Gorgeous Gourds at Gardiner Library with Vern

When: Saturday, October 17, 2026 10am – 3pm (please bring your own lunch)

Where: Gardiner Public Library, 133 Farmer’s Turnpike, Gardiner, NY

Location Description: The Gardiner Library is a cozy space dedicated to its local community in Gardiner, NY. In conjunction with the botanical art show on display at the library this autumn, Draw Botanical offers a one-day watercolor and colored pencil workshop. The art show, Botanical Bounty, featuring several local botanical artists, including Veronica Fannin, features drawings and paintings of flora that celebrate the autumn season. Continue that celebration and draw small decorative gourds together with Veronica in the community room.

Instructor(s): Veronica (Vern) Fannin

Instructor Bio: Veronica (Vern) Fannin is an artist from Kerhonkson, NY, whose practice includes illustration, painting, design, and botanical drawing. Her botanical work blends scientific accuracy with a poetic sensibility, often featuring delicate local plants rendered with attention to pattern, movement, and lyrical composition. Informed by her background in design and lettering, her drawings are composed with clarity and grace—quiet studies in the rhythm and elegance of natural forms.

See more work at https://www.earthartmagic.com/vern-illustration-plants-and-animals 

Botanical Subject(s): Autumn gourds (provided by instructor)

Level: All artistic skill levels, aspiring to advanced!

Workshop Description: From plump pumpkins to warty gourds, autumn’s harvest is full of texture and charm. Their bumpy skins and bold colors make gourds and squash fascinating and fun to draw. In this one-day workshop, we’ll explore how to capture their unique surfaces and sculptural forms using Draw Botanical’s signature combination of watercolor and colored pencil. Decorative gourd subjects will be provided, but feel free to bring your own gourd to draw if you’d like.

What We’ll Practice:
Texture & Dimension: Build bumpy surfaces and segmented patterns with watercolor and colored pencil.
Color Mixing & Layering: Recreate mottled skins, subtle tones, and bold hues.
Light & Shadow: Practice toning to create depth and show off curved, 3D forms.

Itinerary:
10am: Arrival, introductions, basic concepts like light source and toning.
11am: Choose a gourd, color tests, line drawings in pencil
11:30: Begin adding watercolor
12pm: LUNCH (bring your own)
12:45: More watercolor, begin adding colored pencil.
1:30 – 3pm: Work on your drawings, demos as needed, finishing techniques