tu 6:00pm-7:00pm Aloi
ONLINE

September

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...
261BIL302BO 09/02 Tu 10:30am-1:30pm Grossman
ONLINE

Featuring a myriad of colors ranging from green to red, blue, pink and purple, tomatoes—a kitchen staple—are fascinating subjects for botanical illustration. Learn how to observe the subtle underlying tones as you prepare to draw an heirloom tomato using colored more...
261BIL418O 09/02 Tu 6:00pm-9:00pm Shin
ONLINE

This intro class teaches you basic botanical illustration techniques to help you make realistic drawings of branches, stems, leaves, and flowers using graphite and colored pencil.
261BIL145D 09/07 Su 11:00am-2:00pm Yount
NYBG

Gain an understanding of how light interacts with multiple botanical subjects in a single composition. Light on form is critical to creating dimension in a botanical illustration; when a composition contains several botanical specimens, additional attention to the placement of more...
261BIL450O 09/15 Mo 10:30am-1:30pm James
ONLINE

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...
261BIL300CO 09/17 We 10:00am-12:30pm Bijkerk
ONLINE

This intro class teaches you basic botanical illustration techniques to help you make realistic drawings of branches, stems, leaves, and flowers using graphite and colored pencil.
261BIL145EO 09/18 Th 11:00am-2:00pm Rawlins
ONLINE

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.
261BIL301F 09/18 Th 11:00am-2:00pm Wry
NYBG

This comprehensive class covers the basic techniques of botanical watercolor. Learn how to use your brushes to make smooth, underlying washes, as well as to create fine detail. Color theory will teach you how paints interact, and how to select more...
261BIL331BO 09/18 Th 5:30pm-8:30pm Vogel
ONLINE

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...
261BIL421BO 09/20 Sa 10:00am-3:00pm Rogers-Knox
ONLINE

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...
261BIL302CO 09/27 Sa 11:00am-2:00pm Vogel
ONLINE

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.
261BIL140BO 09/30 Tu 5:30pm-8:30pm Vogel
ONLINE

October

Late summer brings an abundance of composites—flower types that are composed of multiple disc and ray flowers —reminiscent of sunny days. In this class, you'll use ellipses and spirals to lay out your drawings before transferring them to vellum. After more...
262BIL312 10/04 Sa 10:00am-4:00pm Woodin
NYBG