Auckland Botanic gardens

Have you ever wanted to try botanical art? Book this fun and relaxing small group workshop to learn how to observe plants with greater accuracy and confidence.  You will use simple prompts and easy strategies to draw a botanical subject and capture natural detail. Each workshop will use nature journaling principles to observe and capture a different plant subject, allowing plenty of artistic scope and botanical interest for artists at all levels. 

Each class begins in one of the beautifully renovated glasshouses  at the Wintergardens. After an introduction to basic observational principles we will move to a behind-the-scenes location at the Domain Nursery to put our observations into practice on paper, capturing botanical specimens curated for us by the expert Domain Nursery team.

Your workshop fee of $95 includes: 

• Three hour botanical art workshop 
• Morning tea and coffee
•  All materials including paper, pencils, clipboard, watercolour pencils and brushes.  You are welcome to bring your own materials if you prefer
• A donation to Friends of the Domain for support with plants and premise

Purchase your ticket here.

This workshop is one of a series of four which can be booked together or separately:

1. Monsteras Inc -  Learn to draw glorious tropical leaves, Sunday 6 August, 10am-1pm
2. Victoriana - Capturing the faces of sweet pansies, Sunday 13 August, 10am - 1pm
3. Spring Flowers - Tulips Freesias and more, Sunday 3 September, 10am-1pm
4. Feed Me Seymour - Fascinating carnivorous plants Sunday 10 September, 10am-1pm

Let Jennifer guide you through this fun and explorative practice which is suitable for all levels of experience.  Leave feeling more connected to your creative self and the natural world.

Numbers for each workshop are strictly limited to 10 for maximum interaction.  Please check your workshop date to avoid disappointment. Cancellations within 48 hours of the event are non refundable but replacement attendees will be accepted.

Accessibility: Please note that this series is unfortunately not wheelchair accessible in this instance, due to steep paths and stairs in the venue.

About Jennifer: Jennifer is an Auckland-based botanical artist who has served as artist-in-residence at Auckland Botanic Gardens and the Taranaki Garden Festival.  She has exhibited internationally and was among those selected to represent New Zealand as part of the Botanical Art Worldwide Exhibition.  Her mission is to reconnect people to nature and help them express their creativity in their own individual way. 

www.jenniferduval-smith.com

Feedback on Jennifer's previous botanical art classes:

• “Today was both a treat and a real privilege! Thank you for your time and expertise… I learnt a great deal. The pace was perfect and I loved the sensory extension…”
• “She was awesome, took us through step by step, especially about the observation aspect and construction of the subject, I would go to her classes again.”
• "This class will change how I approach drawing, for the better"
• I discovered that I really enjoyed the act of focused observation… I know that attempting to draw something will make me much better acquainted with my subject’s characteristics. The… guide was excellent and I will use that going forward - especially useful for me when trying to articulate what makes a plant different from a somewhat similar variety.
• “I liked the way (Jennifer) got people involved and went around encouraging people