Botanical Art and Illustration
Students enrolled in the Botanical Art and Illustration Certificate program will learn how to draw botanical subjects with scientific accuracy, artistry and mastery of technical methods. Using a basic knowledge of plant morphology, participants will develop the skills needed to document plants in intricate detail, including the root system, upper and lower leaf surfaces, flowers, fruits and seed heads. This program is designed for students who are interested in pursuing art for pleasure and self-satisfaction, and they can choose between two concentrations: watercolor or colored pencil. Beginners, as well as those with art experience, are welcome. Students ay repeat most courses in the program at a 10-percent discount; however, a repeat course cannot apply toward certificate credit.
Receiving Class Credit: For both core and elective classes, students must attend all class sessions and complete and submit all the work required to earn class credit. Class credit is important if a student is pursuing the Basic or Advanced Botanical Art and Illustration certificate. Even if a student is not sure about pursuing the certificate, it is recommended that they earn credit for each class because this is difficult to do retroactively. If a student has to miss class (e.g. health reasons or a death in the family), they must contact the instructor at their earliest convenience to see if it’s possible to still earn class credit.
A note on recordings: The class recordings posted on Google Classroom are meant to aid students in completing their work between classes but are not a substitute for attending class. Students are required to attend all classes and are not allowed to miss class and watch the recordings for credit.
About the Program
Learn more about our certificate requirements, browse work from our students, meet our instructors and more.
For more details about our programs, or to receive personalized class recommendations from our helpful staff, please feel free to contact us at edu@phipps.conservatory.org.
Confirmations will be emailed the day before each class, including a Zoom link. Please check your spam/junk mail folder, and if you have not received the link, email edu@phipps.conservatory.org.
Relevant demos from virtual classes are recorded and made available to all registered participants for one month after the program.
Cancellation policy:
Contact edu@phipps.conservatory.org or 412-441-4442 ext. 3925 to cancel a class registration.
- Up to two weeks before the class (or the first class date, for a multi-session class), you may receive a full refund minus a non-refundable $10 adminstrative fee.
- Up to 72 hours (3 days) before the class or the first class date, you may receive a 50% refund.
- Less than 72 hours (3 days) before the class or the first class date, there are no refunds.
- Special events like conferences will have a separate cancellation policy and refund deadline.
All times are Eastern Time Zone.
Want to sign up with a gift certificate?
Contact Phipps at edu@phipps.conservatory.org or 412-441-4442 ext. 3925 with your choice of class to sign up with a gift certificate. If there is a remaining balance for the class or a remaining balance on the gift certificate, we will discuss those details.
Current Classes
Click titles for full details
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Pop-Up Flower Cardmaking | Shawn Sheehy | Saturdays: Feb. 11, March 11 or April 22 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. (with 30 minute break) [Noncredit]
- Apr. 22: Western Flowers | 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
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Drawing and Painting Insects | Christine Hutson | Saturdays April 1, 15, 22 and 29, May 6 and 13 | 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (with small breaks) | After-class meeting: Saturday May 20 | 9:30 – 11 a.m. [please note time change]
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Colored Pencil II | Amy Lindenberger | Saturdays: April 15, 22 and 29 | 9:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. (with lunch and additional breaks) | After-class meeting: Wed. May 17 | 7 – 8:30 p.m. | This class is now filled.
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Nature Journaling in Two Locations | Flora and Fauna of Spring \ Comparing and Contrasting Two Different Environments | Melissa Fabian | Thursdays April 27, May 4, 11 and 18 | 1 – 4 p.m. | After class meeting: Thursday May 25, 6- 7:30 p.m.
Classes Currently in Progress
- Mastering Color I - VI | Amy Lindenberger | Saturdays: Jan. 14 and 28, Feb. 18 and March 25 | 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (with lunch breaks)
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2023 Phipps’ Allegheny Highlands Flora Project: Exhibition of Foraged Plants in Southwestern PA (with an emphasis on the edible parts of each plant) | Plant Selection | Monday Feb. 20 | 6 - 8 p.m. on the Zoom platform | Robin Menard and Stephanie Lind | Student orientation | Monday Feb. 27 | 6 – 8 p.m. on the Zoom platform | Robin Menard | Hunt Institute will be emailing digital images to participants in June 2023 | In Person Guided open studios | Sundays: July 16; Aug. 13; Sept. 17; Oct.15; and Nov. 12 | 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
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Botanical Drawing II | Volume, Texture and Details | Robin Menard | Saturdays: Feb. 25, March 4 and 18 | 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (with lunch break) | After class meeting: Monday March 27 | 6 - 7:30 p.m.
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Silverpoint I & II | Melissa Fabian | Tuesdays March 7, 14, 21 and 28, April 4 and 11 | 6 – 9 p.m. | After class meeting: Tuesday April 18 | 6 - 7:30 p.m.
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Colored Pencil on Mylar Film | visiting artist Susan Rubin | Saturdays March 11, 18 and 25 | 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
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Botanical Drawing II | Volume, Texture and Details | Melissa Fabian | Wednesday, March 15, 22 and 29, April 5, 12, 19 | 6 – 9 p.m. (with small breaks) | After-class meeting: Wednesday May 3 | 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Detailed Listings
Drawing and Painting Insects | Christine Hutson
Saturdays April 1, 15, 22 and 29, May 6 and 13 | 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (with small breaks)
After-class meeting: Saturday May 20 | 9:30 – 11 a.m. [please note time change]
$245 members | $275 nonmembers
Presented as a live webinar through Zoom
Objective: To be able to illustrate insects in natural poses using graphite, pen and ink and/or watercolor
Level: Beginner to Advanced
Prerequisite: Botanical Drawing I and II (some watercolor and/or pen and ink experience or equivalent experience)
*Relevant demos are recorded and made available to pre-registered students within 1 week of each class session. Videos will be viewable for one month from receipt.
In this class we will explore various methods for illustrating insects, and students may use any medium they are comfortable with already, including graphite drawing, pen and ink, watercolor, etc. The goal of the class is to learn how to observe insects from life or from photos and then work on illustrating them in natural poses. There will be one final project due at the end of the class, but we will work on various exercises and sketches during class as well. Botanical Art and Illustration Certificate elective.
Colored Pencil II | Amy Lindenberger
Saturdays: April 15, 22 and 29 | 9:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. (with lunch and additional breaks)
Wed. May 17, 7-8:30 p.m. after class meeting
$250 members | $280 nonmembers
Presented as a live webinar through Zoom
Objective: To be able to create a botanical painting with colored pencils, building on experience gained in Colored Pencil I
Level: Intermediate
Prerequisites: Botanical Drawing I and II, Colored Pencil I
Building on the foundation of colored pencil techniques and layering principles established in Colored Pencil I, focus on more advanced layering and blending techniques to create a variety of surface textures. Improve your color perception skills and explore more advanced color theory to better understand hue, value, intensity and temperature. Botanical Art and Illustration Certificate core course
This class is now filled. Please email edu@phipps.conservatory.org to be placed on the waiting list.
Pop-Up Flower Cardmaking: Western Flowers | Shawn Sheehy
Saturday, April 22 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. (with 30 minute break)
Single Session: $90 members | $100 nonmembers (includes material fee)
Presented as a live webinar through Zoom
Registration for this session closes on April 11.
*Relevant demos are recorded and made available to pre-registered students within 1 week of each class session. Videos will be viewable for one month from receipt.
Why wait for spring to bring beautiful blooms into your home? Join Shawn Sheehy in building four striking pop-up flower cards each class using just a few tools and a kit of pre-cut pieces. You’ll leave the workshop with a set of completed cards- perfect for gift giving – and you’ll also gain insight into paper engineering and paper sculpture. There are three individual wildflower workshops. Take any or all three! All skills are welcome.
Session #3 (Western Flowers) April 22 – Miner’s Lettuce, California Buttercup, California Poppy, Sego Lily
Nature Journaling in Two Locations | Flora and Fauna of Spring \ Comparing and Contrasting Two Different Environments | Melissa Fabian
Thursdays April 27, May 4, 11 and 18 | 1 – 4 p.m.
After class meeting: Thursday May 25, 6- 7:30 p.m.
$170 members | $200 nonmembers
Presented as a live webinar through zoom
Objective: To observe and sketch the awakening of spring Flora and Fauna in two different locations of your choice; students will compare observations from the two environments.
Level: Beginner to Advanced
Prerequisite: None
*Relevant demos are recorded and made available to pre-registered students within 1 week of each class session. Videos will be viewable for one month from receipt.
This class will allow the student nature journalists to compare and contrast the awakening of plants and fauna in two different environments - recording the needs of the plants and fauna to sustain their continued existence in closely observed environments. Will the changing environments force the plants and fauna to new areas? Can “we” influence these environments in a positive way? Botanical Art and Illustration Certificate elective.
Mastering Color I - VI | Amy Lindenberger
Saturdays: Jan. 14 and 28, Feb. 18 and March 25 | 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (with lunch breaks)
$300 members | $330 nonmembers
Presented as a live webinar through Zoom
Objective: To be able to use color, perception, hue, value, intensity and temperature for application to personal colored pencil renderings
Level: Beginner to advanced
Prerequisites: Botanical Drawing I and II, and Colored Pencil I
These classes are mixed level and are sequential; please register for Mastering Color I if you are new to the series and other levels only as appropriate based on which level(s) you have taken previously.
Mastering Color I: Work at your own pace within a group setting to create precise color-matching tools for hue, value and intensity. Then use those tools to match color to botanical reference photos (and live specimens as time permits). Be sure to bring your completed color wheel from Colored Pencil II.
Mastering Color II: Using the tools created in Mastering Color I, learn how and why to categorize manufactured pencil colors - known as convenience colors - into families. Then, working from a live plant specimen, use the color-matching system to match colors in a live plant specimen.
Mastering Color III: Work from plant specimens and focus on the challenge of mixing interesting neutrals and near neutrals without creating mud. Explore the role opacity plays in color-mixing with colored pencil, and apply the principles of warm and cool colors to add to the depth of your renderings.
Mastering Color IV: Working with color schemes and other color considerations, student will work on techniques to enhance their individual color sense while remaining true to Botanical accuracy using both exercises and working from plant specimens
Mastering Color V: Students will work on experimental approaches to color usage - particularly in the area of intensity/value combinations - to further enhance their individual color sense and create a mood.
Mastering Color VI: This level is an independent study level where students work individually with the instructor to devise a plan to focus on some aspect of color study that they wish to focus on. This level may be repeated
Botanical Art and Illustration Certificate elective
2023 Phipps’ Allegheny Highlands Flora Project: Exhibition of Foraged Plants in Southwestern PA (with an emphasis on the edible parts of each plant)
Plant Selection | Monday Feb. 20 | 6 - 8 p.m. on the Zoom platform | Robin Menard and Stephanie Lind
Student orientation | Monday Feb. 27 | 6 – 8 p.m. on the Zoom platform | Robin Menard
Hunt Institute will be emailing digital images to participants in June 2023
In Person Guided open studios | Sundays: July 16; Aug. 13; Sept. 17; Oct.15; and Nov. 12 | 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. |
$180 members | $200 nonmembers
Phipps Garden Center in Mellon Park
Objective: To be able to create a botanical illustration from the beginning to end
Level: Intermediate to advanced
Prerequisites: Botanical Drawing I and II, Watercolor I or Colored Pencil I
Learn how to research and produce a beautiful and accurate painting of a foraged plant. In this long-term collaborative project, create a watercolor or colored pencil painting, a copy of which will be catalogued into the Phipps’ Allegheny Highlands Flora Project for future educational or marketing uses. Botanical Art and Illustration Certificate elective
Botanical Drawing II | Volume, Texture and Details | Robin Menard
Saturdays: Feb. 25, March 4 and 18 | 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (with lunch break)
After class meeting: Monday March 27, 6 - 7:30 p.m.
$265 members | $295 nonmembers
Presented as a live webinar through zoom
Objective: To be able to apply skills gained in Botanical Drawing I to accurately capture various plant forms, details and textures that are unique to the subject.
Level: Intermediate
Prerequisite: Botanical Drawing I
*Relevant demos are recorded and made available to pre-registered students within 1 week of each class session. Videos will be viewable for one month from receipt.
Continue to develop your observation and drawing skills to accurately render leaves, stems, roots and flowers in varying positions, capturing details and textures unique to the botanical subject. Botanical Art and Illustration Certificate core course
Silverpoint I & II | Melissa Fabian
Tuesdays March 7, 14, 21 and 28, April 4 and 11 | 6 – 9 p.m.
After class meeting: Tuesday April 18 | 6 - 7:30 p.m.
$245 members | $275 nonmembers
Presented as a live webinar through zoom
Objective: for new students to be able to practice and complete a 6” square botanical drawing and for more experienced students to be able to complete a 12“ square Natural History drawing.
Level: Beginner, Intermediate to Advanced
Prerequisite: Botanical Drawing I
Supply List: Silverpoint I (PDF)
Supply List: Silverpoint II (PDF)
Silverpoint is a beautiful drawing medium, used by many Renaissance Artist prior to the use of graphite.
Silverpoint I If new to silverpoint, check out Renaissance and contemporary silverpoint work online and familiarize yourself with the medium. Check supply list which provides resources for necessary materials, a stylus for the metal piece, silver and prepared paper.
There are several different options to choose from for the 2 necessary materials for the 1st class. A recommended book is listed that will be a resource during the classes.
Botanical Art and Illustration Certificate elective
Colored Pencil on Mylar Film | visiting artist Susan Rubin
Saturdays March 11, 18 and 15, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. [please note new dates]
$225 members | $255 non members
Presented as a live webinar through Zoom
Objective: to be able to use new colored pencil techniques on Mylar film
Level: Beginner to Advanced
Prerequisites: Colored Pencil I
Expand your Colored Pencil repertoire! The translucent, synthetic surface of Mylar film opens the door to creative possibilities. Begin with a variety of colored pencil techniques specific to Mylar, including pencil application and layering. Learn how to make the back of the surface enhance the front, and how to erase (yes, erase!) colored pencil from Mylar. See how to add mixed media and layer Mylar with other materials to create one-of-a-kind botanicals. Through demonstration, guided exercises, and practice, create several small studies that you can use as a springboard for your future work. This fun, experimental class will open your mind to fresh ideas. Botanical Art and Illustration Certificate elective
This class is now filled. Please email edu@phipps.conservatory.org to be placed on the waiting list.
Botanical Drawing II | Volume, Texture and Details | Melissa Fabian
Wednesday, March 15, 22 and 29, April 5, 12, 19 | 6 – 9 p.m. (with small breaks)
After-class meeting: Wednesday May 3 | 6 – 7:30 p.m.
$265 members | $295 nonmembers
Presented as a live webinar through Zoom
Objective: To be able to apply skills gained in Botanical Drawing I to accurately capture various plant forms, details and textures that are unique to the subject.
Level: Intermediate
Prerequisite: Botanical Drawing I
*Relevant demos are recorded and made available to pre-registered students within 1 week of each class session. Videos will be viewable for one month from receipt.
Continue to develop your observation and drawing skills to accurately render leaves, stems, roots and flowers in varying positions, capturing details and textures unique to the botanical subject. Botanical Art and Illustration Certificate core course.
About the Program
Learn more about our certificate requirements, browse work from our students, meet our instructors and more.
