This short course aims to introduce you to the very basics of botanical painting from choosing an appropriate subject, i.e. a plant that has a simple structure that can be understood with ease, so as to produce a simple drawing and then to paint using manageable techniques.

To begin with, you will practise pencil techniques in your sketchbook, i.e. drawing straight and horizontal lines, circles and a shading exercise. Shading will help to understand tone gradation. This will help as a warm-up exercise and engage in concentration.

Drawing from life: Using seasonal fruit, you will draw the fruit carefully and lightly, noting the details and markings in your sketchbooks.

Colour: The next step is to make a colour chart or colour wheel for the plant you are using, deciding on cool and warm colours, and mixing colours that match the plant. You will learn how the paint behaves when mixed or neat, whether it is opaque or transparent and you will label the colours for reference.

Making a tracing: You will make a tracing and transfer this carefully onto Fabriano paper. You will decide on your composition. The painting techniques used will be wet-in-wet, wet-on-dry and dry brushing for detail.

You will practise the painting process during the class to refine the learned techniques.

Included

The college will provide most of the materials, including some watercolour paper, tracing paper and watercolour paints to share amongst the group. Fruit will also be provided.

What students need to bring

-An A4 sketchbook (or any you may have)

• A 2H pencil and plastic rubber
• An apron
• Watercolour brushes – a pointed round, sizes 2 and 4, and a Pro-Arte miniature brush, size 000

Additional information

Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear (no sandals or open toes).

Daily Timetable

Course teaching: 11am–5.15pm
Students arrive: 10.30am-11am (coffee optional)  
Morning teaching: 11am-1pm
Lunch break: 1pm-2pm (lunch is not included)
Afternoon teaching: 2pm-5.15pm (15 minute break, 3.30pm–3.45pm)
Teaching finishes: 5.15pm  
 

Short courses are open to anyone aged 18 and over. The course fee covers tuition and materials where stated. You will need to bring all other items listed under the ‘Materials to bring’ section.

Refreshments Coffee and tea are included in the course fee, but you will need to bring lunch with you to eat in the refreshments room. There are also plenty of other local venues to purchase food.

Access If you have any specific access needs, we will need to know about your access requirements in advance. Please tell us about your needs in confidence by emailing: [email protected]

This venue has steps to the front reception, with limited access via a side gate to the ground floor. There is a small lift to higher floors or stairs.

Safety Short course students are required to sign a safety compliance form as part of West Dean Health and Safety regulations.

Refunds and cancellations Please refer to our terms & conditions below

Disclaimer The information given is accurate at the time of publication. However, West Dean College reserves the right to cancel or amend courses if circumstances require.

Terms & Conditions