Zoom Workshop 145: Autumn Armor: Spiky Specimens

Autumn Armor: How to Draw Botanical Subjects with Spikes

An Online Workshop for All Artists Using Colored Pencil & Watercolor

Sunday, November 15, 2026: 2pm – 6pm ET

Thursday, November 19, 2026: 6pm – 7:30pm ET

✏️ Instructors: Pam Thompson & Sam McWilliams
✅ Level: All levels
🌱 Botanical Subject(s): Anything spiky/spiny. Ideas include:

•Treenuts/Pods like sweetgum, chestnuts, buckeyes. beech nuts.
•Garden/Weed Pods like Thistles, Datura, Sea Holly, Wild Cucumber.
•Tropical/Grocery Store Finds like Rambutans, Durian, Kiowano.

Workshop Description

Chestnuts, thistles, sweetgum balls and other spiky autumn treasures make wonderfully interesting drawing subjects. We’ll explore how to capture spikes, spines, hooks and other wonderfully complicated textures without getting lost in every tiny detail.

We’ll begin by looking at the simple three-dimensional forms beneath all those prickly surfaces, then learn how the direction, length and foreshortening of the spikes help describe the form. We’ll use watercolor, colored pencil, and a few extra tools to build dimension, texture, and detail while keeping our subjects looking natural and three-dimensional.

Why Join?

Our Zoom workshops are not just about learning, but also about community, encouragement, and growing our skills together. Here’s what you can expect… Learn more