school of botanical art & illustration - Denver Botanic Gardens

ELECTIVE COURSES
sheen. Drawing with pencils formulated for use on
translucent drafting film you achieve high degrees of
shading and contrast in your illustration. Demonstrations
and guided exercises will train you to draw incredible
detail. Your advanced skills will prepare you to select a
live specimen and work through the process to a complete
botanical plate. Fee: $210 member, $265 non-member.
Prerequisites: Pencil I, Pencil II, (Perspective and Light on Form
strongly recommended)
• Thu., March 28, April 4, 11, 18, 25, 9 a.m. - noon
Instructor: Randy Raak
Bugs and Pollinators in Carbon Dust
Dead parts, buried parts, dull parts, backs and bottoms - take
a second look at the unexpected. This class will challenge the
illustrator to find beauty in the most ordinary subjects, through
exploration of composition, scale and view. As an introduction
you learn about bugs and insects from a museum expert during
your visit to Denver Museum of Nature and Science. In the
classroom you might prefer using the microscope to see the
fine details in your selection of bug, beetle, spider or other
insect. Focus on smooth, continuous tone, range of values
and precise details as you pay close attention to composition,
scale and view. Your final plate in carbon dust might become
your favorite piece for the approaching juried Denver Botanic
Gardens/GNSI exhibit. Fee: $225 member, $280 nonmember.
Prerequisites: Pencil I, Pencil II, entry level carbon
dust, (Perspective and Light on Form strongly recommended)
• Tue., June 4, 11, 18, 25, July 2, 6 – 9 p.m.
Instructor: Karla Beatty
PEN & INK, CALLIGRAPHY AND PUBLISHING
Elegant Hand Lettering
Learn copperplate or
round hand lettering, the
traditional style for labeling
early botanical plates.
Popular in England in the
Renee Jorgensen
17 th and 18 th centuries,
this elegant lettering
complements botanicals beautifully. Start with an introduction
to the oblique pen and flexible quill nibs. Practice basic pen
strokes and learn to form each letter in this classic style. Learn
label placement and lettering size to complete your plates
with a special flourish. Fee: $225 member, $280 non-member.
No prerequisites.
• Wed., Jan. 9, 16, 23, 30, Feb. 6, 6 – 9 p.m.
Instructor: Renee Jorgensen
Discover Clayboard
Pen and ink on clayboard
surface is one of the most
adaptable and forgiving
combinations of pigment
medium and surface. All fear
using ink is gone! Discover the
excitement of clayboard where
contrasts in textures and values
produce dramatic and luminous
Randy Raak
effects. Choose your favorite
subject matter and create a composition. Learn the techniques
to convey form, shading, textures and spatial perspective of
the elements in your composition. Work toward completing one
or several final illustrations. Fee: $210 member, $265 nonmember.
Prerequisites: Pencil I, Pen and Ink I, Composition,
Perspective (Light on Form strongly recommended)
• Thu., Jan. 10, 17, 24, 31, Feb. 7, 9 a.m. – Noon
Instructor: Randy Raak
Brush and Quill - Expressive Ink
on Mylar ®
Step away from tradition to try new
techniques! Trade your technical pen for
a quill and brush and learn to express
ink lines in a relaxed and painterly
fashion. Begin with a look at how
other artists have used ink expressively.
Demonstration and practice with the
new tools and colored inks prepares
you to start your own drawing. Work
on twigs, winter branches, dried
Susan Curnutte
leaves and seedpods; experiment with
techniques for successfully depicting line, form and texture.
Make a mistake? No problem! You can erase ink from Mylar ®
and try again. Complete a botanical study and enjoy a fresh,
fun way to approach this time-honored medium. Fee: $225
member, $280 non-member. Prerequisites: Pencil I, Pen and
Ink I, (Perspective or Light on Form strongly recommended)
• Tue., Feb., 19, 26, March 5, 12, 19, 6 – 9 p.m.
Instructor: Susan DiMarchi
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