Botanical Arts Certificate Program
Botanical Arts Certificate Program
Engage your senses, discover hidden talents, and explore a more personal relationship with plants and the environment in this studio art program. Courses in drawing, painting, and color theory will help you develop your technical skills and further your understanding of art and the creative process.
Who should participate? People wanting to nurture their creativity, improve their artistic skill, and experience plants, nature, and our shared environment in new ways. No prior art experience is needed. Sign up for a Botanical Arts Certificate class today.
Student Resources
Course Overview
Program Policies
FAQ Brochure
Graduation
Questions?
Contact Stana, student advisor:
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Program Design
The Botanical Arts program has two tracks of concentration:
The Traditional Track
The Traditional Track provides training for a student wishing to improve their work in a technically detailed manner. This program of study incorporates traditional methods and materials that will enhance the skills of an artist accurately portraying artistic and scientific images.
Expressive Track
The Expressive Track allows a student to explore art outside of the traditional media and techniques. After satisfying core courses, students in the Expressive track will complete their coursework by a combination of their choosing in oil, pastel, or expressive watercolor to expand their artistic palette.
Program Requirements
The Botanical Arts Certificate (ART) program consists of seven foundational required courses, designated required courses within your selected track; your choice of 60 instructional hours of elective courses; and a portfolio review.
You may select any combination of elective courses, tailoring the program to your personal learning objectives and interests. ART elective courses are designated as such in the course description.
To earn a certificate, a passing grade and at least one portfolio-quality finished piece is required to pass each course. All requirements for the certificate must be completed within five years of the start date of your first course in the program.
Portfolio Review
After completing all required Botanical Arts Certificate Program coursework, certificate students will prepare and present a portfolio of finished botanical artwork for the review committee. The final juried portfolio review required to achieve a certificate will consist of a comprehensive portfolio of finished art pieces in a variety of media that represent your work during the program. Please reference the Portfolio Review Requirements for more information.
Ready to get started? Begin your journey with Botanical Drawing 1 and you’ll be on your way!
Art Required Courses | Prerequisites |
| Botanical Drawing 1 | |
| Botanical Drawing 2 | Botanical Drawing 1 |
| Botany for Botanical Artists | |
| Outdoor Sketching | |
| Color Mixing | |
| Composition | Botanical Drawing 1 |
| Watercolor 1 | Botanical Drawing 1 & Color Mixing |
Traditional Track | Prerequisites |
| English Watercolor Techniques | Botanical Drawing 1, Color Mixing & Watercolor 1 |
| Pen and Ink 1 | Botanical Drawing 1 |
| Pen and Ink 2 | Pen and Ink 1 |
Expressive Track | Prerequisites |
| Choose Three of the Following Courses | |
| Advanced Pastel | Botanical Drawing 1 & a pastel course |
| Close Focus Pastel | Botanical Drawing 1 |
| Color and Design in Pastel | Botanical Drawing 1 |
| Expressive Color in Pastel | Botanical Drawing 1 |
| Expressive Watercolor | Watercolor 1 |
| The Landscape in Pastel | Botanical Drawing 1 |
| The Landscape in Pastel 2 | Botanical Drawing 1 & The Landscape in Pastel |
Art Elective Courses | |
60 hours of ART elective credit required |
Available Classes
If a class is sold out, please contact us at (847) 835-6801 to be placed on the waitlist. The Garden will contact you if a space becomes available.
Botanical Drawing 2: Online
Botanical Arts Certificate
5 Saturdays:
April 26 – May 24
9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
How to Loosen up your Watercolors
Botanical Arts Certificate
5 Saturdays:
May 10 – June 14
1 – 4 p.m.
No class May 24
Spring Blooms in Colored Pencil
Botanical Arts Certificate
6 Wednesdays:
May 14 – June 25
No class June 4
6 – 9 p.m.
Composition: Online
Botanical Arts Certificate
6 Saturdays:
May 31 – July 12
No class July 5
9 a.m. – noon
Enhance Nature's Patterns in Watercolor
Botanical Arts Certificate
4 Tuesdays:
June 10 – July 8
9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
No class July 1
The Life of Botanical Artist Rory McEwen
Botanical Arts Certificate
Wednesday, July 16
6 – 8 p.m.
Outdoor Sketching
Botanical Arts Certificate
6 Saturdays:
July 19 – August 30
9 a.m. – noon
No class August 23
Paintings Inspired by Patterned Gardens
Botanical Arts Certificate
3 Wednesdays:
July 23 – August 6
9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Climbing Plants in Colored Pencil
Botanical Arts Certificate
5 Thursdays:
July 24 – August 21
6 – 9 p.m.
Yin-Yang: Painting Opposites in Nature
Botanical Arts Certificate
3 Wednesdays:
August 13 – 27
9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Botanical Drawing 1: Online
Botanical Arts Certificate
8 Saturdays:
September 6 – October 25
9 a.m. – noon
Botany for Botanical Artists
Botanical Arts Certificate
6 Thursdays:
September 11 – October 23
6 – 8:30 p.m.
Pen and Ink 1: Online
Botanical Arts Certificate
6 Tuesdays:
September 30 – November 4
6 – 9 p.m.