Geometry in the Garden: Drawing Plants at Spiral House Park

A one-day botanical art workshop exploring nature’s wonders growing in a vibrant, sculptural landscape

When: Sunday, July 5, 2026 | 9am-3pm

Where: Spiral House Park, Saugerties, NY

Instructor: Vern Fannin

Level: Beginners and beyond!

Botanical Subject(s): Native perennials and garden flowers

Workshop Description:

The only thing better than botanical drawing on a midsummer’s day is doing it with incredible instructor, Veronica (Vern) Fannin, at an inspiring spot unlike any other. Explore the breathtaking grounds of Spiral House Park, and admire its wondrous woodland trails, curated gardens, bedrock geology, and stunning sculptures shaped with sacred geometry. Come to the classroom for a botanical drawing demonstration (beginners welcome!) focused on drawing flowers and leaves. We’ll discuss ways that sacred geometry appears in plants and use traditional techniques of botanical illustration with colored pencil and watercolor to create realistic plant depictions. 

Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy in one of the many inviting stone alcoves and patios with a beautiful view of New York’s Catskill Mountains. Choose a plant that attracts you, find your favorite spot on site, and enjoy the rest of the afternoon practicing on your own drawing. Receive one-on-one feedback from Vern as you work, so you can produce your best possible piece. Head home with a full heart, a satisfied smile, and your personally painted plant portrait from this special day at Spiral House Park.

Location Description: 

For four decades, the late artist Tom Gottsleben and his wife, Patty Livingston, transformed the site of an abandoned bluestone quarry into a place of magical beauty — a varied landscape of gardens and fields filled with Gottsleben’s stone and crystal glass sculpture, the largest of which is a five-story spiral house. Woodland trails, curated gardens, bedrock geology, and a backdrop of stunning Catskill Mountain views add to the experience the property offers. In 2025, this 45-acre park opened for the public to enjoy… Learn more about Spiral House Park

Art Supplies

Bring your own… Learn more