Missed a live Zoom Drawing Workshop?  No problem!

Scroll through this page for all of our past Zoom Workshops that are currently available to purchase.

Our workshops include a set of pre-recorded videos for you to watch as you prepare for class, as well as recordings of each workshop session which include demonstrations on the first day of a workshop and constructive critiques on the second day. Once purchased, you can view the recordings by either clicking the link in your email or logging on to our website, clicking “My Supplies,” and scrolling down to “My Videos.”

Questions about your work?  We got you!

If questions specific to your work arise, you can send photos to info+images@drawbotanical.com and an instructor will get back to you.

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.

Color Theory

(Recorded January 7 & 11, 2024)

If colorful plants inspire you to learn how to mix any and every shade under the sun, we hope you’ll join our expedition into the fascinating world of color. Dive deep into color theory, color mixing, color blending, and color matching. Bring an assortment of botanical bits in any/every color, and we’ll show you how to match them… Learn more

Start Simple: Techniques for Beginners

Bring your beginners’ mind to your drawing table, and learn the building blocks of Draw Botanical Techniques, from sharp pencils to toning to basic color mixing. This is a great class for anyone who is drawing for the first time, for those taking the Botanical Basics Course, and for you! We will use simple shapes to understand and draw light on basic forms. We will focus on beginning techniques, use household objects to study simple 3-dimensional shapes (ex. sphere, cylinder, cup, funnel, leaf), and draw a tomato together… Learn more

Combining Colored Pencil & Watercolor with Radishes

Join us for a fun lesson in how to combine whimsical watercolor with compelling colored pencil to transform flat drawings into vibrant, three-dimensional wonders. We’ll practice with radishes, the ideal subject to learn the fundamentals of our Draw Botanical techniques and study the art of depth and dimension… Learn more

The Magic of Light Source, Highlights, & Shadows

Create the illusion of 3-dimensional form on a 2-dimensional surface with realistic highlights and shadows that provide beauty and depth to our drawings. We will study the way geometric shapes look when they are lit with proper lighting, and how to transfer that knowledge to forms we find in nature. Understanding light-source is essential for creating 3D form, making this workshop important for beginners. Artists with more experience will hone their skills, as we explore light-source in a focused and in-depth way… Learn more

Winter Branches

Every branch is a unique and fascinating world of its own. No matter how many times we draw them, they never fail to amaze us! Learn colored pencil and watercolor techniques for creating 3-dimensional branches, realistic bark textures, multiple branch compositions, and fine details including lichen and moss… Learn more

Texture: Peels & Pulp

How do you turn your geometric sphere into a realistic orange? The answer is texture! Get ready to learn how to use value, contrast, & saturation to describe the waxy bumpy surface & juicy translucent pulp of citrus fruits. We will study how to create the gorgeous highlights that shimmer on the waxy bumpy peels. We will cut our subjects open, and learn how to bring the shiny, sparkly translucent pulp to life. Bring your favorite citrus fruit, and we’ll learn and explore together… Learn more

Texture: Papery Garlic, Onions, etc.

Learn how to let light shine through that papery texture often found on our botanical subjects. From drying out bracts to flaky onion skins, we will demonstrate techniques to create that translucent, thin, papery “feel,” and give you positive, useful feedback on your own artwork… Learn more

Color Theory

(Recorded November 6 & 10, 2022)

Want to know more about the fascinating world of color? Join us for a deep dive into color theory, color mixing, color blending, and color matching. Bring an assortment of botanical bits in any/every color, and we’ll try to match them! We will be using Faber Castell Polychromos colored pencils and Albrecht Durer watercolor pencils, but you can apply the concepts to any supplies with which you’d like to participate. We will reference lessons in Wendy’s book, The Joy of Botanical Drawing… Learn more

Twists, Rolls, & Folds

From twisting vines and curling citrus peels to strappy leaves from alliums and grasses, nature is full of many kinds of twists, folds, and rolls – none of which are easy to draw! First, we will practice how to draw these forms realistically, where to darken our deepest shadows, and what to leave white for our brightest highlights. Then, we will use that knowledge to help us draw our natural subjects. Bring any natural curling, twisting, or folding subjects (and a smile!) to class and we will draw together… Learn more

Hairs, Prickles, Spines, & Thorns

Fine hairs, small prickles, white spines, and sharp thorns are difficult details to portray. Countless botanical subjects have at least one of these pokey parts that present unique challenges for realistic renderings. We will practice different techniques for drawing these subjects with colored pencil and watercolor, including using masking fluid with a dip pen, embossing tools and wax paper… Learn more

Parts of a Flower: Dissections & Discoveries

Peek inside nature’s window, and explore the mysterious world of flowers, undressed. Learn to dissect these delicate blooms to uncover the mesmerizing secrets to how plants reproduce and create fruiting bodies and seedpods. Our mission? To enjoy the art of identifying, magnifying, and sketching their reproductive components. 

We will venture into the depths of jewel-like ovaries, dissecting them under magnification to notice patterns similar to the mature fruit that develops. With pencils in hand, we will capture every intricate detail and explore how to organize these awe-inspiring inner treasures into a stunning composition… Learn more

Composite Flowers: Daisies, Zinnias, & Coneflowers

Composite flowers have so much to teach us! All of their petals are perfect for practicing overlaps; their adorable, fuzzy-looking centers are great practice for drawing textures and fibonacci patterns; and their circular form makes foreshortening simple and easy to understand. Watch round circles become ellipses as we draw flowers from different perspectives. Learn about the botany of inflorescences, their fascinating reproductive parts, and how each petal is actually an individual flower connected to a shared stalk! … Learn more

Hello Yellow! Daffodils

Oh yellow, your sunny hue delights us, but drawing you can be a struggle. Join us in celebrating the vibrant hues of spring as we practice working with this tricky color. From clean shades to convincing shadows, we’ll show you how to make those daffodils pop without a hint of muddy mess… Learn more

Spring Bulbs on Kraft Paper

Jump into spring and explore the wonder of adding bright white highlights to your deep dark shadows on tan Kraft Paper to bring your drawings to life. These spring beauties will be the perfect subjects to practice slow-toning by combining colored pencil and watercolor on mid-tone Kraft Paper… Learn more

Winter Jewels – Pomegranates

These big winter berries have so much to teach us, so get ready for a juicy workshop! Practice mixing vivid reds with watercolor and colored pencil. Watch experienced instructors demonstrate techniques for rendering leathery skin and glistening seeds. Share your work throughout the process to receive confidence-boosting compliments, and we will help you overcome challenges that arise while you are drawing… Learn more

Conifers

Captivated by the patterns of pine cones? Cuddle up with some hot cocoa, and capture cute conifers with us! Drawing pine cones is a perfect opportunity to look closely at the intricate spiral patterns found in nature. Learn our techniques for drawing these complex wintery subjects, including their branches with fine, green needles… Learn more

Colorful Autumn Leaves

Who can resist a vibrant, colorful leaf?! Join us as we use watercolor and colored pencil techniques to draw these “jewels of autumn.” Gather your leafy friends, especially those flaunting fall’s fiery shades of reds, oranges, and yellows… Learn more

Winter Squash, Pumpkins, & Gourds

Fall in love with the fascinating textures and pretty patterns found on decorative gourds. Study the segmented skin and gooey inner seeds of pumpkins. Whether you harvest from your garden, pick from the patch, or grab from the local grocery store, bring your favorite squash, pumpkin, or gourd, and we’ll draw together… Learn more

Trompe L’oeil: Fool-the-Eye

Fool the eye into seeing real-life three-dimensional objects jump out of their flat paintings with Trompe L’oeil techniques. You’ll learn several “tricks” for composition, color, style, and presentation. With your botanical drawing skills and art supplies, Wendy will teach you how to incorporate these fun techniques on kraft paper and tell a story by… Learn more

Lettering

Want to add lettering to your botanical illustrations? In this workshop, we’ll help you build some foundational lettering skills, and we’ll talk about ways to apply hand-lettering to your drawings… Learn more

If there’s a workshop you missed that you would like to see here, please let us know.

Upcoming Workshops