Botanical Art & Illustration Certificate Requirements

NYBG's Botanical Art & Illustration Certificate Program offers the opportunity to learn from some of the most extraordinary artists from around the world. The program requirements give students a solid foundation in scientifically accurate drawing based on observation and fine art techniques.

Those in pursuit of a Certificate must complete 221 total course hours (167 required + 54 elective), plus a final project. Browse this page to discover what required courses are currently scheduled.


May

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.
254BIL301CO 05/05 Mo 6:00pm-9:00pm Rawlins
ONLINE

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...
254BIL331AO 05/05 Mo 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.
254BIL303AO 05/13 Tu 6:00pm-9:00pm Rawlins
ONLINE

June

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

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

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

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

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

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

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