How to choose a botanical art course
If you’ve decided that this is the year for botanical art, there are a lot of different ways to learn, and these can be combined effectively to move yourself forward. Here are some thoughts I’ve had in choosing course for myself and advising others.
Click through here for the course I currently have available to book
One-off classes - a great way to test things out.
Doing a ‘taster class’ or one-off workshop is a great way to find your preferred style or learning approach before you commit to a course or investing in all the materials. Some are focussed on a level such as basic skills for beginners, others are focussed on a technique ‘colour mixing’ or a certain plant. No matter what, you’ll always learn something new and helpful. I never expect to leave with a completed work, but some of the unfinished efforts I have made at workshops have taught me the most.
Ongoing courses - learn and consolidateIf you are able to dedicate a couple of hours of ‘me time’ per week, an ongoing course offers the chance to learn a skill one week and put it into practice and consolidate it the next week. Often people start an artistic activity with a level of anxiety but in a longer course will start to really explore and blossom. I don’t set homework but encourage people to practice their own work outside class as they are able to apply their new skills and progress so much faster. They can also offer really useful insights to others in the class.
Online courses - learn at your own place and pace There has be an explosion in online schools - we no longer have to travel to Europe to receive instruction from botanical art gurus. Many have supportive communities or Patreon sites with weekly challenges. Most offer a free tutorial on Youtube so you can double-check whether you enjoy following them before you commit your hard earned cash. Although you may enjoy the aesthetic style of an artist, you’ll also want to make sure their teaching method, medium or painting method aligns works for you. A key advantage is that you can stop and start the videos to follow along to learn a technique. One thing to check, is whether or not the teacher will offer you personal feedback. That’s something I always find invaluable.
Personally the painters I find most rewarding to follow, use a lot of wet-in-wet in their earlier layers and not too much dry brushing, such as Sandrine Maugy, Julia Trickey and Egle Kolev who all offer excellent insight on technique and colour theory.
In person classes for a fun and supportive experience Making art doesn’t have to be lonely. Learning together offers a totally different dynamic. In class there’s always the chance to receive personal feedback and to learn from other students as well as the teacher. Group classes are not just fun, they’re also a great way to discover that we all produce different art from the same subject matter, we all learn at a different pace and, in my opinion, that’s the joy of it.
If you have any questions about your experience level, the best way to start, or develop your botanical art, reply to this email and I’d be happy to chat through what might work best for you.