Two orange butterflies and a black caterpillar rest on green leaves and purple violets against a plain white background.

Berkeley Arts Council, Inc.

General Admission

Member Special

Enjoy nature by painting the details of fruits and flowers. Learn to slow down your eye and your paint brush to see plants in a new way.&nbsp; We will focus on autumn&rsquo;s nuts, fruits and dried flowers to create beautiful compositions from nature&rsquo;s bounty. Learn botanical pointers as well as enhancing your understanding of watercolor techniques. Begin with a delicate pencil drawing and transform it into an elegant painting. Practice dry brush layering of paint to create fine detail and rich color. IMPORTANT! the registration lists &quot;4 options&quot; for event date. Ticket price includes all 4 dates: 10/20, 10/22,10/27 and 10/29. Click on any date to register. Supply List: 1.Artist grade watercolor paint in tubes: at least red, yellow and blue2. 3 sheets of drawing paper or your sketch pad3. 1 HB pencil, eraser, and small ruler&nbsp;4. 1 glass jar for water5. 2 or 3 small dishes (saucers) to mix paints or a plastic palette6. Water color paint brush with very soft bristles7. &nbsp;Instructor will supply 10 x 14&rdquo; watercolor paper for $2.50 a sheet.8. If you have a small battery operated table light or a chargeable light, please bring it along. Cords become a hazard in a class room. Please, no food or drink around the artwork. About the&nbsp;Instructor:&nbsp;&quot;I begin by bringing a plant into my studio&mdash;often from my garden&mdash;and observe it closely: How do the leaves attach? Does it move with the sun? Are there stipules, thorns, or changes in color as it blooms? Getting to &ldquo;know&rdquo; a plant helps me capture its spirit.While it may be anthropomorphic to say plants have personalities, they certainly have distinct forms, fragrances, and ways of moving. I believe living plants carry a spiritual presence, different from animals, yet equally moving.My goal in botanical painting is to express these subtle, often indescribable qualities. I aim to create beautiful compositions, even from the most ordinary &ldquo;weed.&rdquo; I also host a weekly blog and Facebook group called Leafy Logs and Nature Walking, where the public is welcome to share what they see in nature.&quot; Susan Strong McDonald earned a B.A. in Biology from Sweet Briar College and studied Entomology and Botany at the University of Michigan Biological Station. After studying art and woodblock printmaking in Japan, she taught art and art history at North Hennepin Community College for 25 years. She later completed a Ph.D. in Art History at the University of Minnesota.In 1976, she co-founded W.A.R.M. (Women&rsquo;s Art Registry of Minnesota), supporting the advancement of women&rsquo;s art. She has exhibited in Japan, Great Britain, and across the U.S. In recent years, her focus has shifted to botanical subjects, reflecting her deep concern for the natural world.Website: https://susanstrongbotanicalart.com

Enjoy nature by painting the details of fruits and flowers. Learn to slow down your eye and your paint brush to see plants in a new way.  We will focus on autumn’s nuts, fruits and dried flowers to create beautiful compositions from nature’s bounty. Learn botanical pointers as well as enhancing your understanding of watercolor techniques. Begin with a delicate pencil drawing and transform it into an elegant painting. Practice dry brush layering of paint to create fine detail and rich color. IMPORTANT! the registration lists "4 options" for event date. Ticket price includes all 4 dates: 10/20, 10/22,10/27 and 10/29. Click on any date to register. Supply List: 1.Artist grade watercolor paint in tubes: at least red, yellow and blue2. 3 sheets of drawing paper or your sketch pad3. 1 HB pencil, eraser, and small ruler 4. 1 glass jar for water5. 2 or 3 small dishes (saucers) to mix paints or a plastic palette6. Water color paint brush with very soft bristles7.  Instructor will supply 10 x 14” watercolor paper for $2.50 a sheet.8. If you have a small battery operated table light or a chargeable light, please bring it along. Cords become a hazard in a class room. Please, no food or drink around the artwork. About the Instructor: "I begin by bringing a plant into my studio—often from my garden—and observe it closely: How do the leaves attach? Does it move with the sun? Are there stipules, thorns, or changes in color as it blooms? Getting to “know” a plant helps me capture its spirit.While it may be anthropomorphic to say plants have personalities, they certainly have distinct forms, fragrances, and ways of moving. I believe living plants carry a spiritual presence, different from animals, yet equally moving.My goal in botanical painting is to express these subtle, often indescribable qualities. I aim to create beautiful compositions, even from the most ordinary “weed.” I also host a weekly blog and Facebook group called Leafy Logs and Nature Walking, where the public is welcome to share what they see in nature." Susan Strong McDonald earned a B.A. in Biology from Sweet Briar College and studied Entomology and Botany at the University of Michigan Biological Station. After studying art and woodblock printmaking in Japan, she taught art and art history at North Hennepin Community College for 25 years. She later completed a Ph.D. in Art History at the University of Minnesota.In 1976, she co-founded W.A.R.M. (Women’s Art Registry of Minnesota), supporting the advancement of women’s art. She has exhibited in Japan, Great Britain, and across the U.S. In recent years, her focus has shifted to botanical subjects, reflecting her deep concern for the natural world.Website: https://susanstrongbotanicalart.com

Berkeley Arts Council, Inc.

Botanical Art for Beginners: Painting Nature with Watercolor

Berkeley Art Works

General Admission

$65

Member Special

$58.50

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