Finding Your Inner Botanical Artist

Dorothy DePaulo and Sharon Garett, Rocky Mountain Society of Botanical Artists, Finding Your Inner Botanical Artist: An Introduction to Botanical Art – 10 am – 3 pm; $30

Botanical art is back in fashion and there is a regional group at the lead. Rocky Mountain Society of Botanical Artists is a creative and scientific group that fosters awareness and appreciation for this beautiful art form. Featuring artists from Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, the works they produce are realistic portrayals of plants, their flowers, fruiting bodies, seeds, roots and pollinators and are able to illustrate far more information than found in photographs. 

Join chapter members Dorothy DePaulo and Sharon Garett to explore modern elements of light, depth, composition and increased 3-dimensionality to create your own renderings of the natural world in your life. This one-day workshop will focus on botanical art and how it differs from other art as well as studying plant structures, basic leaf shape, venation and leaf arrangement on stems. Please arrive equipped with the following supplies:

Materials List 

1. One piece of ¼ inch white foam core (approximately 12” x 15”).

2. Tombo Mono Zero refillable eraser (Available at most art supply stores).

3. Mr Clean Magic Eraser (available in grocery stores in cleaning supplies.)

4. Prizmacolor pencils in the following colors –  Black, Crimson, Yellow Orange, and Prussion Green

Location: Plan – Weather permitting, the course will be held on the Rooftop Terrace of the Education Center. This is an outside, covered space. Prepare for the weather and dress in layers. 

The Betty Ford Alpine Gardens Education Center is located at the west end of Ford Park, across from the dinosaur panels.

Parking: Vail Village Parking Structure, walk east along Gore Creek to the Education Center building across from the Dinosaur Panels. (10min walk)

 -or-

Ford Park lot: Walk along the brick Betty Ford Way along the Ford Amphitheater, past the playground to the large wood/glass building on your right across from the Dinosaur Panels. (10min walk)

Food: Bring your lunch and any snacks, drinks, water bottles etc.

Materials: See list above and bring with you. 

Additional Supplies: Bring $5 Cash or Check for additional materials provided by the instructors

We look forward to welcoming you to the workshop on Wednesday! Check in at the Front Desk of the Education Center.