Botanical Watercolor in the American Style

Are you new to Botanical Art? This class caters to someone who is a beginner to botanical painting, but the student must have some watercolor painting experience and supplies.  This can also be a “refresher” course for students wanting more instruction.

Class Overview:

Join Botanical Artist Suz Galloway to learn the art of creating beautiful and scientifically accurate botanical work in watercolor. This kind of art takes time and patience, but our natural world is full of subjects and the reward for painting them realistically is awesome!  We will use a branch of blueberries as our subject. 

In this introductory class you will: 

• Learn to underpaint to create form
• Glaze to create vibrant colors
• Stipple to create texture
• Negatively paint veins on leaves

Supplies - Student is responsible for bringing their own supplies to include:

Paints:  Do not purchase "student" grade paints

• Windsor Newton Professional Payne’s Gray
• Alizarin Crimson Professional
• Aureolin or Hansa Yellow Light

Other Supplies:

• 2 sheets of 140 lb. Hot Press paper (I will have some 9” x 12” on hand to purchase if you want at approx. $2 / sheet)
• 2-3 small containers for water (clean yogurt cups work well)
• #4 round “detail” brush (These are often difficult to find so I will have some on hand to purchase at approximately $14)
• White 9” plastic plate (can be a disposable picnic plate)
• Viva paper towels
• Pencil and paper for taking notes
• Portable “Ott” light (do not purchase prior to the first class, but bring one if you already own a portable light)

Instructor: 

Suz Galloway has taught American Contemporary Botanical art for 22 years and is a gallery member of the American Society of Botanical Art and a chapter member of the Southwest Botanical Artist and the local Great River Chapter. She is co-founder of the 100 year project, Flora and Fauna Illustrata, an art conservation program within the Andersen Horticultural Library that documents in scientific accuracy all the plants, animals, birds and insects that live in or pass through the U of M Landscape Arboretum. Her work is also included in the Eloise Butler Wildflower Florilegium.