Chicago Botanic Garden

adult education classes

Arts, Crafts, and Photography Classes

Engage your senses, discover hidden talents, and explore a more personal relationship with plants and the environment. Courses in drawing, painting, and color theory will help you develop your technical skills and further your understanding of art and the creative process. Learn from accomplished artists and teachers and enjoy the Garden as your studio. Find art classes including flower arranging, watercolor, wreath-making workshops, painting, sketching, drawing, garden art classes, holiday crafts, calligraphy, and jewelry making.

Flower Arranging with Store-Bought Bouquets
May 9
Thursday
10 a.m. – noon or 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Plant Science Lab, Regenstein Center

Painting Seasonal Vegetables in Watercolor – Level 1
New!
June 7 – July 19 (no class July 5)
6 Fridays
1 – 4 p.m.
Design Studio

Fiber Arts Workshops
Register for both sessions at once and receive a ten percent discount.

Needle Felted Flower Pin Workshop
New!
June 11
Tuesday
10 – 11:30 a.m.
Linnaeus Room

Sushi Roll Bracelet Workshop
New!
June 11
Tuesday
12:30 – 3 p.m.
Linnaeus Room

Adventure, Travel, Plein Air Painting!
Full-day Watercolor Workshop
June 15
Saturday
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Or
August 24
Saturday
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Meet at Visitor Center

Understanding Perspective Drawing
New!
June 15 – July 20
6 Saturdays
1 – 4 p.m.
Design Studio

Beginning Landscape Watercolor
June 26 – July 31
6 Wednesdays
1 – 3:30 p.m.
Design Studio

Prairie Plant Wall Tile Workshop
July 9
Tuesday
10 a.m. – noon
Annex 2

Mosaic Workshop
July 9 – August 13
6 Tuesdays
7 – 9 p.m.
or
August 20 – September 24
6 Tuesdays
7 – 9 p.m.
Annex 1

Watercolor: Painting the Natural World
July 11 – August 15
6 Thursdays
12:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Design Studio

Rejuvenated Jewelry
July 11 – August 15
6 Thursdays
7 – 9 p.m.
or
August 22 – October 3 (no class September 5)
6 Thursdays
7 – 9 p.m.
Annex 1

Farmers’ Market Bouquet at the Garden
July 21
Sunday
10 a.m. – noon
Plant Science Lab, Regenstein Center

Painting Seasonal Vegetables in Watercolor – Level 2
August 2 – 30
5 Fridays
1 – 4 p.m.
Design Studio

Botanical Art – Flower Painting in Gouache on Colored Paper
August 3 – September 7
6 Saturdays
1 – 4 p.m.
Design Studio

Learning to Draw – Understanding Botanical Composition
New!
August 7 – September 11
6 Wednesdays
9 a.m. – noon
Design Studio

Kurtis Conservation Foundation

Avian Songs and Color at Mettawa Manor
June 9
Sunday
7 – 10 a.m.
Mettawa Manor, Kurtis Conservation Foundation

Drawing Poetry at Mettawa Manor
New!
June 21
Friday
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Mettawa Manor, Kurtis Conservation Foundation

Herbs and More at Mettawa Manor
New!
July 17
Wednesday
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Mettawa Manor, Kurtis Conservation Foundation

Consciousness and Nature Retreat at Mettawa Manor
September 20
Friday
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Mettawa Manor, Kurtis Conservation Foundation

Scenic Photography Workshop at Mettawa Manor
October 2
Wednesday
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Mettawa Manor, Kurtis Conservation Foundation

Gourd Art Workshops

Gourd Art Workshop: Wood Burning a Butterfly
September 13
Friday
9 a. m – noon
Annex 1
or
September 14
Saturday
1 – 4 p.m.
Annex 1

Gourd Art Workshop: Gorgeous Gourd Vessel
September 13
Friday
9 a.m. – noon
Annex 2

Gourd Art Workshop: Wood Burning a Feather
September 13
Friday
1 – 4 p.m.
Annex 1

Gourd Art Workshop: Autumn Leaves
September 13
Friday
1 – 4 p.m.
Annex 2

Gourd Art Workshop: Artistic Gourd Bowl
September 14
Saturday
9 a.m. – noon
Plant Science Lab, Regenstein Center

Gourd Art Workshop: Beginning Chip Carving
September 14
Saturday
1 – 4 p.m.
Plant Science Lab, Regenstein Center

Gourd Art Workshop: Beginning Rainsticks
September 14
Saturday
Noon – 3 p.m.
Annex 2

Gourd Art Workshop: Halloween Party Bowl
September 15
Sunday
9 a.m. – noon
Annex 1

Gourd Art Workshop: Basics 101, the Beginning
September 15
Sunday
9 a.m. – noon
Annex 2

Gourd Art Workshop: Basics 102, the Beginning
September 15
Sunday
1 – 4 p.m.
Annex 2

Photography

Tram Photo Safari
New!
June 8
Saturday
8 a.m. – noon
Meet in Boyer Room

Garden and Travel Photography
New!
July 2 – 23
4 Tuesdays
9 a.m. – noon
Design Studio

Focus on Photography Certificate Program (FPC)

Basics of Editing – Photoshop 2
May 16 – June 6
4 Thursdays
1 – 3:30 p.m.
Design Studio

Abstracts in Nature – Summer
June 10 – July 15
6 Mondays
10 a.m. – noon
Design Studio

Basics of Editing – Photoshop I
June 17 – July 8
4 Mondays
1 – 3:30 p.m.
Design Studio

Basics of Editing – Aperture 1
New!
June 18 – July 9
4 Tuesdays
1 – 3:30 p.m.
Design Studio

Basics of Editing – Photoshop 2
July 15 – August 5
4 Mondays
1 – 3:30 p.m.
Design Studio

Basics of Editing – Aperture 2
New!
July 16 – August 6
4 Tuesdays
1 – 3:30 p.m.
Design Studio

Photographing Summer Scenes
July 19 – August 9
4 Fridays
8 – 11 a.m.
Design Studio

Art Fair & Exhibition Framing Workshop
New!
July 20
Saturday
9 a.m. – noon
Linnaeus Room

How I See a Garden: The Delights of Garden Photography
Special Engagement
July 28
Sunday
7 – 9 p.m.
Linnaeus Room

Focus on Flowers—Discover the Beauty in Flowers and Gardens:
A Summer Photography Workshop with Allen Rokach

July 29 & 30
Monday & Tuesday
7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Linnaeus Room

Business Techniques for Flower and Garden Photographers
July 31
Wednesday
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Linnaeus Room

Beginning Digital Photography
August 3 – 24
4 Saturdays
9 a.m. – noon
Design Studio

The Fine Art Water Portfolio
August 19 – September 30 (no class September 2)
6 Mondays
10 a.m. – noon
Design Studio