Description
A Botanical Illustration Workshop at Hortus Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
📅 Date: Saturday, May 31 (10am-4pm EDT)
📍Location: Hortus Arboretum & Botanical Gardens in Stone Ridge, NY
✏️Instructor: Wendy Hollender
✅Level: All Levels
🌼Botanical Subject: Magnolias and other flowering trees of spring including Aesculus, Tree Peonies and Viburnums
(Because nature is unpredictable, we will be prepared to draw whatever we find in bloom.)
Workshop Description
Celebrate the blooming beauty of spring and capture the magnificence of magnolias in this 6-hour botanical illustration workshop at the incredible Hortus Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. This hands-on class blends live drawing demonstrations, time to practice, and individual feedback, all in a relaxed, nature-filled setting.
Why Magnolias? 🌸
Magnolias are one of the oldest flowering plants in the world, dating back over 100 million years—long before bees existed! Their unique flower structures, large saucer-like blooms, and fascinating centers make them an exciting and dynamic subject for botanical illustration. At Hortus, you’ll have the chance to observe and sketch a variety of magnolia species, with the hope of catching some in full bloom.
What Awaits You?
🌿 Explore a “Living Textbook” – Wander through Hortus Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, home to the most diverse plant collection in Ulster County.
🎨 Learn Botanical Illustration Techniques – Through instructor demonstrations, you’ll understand how to blend watercolor and colored pencil to create beautiful, detailed renderings of magnolias and informative, informal study pages.
🖌 Create in a Casual, Outdoor Setting – Set up your sketchbook right under the trees to enjoy the fresh air and natural inspiration, or cut a magnolia to draw at a table. Whether you prefer loose sketchbook studies or more detailed botanical renderings, this workshop is designed for artists of all skill levels.
👩🎨 Guided Instruction & Personal Feedback – We’ll alternate between watching live drawing demos and experimenting on your own, with the opportunity to ask questions and receive one-on-one guidance from Wendy.
What You’ll Take Home
✨ A deeper understanding of botanical illustration techniques
✨ Confidence in capturing floral forms with watercolor and colored pencil
✨ The joy of creating art in a beautiful, nature-filled space
✨ A satisfying sketch or the start of a magnificent magnolia drawing
What to Bring
This is a relaxed, outdoor workshop, so we encourage you to bring your own art supplies—especially materials that are easy to carry and comfortable to use in a garden setting. See our list of Recommended Art Supplies
Our lessons are about a combination of fundamental 3D art concepts and colored pencil and watercolor technique, so you can skip the supplies-specific tips and still learn a lot about art basics including perspective, light source, composition, etc. One of the main points we teach is colored pencil and watercolor technique for slow, continuous toning, but as long as you are able to achieve the same blending result with your chosen materials, you can still benefit from our course lessons.
Join us for a day of sketching, learning, and connecting with nature as we celebrate Magnificent Magnolias!
Prerequisites are not required for this workshop, but if you want to gain confidence and build some foundational skills before attending, we recommend completing the Botanical Basics online program.
Need a place to stay? Check out our lodging info for the Accord area.
Class will be held at:
Hortus Arboretum and Botanical Gardens
76 Mill Rd
Stone Ridge, NY 12484
🌸 Reserve Your Spot Today & Draw with us in the Gardens!
Cancellation Policy: In the event you cancel over 6 weeks before, a partial refund of 70% will be given if we are able to fill your spot. If we are unable to fill your spot or if you cancel less than 6 weeks before, we cannot issue a refund.
We reserve the right to cancel a workshop at any time. If we cancel a workshop, you will receive a full refund.
By purchasing this workshop, you agree to the following Media Release: I hereby give permission to Draw Botanical LLC to use photographs, videos, and/or audio recordings in which my picture, image, or work appears for all purposes and in all media and formats now known or later created including, without limitation, all promotional materials. I hereby waive any right that I may have to inspect or approve the finished product or products or advertising or printed matter that may be used in connection with this video, audio or photographs or the use to which it may be applied.
I hereby irrevocably release and discharge Draw Botanical LLC and personnel from all claims, demands, and causes of action that I now have or in the future may have relating to the permitted use of my likeness.
I agree that Draw Botanical LLC will be the sole owner of all rights in the above-mentioned recordings. (Note: I maintain all rights to the work I create. Draw Botanical maintains all rights to the recorded content.) This release is governed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
