Description
Join us for a two-day workshop!
Saturday, July 12, 2025: 3pm – 7pm EST
Thursday, July 17, 2025: 4pm – 6pm EST
Instructors: Pam & Sam
Level: All levels (perfect for beginners and beyond!)
Botanical Subjects: Leaves with a bumpy surface texture: such as Swiss Chard, Dinosaur Kale, etc.
Workshop Description
Bring your sense of wonder to this workshop! A humble leaf you may overlook at the market can become a playground for the observant artist. Together, we’ll explore the rich, bumpy landscapes of complex leaves and learn, step by step, how to render them with dimension and life using watercolor and colored pencil techniques.
Imagine shrinking down to the size of a beetle and wandering through the pillowy folds of a chard leaf. It’s like a miniature mountainscape—each bump and wrinkle a story of growth, weather, and wild design. Whether you’re a beginner learning to slow down and look closely, or a seasoned botanical illustrator looking for a new challenge, this workshop offers a fun deep dive into complex leaf textures. Get ready to zoom in on the bumps and crinkles—and have a great time doing it!
What We’ll Practice
👁️ Seeing Like an Artist
Train your eyes to notice—and enjoy—the tiny topographical shifts that give leafy greens their character. Understand what makes a leaf “bumpy” by closely observing surface structures and how they catch the light.
🎨 Layering Techniques
Watercolor can create soft foundations of color, and colored pencils are great for adding dimension and texture. We’ll show you the best of both worlds and demonstrate our favorite ways to build layers for a realistic final illustration.
🍃 Texture Rendering
Practice how to capture the subtle hills and valleys of textured foliage without overworking your drawing.
Why Join?
Our workshops are not just about learning but also about community and collaboration. Here’s what makes our Zoom Workshops special:
✨ Step-by-Step Live Demos – Follow along with clear, approachable guidance from friendly instructors.
🌱 Supportive Learning Environment – Engage with instructors and fellow participants, ask questions, and share your progress in a supportive and encouraging space.
🖼️ Constructive Feedback – Receive personalized feedback from experienced educators to help you improve and gain confidence in your artistic abilities.
Even if you can’t join the live sessions, you still get unlimited access to:
🎥 Recorded Sessions – Rewatch anytime to refine your technique. (Recordings are sent a few hours after the live session ends.)
📹 Pre-Recorded Videos – Access to pre-recorded videos to supplement your learning and practice at your own pace to help you feel prepared before the class sessions.
📧 Email Support – If you watch the recordings after the live workshop has ended, you can still receive personalized feedback! Just send photos of your progress to info+images@drawbotanical.com, and an instructor will reply with compliments and constructive critiques.
Whether you’re a beginner learning to slow down and look closely, or a seasoned botanical illustrator looking for a new challenge, this workshop offers a fun deep dive into complex leaf textures. Get ready to zoom in on the bumps and crinkles—and have a great time doing it!
IMPORTANT: Add info@drawbotanical.com to your email contacts! All workshop details will arrive in your inbox, including links to the Zoom meetings, pre-recorded videos, and slideshow.
After purchasing this workshop, you will receive an email with Registration Details. If you don’t see this email in your inbox a few hours after purchasing, search your inbox for our email address and check your spam/junk/quarantine folders. If you still can’t find it, email info@drawbotanical.com, and we will assist you.
Recommended Supplies:
NOTE: Since we will be working with a lot of green, although not necessary, in addition to our recommended Polychromos Colored pencils, you could consider adding the following colors:
#174 – Chrome Green Opaque
#170 – May Green
Find all of the supplies that we recommend here. Feel free to follow along with any supplies you have (your result may just end up looking a little different). 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.
Cancellation Policy: Cancellations at least two weeks in advance will receive a 75% refund. If you cancel less than one week up to 48 hours before the event, you will receive a 50% refund (less 5% processing fee) if we can find someone to replace your spot. Less than 48 hours cancellation, we cannot issue a refund. You will still receive all recordings from the workshop, and you can watch them at your convenience.
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 or image 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.
