Painting Your Backyard Birds in Watercolor | Visiting Artist Kelly Radding

Saturdays: June 3, 17, 24 | 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

$230 members | $260 nonmembers

Presented as a live webinar through Zoom

Objective: To be able to observe, record and paint your backyard birds in watercolor from loose washes to fine details.

Level:  Beginner to Advanced 

Prerequisites:  Botanical Drawing I and II and Watercolor I 

Supply list (PDF)

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.

Observing your backyard birds is a rewarding way to connect to Nature. Watercolor is a versatile medium to preserve those connections. Techniques include: loose washes that add color notes to informal sketches, wet pigment into wet washes to create spontaneous, creative colors and patterns, wet transparent washes over dried layers to build depth, color and form, and dry brush strokes to achieve fine details. In this workshop, we’ll begin with how to observe and record your favorite backyard birds;  learning techniques for live observation, ‘live’ sketching from videos, and how to work from photographs that will enable you to draw the basic form of your birds. We will then learn and practice basic watercolor techniques that will bring your birds to life with color through pre-recorded videos, demonstrations and working live in class.

From there we will learn more advanced watercolor techniques to build up the skills to create more detailed depictions of birds that includes dry brush and adding a suggestion of habitat. In our last session, the instructor will do a quick demonstration of several other ways to add color to your birds in combination with watercolor. These materials, such as gouache & colored pencils, will be listed as optional on the materials list. Whether your interest is in keeping a watercolor journal of the birds in your backyard, or you have a goal of creating realistic bird paintings in watercolor, this workshop will help you learn valuable watercolor techniques and gain the confidence to attain your goals.

Botanical Art and Illustration certificate elective

Microorganisms and Plants | Braley Burke

Mon., June 5 | 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Live webinar through Zoom
$25 members | $30 nonmembers

Objective:  To understand the positive and negative relationships between plants and microorganisms 
Level:  Beginner to intermediate 
Prerequisite: None

When you think of plants and microorganisms, plant diseases may be the first interaction you think of, but there is more to their relationship. Along with causing diseases, microorganisms help plants grow, defend plants against diseases, help cycle nutrients, and more. Learn about this fascinating and often overlooked connection while learning how to promote beneficial microbes and prevent the diseases harmful microbes can cause. Ecological Gardening elective

This class has been canceled. 

Pen and Ink I | Lisa Rasmussen

Tuesdays: June 6, 13, 20, 27, July 11, 18 | 6 - 9 p.m.

After-class meeting: Tues., July 25, 6 - 7:30 p.m.

$245 members | $275 nonmembers

Presented as a live webinar through Zoom

Objective:  To be able to make tonal and semi-schematic drawing with pen and ink. 

Level:  Intermediate 

Prerequisites:  Botanical Drawing I and II 

Supply list (PDF)

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.

Beginning with the fundamentals of pen and ink techniques, learn how to use different strokes to create a compositional balance of black and white tones.

Botanical Art and Illustration certificate core course

Watercolor Drybrush/Limning Techniques | Christine Hutson

Wednesdays: June 7, 14, 21, 28, July 5, 12 | 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

After-class meeting: Wed., July 26, 9:30 - 11 a.m.

$220 members | $250 nonmembers

Presented as a live webinar through Zoom

Objective:  To be able to  build on or improve drybrush limning style techniques and create details illustrations 

Level:  Intermediate 

Prerequisites:  Watercolor I 

Supply list (PDF)

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.

Limning, a traditional painting method dating back to the Renaissance, has been used by botanical artists and illustrators for centuries and is still favored by those who need to portray their subjects with great precision.  For this technique, tiny brushstrokes are used to build up a highly detailed image.  Receive online step-by-step instruction on this watercolor technique and practice it using high-quality photos of plants and flowers that you select as references.  

Botanical Art and Illustration certificate elective

Botanical Drawing III: Volume and Texture | Melissa Fabian

Wednesdays: June 7, 14, 21, 28, July 5, 12, 19 | 6 - 9 p.m.

After-class meeting: Wed., July 26, 6 - 7:30 p.m.

$265 members | $295 nonmembers

Presented as a live webinar through Zoom

Objective:  To be able  to develop and apply drawing skills to create accurate illustrations using form, perspective and texture. 

Level:  Intermediate to Advanced 

Prerequisites:  Botanical Drawing I and II 

Supply list (PDF)

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.

Building on skills acquired in Botanical Drawing I and II, use a variety of pencils, paper, tone and line to create full botanical portraits, accurately capturing details such as texture, growth patterns, roots, flowers and leaves.  

Botanical Art and Illustration certificate core course

Herbal Medicine Making: Summer Session | Michelle Soto

Wednesdays: June 14, 28, July 12, 26, Aug. 9 | 6:30 - 8 p.m.

$225 members | $250 nonmembers | $35 supply fee (optional)

Presented as a live webinar through Zoom

Medicine-making is an ancient art that we can master today. This class is hands-on from the comfort of your home. Learn how to work with various plants and make medicinal syrups, teas, and tinctures. Michelle Soto of Cutting Root Apothecary will share stories and information about each plant and how to use them medicinally. Students will have the opportunity to order a bundle with supplies needed for making medicines to be mailed directly to their homes. All the herbs provided are grown and processed at Cutting Root Farm & Apothecary in Butler, PA. This is the summer curriculum and will be covering the following herbs: calendula, white pine, anise hyssop, lemon balm, bee balm, and marshmallow.

Botanical Drawing I: Foundations | Robin Menard

Saturdays: June 17, 24, July 8 | 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

After-class meeting: Mon. July 17, 6 - 7:30 p.m.

$265 members | $295 nonmembers

Presented as a live webinar through Zoom

Objective: To be able to accurately draw three-dimensional shapes using line and tone and to employ geometric and aerial perspective in drawing botanical subjects.

Level:  Beginner 

Prerequisites: None

Supply list (PDF)

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.

Botanical illustration differs from traditional drawing because it captures a subject with scientific accuracy through observation, form and detail.  Learn to identify basic shapes in nature and use a step-by-step process to create the illusion of depth through light, shadow and perspective.  

Botanical Art and Illustration certificate core course

Dyeing with Nature Series | Mary Alice Koeneke and Judith Mackenroth

Tuesdays: June 27, July 11, 25, Aug. 8 | 6:30 - 8 p.m.

Full Series: $90 members | $110 nonmembers | $43 supply kit (optional)

Live webinar through Zoom

Discover the hidden rainbow of natural dye colors hiding in your own fields and garden. Not only will you learn how to grow your own palette of color, but discover how easy it is to transfer that color onto wool, silk, and cotton fiber. Once the dyes are extracted, you can even use them to create your own unique paints and inks! 

Supplies are available for pickup from Phipps Garden Center or mailed out. Allows participants to dye alongside classes. Only available for purchase if registered for the whole series. This option closes on June 13.

June 27: How to Grow a Dyers' Garden

July 11: Getting Started with Natural Dye

July 25: Introduction to Indigo Dye and Shibori

Aug. 8: Introduction to Dyeing with Lichen

How to Grow a Dyers' Garden | Mary Alice Koeneke

Tues., June 27 | 6:30 - 8 p.m.

$25 members | $30 nonmembers

Live webinar presented through Zoom

Welcome to a new way to enjoy a colorful garden--grow your own colorful natural dyes! Master Gardener Mary Alice Koeneke will present a palette of amazing plants that you can grow in your own garden to produce a rainbow of natural dye colors. [The option to purchase seeds along with this class is now closed.]

Finding Your Niche | Philip Bauerle

Tues., June 27 | 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Live webinar through Zoom
$25 members | $30 nonmembers

Objective:  To understand plant traits and adaptations in order to select the best plants for your garden 
Level:  Beginner to Intermediate 
Prerequisite: None

What does it mean when we say that a plant “prefers” or “tolerates” certain conditions? Can plants really be “well- behaved”? This class will explore the evolutionary traits of some of our most favorite landscape plants and how these adaptations make them perfect for our gardens. Learn why it is that some plants do better in low light conditions while others need full sun or why some plants grow in acid soils when other won’t. Understanding plant traits will help you select the best plants for your garden. Ecological Gardening elective

Brunch for All (Series) | Chef Emily Larsen, Spilling the Soup

Fridays: June 30, July 7, July 14 | 9:30 - 11 a.m.

Full Series: $70 members | $85 nonmembers
Live webinar hosted on Zoom

Join us in your PJ's for this at home brunch series! Get the whole family in the kitchen and start your day with Chef Emily Larsen! 

June 30: Eggs to Order: Explore proper egg cookery, the test for many a great chef.  Learn to fry, scramble, boil and poach.  Develop your skills and mastery of eggs as we make a delicious classic Eggs Benedict complete with homemade hollandaise.

July 7: Strawberry Stuffed French Toast: We can't think of a morning meal more luxurious than this amazing strawberry stuffed french toast.  Learn the secrets to getting the perfect texture from your pain perdu (lost bread) and whip up an incredible strawberry and cream filling.  Learn some simple fruit carving techniques to make strawberry garnishes to finish your plate.

July 14: Huevos Rancheros: Fuel up with this traditional Mexican rancher's breakfast.  Make an irresistible rancheros sauce from scratch and then add all the goodies, fried eggs, toasted tortillas, refried beans, guacamole, queso fresco and chorizo.  You'll be ready for camping, the pool, or whatever adventure your day holds.

Brunch for All: Eggs to Order | Chef Emily Larsen, Spilling the Soup

Fri., June 30 | 9:30 - 11 a.m.

$25 members | $30 nonmembers
Live webinar hosted on Zoom

Join us in your PJ's for this at home brunch series! Get the whole family in the kitchen and start your day with Chef Emily Larsen! 

Explore proper egg cookery, the test for many a great chef.  Learn to fry, scramble, boil and poach.  Develop your skills and mastery of eggs as we make a delicious classic Eggs Benedict complete with homemade hollandaise.

Brunch for All: Strawberry Stuffed French Toast | Chef Emily Larsen, Spilling the Soup

Fri., July 7 | 9:30 - 11 a.m.

$25 members | $30 nonmembers
Live webinar hosted on Zoom

Join us in your PJ's for this at home brunch series! Get the whole family in the kitchen and start your day with Chef Emily Larsen! 

We can't think of a morning meal more luxurious than this amazing strawberry stuffed french toast.  Learn the secrets to getting the perfect texture from your pain perdu (lost bread) and whip up an incredible strawberry and cream filling.  Learn some simple fruit carving techniques to make strawberry garnishes to finish your plate.

Colored Pencil I: Techniques | Amy Lindenberger

Saturdays: July 8, 15, Sun. July 30 | 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

After-class meeting: Tues. Aug. 8, 7 - 8:30 p.m.

$245 members | $275 nonmembers

Presented as a live webinar through Zoom

Registration for this class will close on June 26.

Objective:  To be able to create a gradual transition of tone and color with colored pencils. 

Level: Intermediate

Prerequisites:  Botanical Drawing I and II 

Supply list (PDF)

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.

Using different techniques, you can make colored pencil tones look like a drawing or painting, providing you work with the versatility to create a wide variety of surface textures.  Develop your color perception and become familiar with colored pencil tools, color applications and color theory fundamentals. Learn to layer colors to achieve different hues and densities and master a variety of techniques, including burnishing, impressed line and sgraffito.

Botanical Art and Illustration certificate core course (Colored Pencil concentration)

Understanding Climate Change | Maria Wheeler-Dubas

Mondays: July 10 and 17 | 6 - 7:30 p.m.

Free, registration required

Live webinar presented through Zoom

Are your garden flowers blooming earlier in the spring? Do leaves seem to change color later in the fall? Does it seem like the weather has just been weird or even record-breaking for the past few years? If you’ve noticed these things, you’re not alone! You’re spying the effects of climate change, and you are spot on. For this series, we will talk about…what is climate change, how do scientists know it’s happening, and what can we all do to help?

Week 1: The science and evidence behind climate change

Week 2: What can we do at home and how do we effectively talk about climate change.

Getting Started with Natural Dye | Judith Mackenroth

Tues., July 11 | 6:30 - 8 p.m.

$25 members | $30 nonmembers

Live webinar presented through Zoom

Unlock the hidden rainbow of natural dyes at home. Discover how easy it is to transform a troublesome weed into a beautiful dye, you'll never look at weeding the same way! We'll be using natural dyes from roots, leaves, wood & more, and creating one-of-a-kind treasures. 

Brunch for All: Huevos Rancheros | Chef Emily Larsen, Spilling the Soup

Fri., July 14 | 9:30 - 11 a.m.

$25 members | $30 nonmembers
Live webinar hosted on Zoom

Join us in your PJ's for this at home brunch series! Get the whole family in the kitchen and start your day with Chef Emily Larsen! 

Fuel up with this traditional Mexican rancher's breakfast.  Make an irresistible rancheros sauce from scratch and then add all the goodies, fried eggs, toasted tortillas, refried beans, guacamole, queso fresco and chorizo.  You'll be ready for camping, the pool, or whatever adventure your day holds.

Botanical Beverages: Cocktails and Mocktails for Summer | Hanna Mosca and Drew Cranisky

Fri., July 21 | 6 - 7:30 p.m.

$25 members | $30 nonmembers | Optional grocery pick-up: $25
Live webinar hosted on Zoom

Back by popular demand! Join Hanna Mosca and Drew Cranisky for another virtual cocktail workshop! This time, they'll be celebrating the bounty of summer by highlighting ingredients you might have growing in your own backyard. Drew will guide you through making three delicious drinks (all of which can be alcohol-free) and Hanna will highlight the herbs and produce that go into them. Pick up a drink kit to mix along at home with us during class. Each kit will include fresh fruit and herbs as well as mixers and syrups, enough for each person to enjoy all three drinks. Add your own alcohol at home or leave as is for a tasty  mocktail. You'll learn lots of tips and tricks to help bring the garden to your glass.

Reduction Block Printing with Botanical Imagery | Lisa Rasmussen

Mondays: July 24, 31, Aug. 7, 14, 21, 28 | 6 - 9 p.m.

After-class meeting: Mon., Sept. 11, 6 - 7:30 p.m.

$285 members | $315 nonmembers

Kits containing materials for printmaking will be mailed out to students prior to class. Kit prices are part of the tuition.

Presented as a live webinar through Zoom

Objective: To be able to apply the skills learned in Introduction to Printmaking with botanical imagery for reduction block printing

Level:  Beginner to Advanced 

Prerequisites:  Introduction to Printmaking with Botanical Imagery (or equivalent experience) 

Supply list (PDF)

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 course, you will create a three-color block print of a botanical subject using a linoleum type plate. This course will take you through the process of creating a print using the reduction block printing method in which part of the plate is carved away then printed, more of the plate is carved away and printed and so on working from the lightest color to the darkest. You will also learn how registration works when using multiple colors. 

Botanical Art and Illustration certificate elective

Introduction to Indigo Dye and Shibori | Judith Mackenroth

Tues., July 25 | 6:30 - 8 p.m.

$25 members | $30 nonmembers

Live webinar presented through Zoom

Let the magic begin! Indigo is an ancient blue dye with a silly secret--the dye molecule isn't water soluble, so the usual simmering dye method doesn't work. Instead, we use special methods that render the blue substance into a pale-yellow liquid, but don't despair, when lifted from the dye vat, the fiber magically turns blue before your eyes! Learn the fast and easy way to make indigo ready to use in as quick as ten minutes. Shibori is the traditional Japanese art of patterning indigo-dyed fabric, and we'll be giving it a try on a silk scarf, as well as tie-dye on a cotton bandana. 

Plants, Cuisine and Culture Virtual Lecture Series: African American Cuisine with Toni Tipton-Martin

Plants are intimately linked to our cultural identities and food traditions. Plants tell us where we are, and who we are in how we use them to feed ourselves. When we migrate, we carry our culture and cuisine with us. In this series, renowned chefs, culinary historians, and authors from cultures around the world discuss how plants shaped their foodways.

This virtual lecture series is offered in Partnership with: Chicago Botanic Garden, Franklin Park Conservatory, Lewis Ginter Botanic Garden and Missouri Botanic Garden

African American Cuisine with Toni Tipton-Martin

Tuesday, July 25, 7 – 8 p.m.

$10 members | $15 non-members

Toni Tipton-Martin is a culinary journalist and author using cultural heritage and cooking to build community. She is editor in chief of “Cook’s Country by America’s Test Kitchen,” two-time James Beard Award winner for her books on African-American cooking, and recipient of the prestigious Julia Child Award for making a profound and significant difference in the way America cooks, eats and drinks.

Wildlife in Pennsylvania | Maria Wheeler-Dubas

Wednesdays: Jul. 26, Aug. 2, 9 | 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Live webinar through Zoom
$75 members | $85 nonmembers

Objective:  To learn about the wildlife of Western Pennsylvania 
Level:  Beginner to Intermediate 
Prerequisite: None

Penn’s Woods is pretty wild! Discover the wildlife of Western Pennsylvania and how they interact with your garden. Learn about the plant and animal life of the area, the hidden world beneath our feet and the biodiversity and interconnections of this wild world. Learning about the local wildlife will give you a better understanding or their actions and motivations and will help you to welcome more wildlife into your garden. Ecological Gardening elective

Drawing Owls of Pennsylvania and Their Native Habitats | Melissa Fabian

Tuesdays: Aug. 1, 8, 15, 22 | 6 - 9 p.m.

After-class meeting: Tues., Aug. 29, 6 - 7:30 p.m.

$175 members | $195 nonmembers

Presented as a live webinar through Zoom

Objective:  To be able to illustrate an owl in its natural habitat with accuracy and artistic appeal. 

Level:  Intermediate to Advanced 

Prerequisites:  Botanical Drawing I and at least one of the following; Colored Pencil I, Pen and Ink I or Watercolor I 

Supply list (PDF)

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.

As part of our series of drawing birds and their habitats we will continue with Owls of Pennsylvania. Students will use various resources to study and observe the unique characteristics and behaviors of the state’s 8 owl species. Sketching study pages of the owl’s body and movements along with sketches of their nesting preferences and surrounding habitat will be used to create a final illustration of the chosen Owl. In this drawing birds class the various types of paper and medium will be sampled to give an option of night or day on the final illustration. 

The drawing birds series of classes has developed into a wonderful mix of art and ecology, many students find the information researched and illustrated creates a personal desire to help birds thrive in an often challenging environment.

Botanical Art and Illustration certificate elective

Happier Hours: Sips and Apps (Series) | Chef Emily Larsen, Spilling the Soup

Thursdays: Aug. 3, 10 and 17 | 6 - 7:30 p.m.

Full Series: $70 members | $85 nonmembers
Live webinar hosted on Zoom

Is there anything better than cocktail hour with snacks?  Make and pair refreshing cocktails (or mocktails!) and small bites that are perfect for entertaining or just enjoying by yourself on the porch or deck.  Each class features a delicious cocktail and two small bites.

Aug. 3: Hibiscus Margaritas with Mexican Street Corn Polenta Bites and Sopa de Aguacate (Chilled Avocado and Watermelon Shooters)

Aug. 10:  Blackberry Thyme Spritz with Green Goddess Dip Crudites and Strawberry Ricotta Bruschetta 

Aug. 17: Pimm's Cup with Cubano Skewers and Cherry Salsa Goat Cheese

Happier Hours: Sips and Apps: Hibiscus Margaritas, Mexican Street Corn, Sopa Aguacate | Chef Emily Larsen, Spilling the Soup

Thurs., Aug. 3 | 6 - 7:30 p.m.

$25 members | $30 nonmembers
Live webinar hosted on Zoom

Is there anything better than cocktail hour with snacks?  Make and pair refreshing cocktails (or mocktails!) and small bites that are perfect for entertaining or just enjoying by yourself on the porch or deck.  Each class features a delicious cocktail and two small bites.

Aug. 3: Hibiscus Margaritas with Mexican Street Corn Polenta Bites and Sopa de Aguacate (Chilled Avocado and Watermelon Shooters)

Watercolor I: Techniques and Color Theory | Brenda Gail Jordan

Sundays: Aug. 6, 20, 27 | 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

After-class meeting: Tues., Sept. 5, 7 - 8:30 p.m.

$250 members | $280 nonmembers

Presented as a live webinar through Zoom

Objective:  To be able to  control the brush, pigment and paper while learning to combine watercolor paints to create a rich and varied palette. 

Level:  Beginner to intermediate 

Prerequisites:  Botanical Drawing I and II 

Supply list (PDF)

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.

Students will learn the basics of transparent watercolor as a medium, and gain a foundational understanding of the brushes, paper, and paints suitable for botanical watercolor. Using a limited palette, students will explore techniques such as washes and glazes, and practice creating a full range of hues, shades and tones using the limited palette. Through demonstrations and exercises, students will produce a series of studies that demonstrate the foundational techniques of transparent watercolor and application of those techniques to rendering plant forms.

Assignments for the day will be due by Friday at 5 p.m. of the following week, so that the instructor can put together a power point of all assignments for an in-class critique the next morning. All assignments for the class will be due one month from the date of the last class.

Botanical Art and Illustration certificate core course (Watercolor concentration)

Introduction to Dyeing with Lichen | Judith Mackenroth

Tues., Aug. 8 | 6:30 - 8 p.m.

$25 members | $30 nonmembers

Live webinar presented through Zoom

Did you know there was another rainbow UNDER your feet? There's an entirely different palette of colors from fungi and lichens. Discover how to use fungi safely and ethically for dyeing. We'll be using a variety of different fungi - learn how to make several different colors in only one pot, perfect for smaller amounts of dyestuffs.

Phipps Flower Club: Late Season | Polly Berginc AIFD

Wednesdays: Aug. 9, 23, Sept. 6, 20, Oct. 4 | 7 - 8:30 p.m.

$335 members | $355 nonmembers
Live webinar through Zoom

Live webinar through Zoom, pick-up in person at Phipps Garden Center in Mellon Park*

Fill your home with flowers this summer with Phipps’ local flower subscription program. Pick up a fresh, bountiful bucket of seasonal flowers every two weeks from Phipps – supplied by local farmers, Cherry Valley Organics. Then tune in as Phipps’ lead floral instructor, Polly Berginc, demonstrates how to turn your flowers into a beautiful vase arrangement. Polly will guide you through proper flower care, working with foliage, vase design styles, color theory, local foraging, and helpful tips for enjoying your custom arrangement at home. Floral Design certificate elective

Tools needed for this elective (must be self-provided): Floral knife, stem pruners, wire cutters and scissors.   *Pick-up can take place the Tuesday afternoon, day before class (4-6 pm) or Wednesday the day of class (9 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.)

Happier Apps: Sips and Apps: Blackberry Spritz, Goddess Dip, Strawberry Bruschetta | Chef Emily Larsen, Spilling the Soup

Thurs., Aug. 10 | 6 - 7:30 p.m.

$25 members | $30 nonmembers
Live webinar hosted on Zoom

Is there anything better than cocktail hour with snacks?  Make and pair refreshing cocktails (or mocktails!) and small bites that are perfect for entertaining or just enjoying by yourself on the porch or deck.  Each class features a delicious cocktail and two small bites.

Aug. 10:  Blackberry Thyme Spritz with Green Goddess Dip Crudites and Strawberry Ricotta Bruschetta 

Botanical Drawing II: Volume, Texture and Details | Robin Menard

Saturdays: Aug. 12, 19, 26 | 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

After-class meeting: Mon., Sept. 11, 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 

Prerequisites:  Botanical Drawing I 

Supply list (PDF)

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

Colored Pencil Florals on Black Paper I-V | Amy Lindenberger

Saturdays: Aug. 12, 19, 26 | 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

After-class meeting: Tues., Sept 5, 7 - 8:30 p.m.

$225 members | $255 nonmembers

Presented as a live webinar through Zoom

Objective:  To be able to create colored pencil botanical drawings on black background. 

Level:  Intermediate to Advanced 

Prerequisites:  Botanical Drawing I and II, Colored Pencil I (or equivalent experience) 

Supply list (PDF)

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.

Colored pencil drawings are traditionally applied to white or light, neutral colored papers.  But some subjects – such as night blooming flowers – can be much more effective against very dark backgrounds and those backgrounds can be difficult (and labor intensive) to achieve with colored pencil.  Discuss colored pencil opacity and explore key techniques for using colored pencil on black and very dark-colored surfaces to keep colors true and luminous.

Botanical Art and Illustration certificate elective

Gardening for Birds | Gabi Hughes - Audubon Society

Tues. Aug. 15 | 6 - 8 p.m.

$15 members | $20 nonmembers

Live webinar through Zoom

Our local birds are an engaging bit of the wild that we can easily see right in our own backyards. And you can provide for those birds beyond just a basic birdfeeder or bird house. Join us to learn how to plant your way to a Bird-Friendly Backyard, while making your property both more beautiful and an ecosystem asset. Explore planting concepts, native plant species suggestions, and other simple changes that will have a positive impact on birds and beyond.

Happier Hours: Sips and Apps: Pimm's Cup, Cubano Skewers, Cherry Salsa Goat Cheese | Chef Emily Larsen, Spilling the Soup

Thurs., Aug. 17 | 6 - 7:30 p.m.

$25 members | $30 nonmembers
Live webinar hosted on Zoom

Is there anything better than cocktail hour with snacks?  Make and pair refreshing cocktails (or mocktails!) and small bites that are perfect for entertaining or just enjoying by yourself on the porch or deck.  Each class features a delicious cocktail and two small bites.

Aug. 17: Pimm's Cup with Cubano Skewers and Cherry Salsa Goat Cheese

Moss Shadowbox | Sarah Needham

Mon., Aug. 21 | 7 - 8:30 p.m.

$25 members | $30 members | $35 material fee

Live webinar through Zoom

Moss art brings the beauty and texture of nature into your home. You will get a complete material kit shipped to your door, including a shadowbox frame to create your patch of nature, sure to freshen any space. Beyond dried moss, you will also receive stones, twigs, and other natural materials. Please have a glue gun on hand, and feel free to take creative freedom by collecting materials to add to the arrangement. 

Greens in Watercolor | Amy Lewandowski

Thursdays: Aug. 24, 31, Sept. 7, 14, 21, 28 | 6 - 9 p.m.

After-class meeting: Thurs. Oct. 19, 6 - 7:30 p.m.

$250 members | $280 nonmembers

Presented as a live webinar through Zoom

Objective:  To be able to create a variety of greens in watercolor and apply them to plant specimens.  

Level:  Advanced 

Prerequisites:  Watercolor I 

Supply list (PDF)

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.

Plants often have a wide variety of beautiful greens, and it can be challenging to represent these different colors accurately. Learn how to assess the differences in the greens of plants by observing their subtle variations in hue, value, and intensity. Practice painting different greens through a series of watercolor mixing exercises and then apply this information to an illustration of a single leaf or of multiple specimens.

Botanical Art and Illustration certificate elective

Botanical Drawing III: Volume and Texture | Robin Menard

Sundays: May 14, 21 and Saturday, June 10 | 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

After-class meeting: Tues., June 20, 6 - 7:30 p.m.

$265 members | $295 nonmembers

Presented as a live webinar through Zoom

Objective:  To be able to develop and apply drawing skills to create accurate illustrations using form, perspective and texture 

Level: Intermediate to advanced

Prerequisites: Botanical Drawing I and II

Supply list (PDF)

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.

Building on skills acquired in Botanical Drawing I and II, use a variety of pencils, paper, tone and line to create full botanical portraits, accurately capturing details such as texture, growth patterns, roots, flowers and leaves.

Botanical Art and Illustration certificate core class

Phipps Flower Club: Early Season | Polly Berginc AIFD

Wednesdays: May 31, June 14, 28, July 12 | 7 - 8:30 p.m.

$270 members | $285 nonmembers
Live webinar through Zoom, pick-up in person at Phipps Garden Center in Mellon Park*

Fill your home with flowers this summer with Phipps’ local flower subscription program. Pick up a fresh, bountiful bucket of seasonal flowers every two weeks from Phipps – supplied by local farmers, Cherry Valley Organics. Then tune in as Phipps’ lead floral instructor, Polly Berginc, demonstrates how to turn your flowers into a beautiful vase arrangement. Polly will guide you through proper flower care, working with foliage, vase design styles, color theory, local foraging, and helpful tips for enjoying your custom arrangement at home. Floral Design certificate elective

Tools needed for this elective (must be self-provided): Floral knife, stem pruners, wire cutters and scissors.   *Pick-up can take place the Tuesday afternoon, day before class (4-6 pm) or Wednesday the day of class (9 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.)