In-person course
in Suffolk Maker & location details

Botanical Sketching and Drawing

Botanical illustration using coloured pencils at Flatford Mill

Description

Learn botanical sketching and drawing to improve your botanical skills. Botanical illustration is extremely detailed and precise, but before a finished piece of work can be produced, initial observational sketches and drawings have to be produced. This course will help you to sketch your subjects quickly and then hone them into a drawing good enough to turn into a finished piece of art. Some of this course will be en plein air so you will have the chance to draw lots of different subjects. All you will need is a few graphite drawing pencils and some pigment pens if you want to complete your work in ink. Included in this course will be visits to Benton End, the former home of The East Anglian School of Art. Students will be able to spend time in the extensive grounds of this beautiful house, with time to study, enjoy and create before returning to Flatford. Course tutor: Janie Pirie Janie Pirie has had a life-long interest in painting and drawing, beginning with painting pictures of the family garden at the tender age of four. She has studied at both the Northampton School of Art and the Colchester School of Art, where she specialised in illustration. Janie became a full-time artist in 2002 and now concentrates on floral/botanical subjects as well as portraits using, in the main, coloured pencils. Janie’s meticulous and striking compositions are given a noticeably subtle touch with her deft coloured pencil work. It is this attribute that gives the pictures the composition, detail and depth of colour that has made her originals, limited edition prints and art workshops so popular. Janie is a Fellow member of the Society of Botanical Artists and in 2008 was awarded a silver-gilt medal at the Royal Horticultural Society’s floral art exhibition at BBC Gardeners World Live. She followed that with a gold medal at the same show the following year, when she was awarded ‘Best Botanical Artist in Show 2009’. A second RHS gold medal was awarded to Janie in May 2014 for her studies of roses. In 2010 her picture of grapes (All Is Safely Gathered In) won ‘Best in Show’ at the UKCPS Annual Open Exhibition and in 2011 her amazingly detailed drawing of a Savoy Cabbage won her Runner-up ‘Best in Show’ as well as ‘Best Botanical’ in show. Her drawing of Blueberries won her Runner-up ‘Best Botanical’ in the same show. Following her success at UKCPS shows have seen Janie awarded ‘Best Portrait’ for ‘Clare’ and ‘Best Still Life’ for her depiction of cherries in a bowl with the apt title ‘Life Is Just…..’. Janie has also been awarded two Certificates of Botanical Merit by the RHS. She regularly runs courses at the Cambridge University Botanic Gardens, and, residential courses in the Lake District at Higham Hall, Bassenthwaite. Her work has also been featured many time in Artists & Illustrators magazine and she has produced three In-Depth books for Ann Kullberg in the USA. Janie lives in the beautiful surroundings of the Dedham Vale on the Essex/Suffolk border. She runs art workshops at other venues around the country and exhibits both locally and nationally. What to bring Sketching paper or a sketchbook A few graphite pencil Eraser Subject matter will be provided depending on what is available at the time. This may include flowers, shrubs, fruit or vegetables. About Flatford Mill We have four buildings that are used for visitor accommodation. Whilst most rooms are either en-suite or have a dedicated bathroom, there are some rooms in The Mill that share showers and toilets at the end of the hall. If this is unsuitable for you please make the office staff aware upon booking or as soon as possible. Please be aware that you are visiting a Field Centre that caters in the main for school parties; the accommodation is basic and dormitory style, but warm and comfortable.

What's included in the price?

Expert tuition Free Wi-Fi Full board accommodation Hot and cold drinks In course transport Full board accommodation and picnic lunch is available for resident bookings only. Refreshments are included for all, but non-resident bookings are advised to bring lunch with you.