Visual Arts: Painting, Drawing, Botanical Illustration & Photography

Visual Arts: Painting, Drawing, Botanical Illustration & Photography

Enjoy the unique beauty of Longwood’s gardens and conservatories as you draw, paint, and photograph, regardless of your level of experience. Student focused instruction by accomplished professionals will allow students to expand their talents and increase their skills. Choose a course in the medium you prefer, and use Longwood’s majestic landscape and extensive selection of plants and flowers as the subjects of your artistry.

Courses:

Orchids on Stage

with Eileen Rosen

DATE: Sunday, February 21
1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
FEE: $36 Garden pass member / $40 non-member
WHERE: Acer Room

During Longwood's Orchid Extravaganza experiment with easy to use oil pastels, better known in the art world as ‘crayons for grown ups’. Longwood’s expanded orchid displays, with riotous colors, scents, and outrageous shapes, will serve as models. Spend an enjoyable afternoon among these tropical beauties and create a picture to remember. This is the perfect class for anyone who has been hesitant to try an art class – no previous experience is needed.

Limited enrollment. Students will receive a set of oil pastels to use and take home.

Introduction to Plant Illustration

with Carol Gangemi

DATE: Mondays, February 22 – March 29, 6 sessions; 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM
FEE: $135 Garden pass member / $150 non-member
WHERE: Acer Room

or

DATE: Mondays, September 20 – October 25, 6 sessions; 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM
FEE: $135 Garden pass member / $150 non-member
WHERE: Acer Room

This course is for beginners who marvel at the variety of shapes and forms in plants and flowers. Taught with patience and humor in a relaxed atmosphere, each student will be encouraged to work at their own pace and develop his/her own style. The instructor offers frequent demonstrations to clarify the process. Although the primary medium is watercolor, students are welcome to work in graphite, colored pencils or pastels. A supply list will be included with your confirmation. A supply list will be included with your confirmation letter.

Plant Illustration Studio

with Carol Gangemi

DATE: Mondays, February 22 – March 29, 6 sessions; 12:30 PM to 3:00 PM
FEE: $135 Garden pass member / $150 non-member
WHERE: Acer Room

or

DATE: Mondays, September 20 – October 25, 6 sessions; 12:30 PM to 3:00 PM
FEE: $135 Garden pass member / $150 non-member
WHERE: Acer Room

Many plant illustration students stay to spend an enjoyable afternoon each week continuing to use their artistic skills to illustrate plants and flowers from Longwood’s greenhouses and outdoor grounds. The studio time gives each artist a chance to receive further individual attention, constructive suggestions, and encouragement. Work at your own pace to create your own individual project. The interaction with other talented artists makes the studio a very creative and supportive environment.

Come to the first session with all supplies necessary to begin work.

Plant Illustration Studio B

DATE: Mondays, April 5 – 19, 3 sessions; 12:30 PM to 3:00 PM
FEE: $68 Garden pass member / $75 non-member
WHERE: Acer Room

or

DATE: Mondays, November 1 – 15, 3 sessions; 12:30 PM to 3:00 PM
FEE: $68 Garden pass member / $75 non-member
WHERE: Acer Room

For participants who want to extend their studio time for three extra sessions.

Photography After Hours

with Dick Greenwood

DATE: Thursdays, March 4 – 25, 4 sessions; 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
FEE: $225 Garden pass member / $250 non-member
WHERE: Acer Room

Every serious photographer who has been to Longwood Gardens dreams of an opportunity to shoot at Longwood without the overlay of activity that’s ever-present during normal garden hours. This is that opportunity. In four, three hour sessions, participants will be given a series of challenging but fun assignments and the freedom to move through selected areas of the garden to complete them. After a brief introduction, we will preserve class time, for photography and will use an online platform for lively discussions and critiques.

Participation in the online discussions is expected of all participants. Limited enrollment.

Class expectations: This class is open to all who own a digital, single lens reflex camera. Basic instruction in the fundamentals of photography will be provided online for those who are new photographers or interested in a camera basics refresher.

Photographing Orchids

with Joshua Taylor

DATE: Saturday, March 6; 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
FEE: $150 Garden pass member / $135 non-member
Lunch included
WHERE: Catalpa Room

During Longwood’s Orchid Extravaganza, the Conservatory is filled with thousands of rare and beautiful orchids. Photo enthusiasts and gardeners will capture striking images of orchids under the guidance of our accomplished instructor. Learn to shoot the natural beauty of orchids through composition, light, and background control, and closeup photography. The day includes a digital orientation with an illustrated handout, shooting time with the instructor, personal attention, and a formal critique of participants’ images. The goal of the workshop is to get the best possible images using digital equipment.

Limited enrollment.

Note: Participants must bring their own digital photographic equipment and are encouraged to bring a laptop computer and a flash drive to download images for the afternoon critique. Another option is to bring a flash drive/CD with previously shot JPEG images of orchids.

Participants should have a working knowledge of their camera. Activities are NOT applicable to point and shoot cameras. A tripod is optional, but highly recommended.

Digital Garden Photography

with Rob Cardillo

DATE: Saturday, April 17; 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM
FEE: $135 Garden pass member / $150 non-member
Lunch included
WHERE: Catalpa Room, Outdoors & Conservatories

or

with Bob Lyons

DATE: Saturday, October 2
9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
FEE: $135 Garden pass member / $150 non-member
Lunch included
WHERE: Catalpa Room, Outdoors & Conservatories

An illustrated lecture on the basics of composition, lighting, and camera technique will start the day. Professional garden photographers will demonstrate what goes into creating dramatic garden vistas and inspiring floral portraits. Students will head to the gardens to capture their own compelling images.

At a working lunch, the group will reassemble, download photos, and engage in a lively critique.
Limited enrollment.

Take Time to Smell the Roses

with Eileen Rosen

DATE: Sunday, June 6; 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
FEE: $36 Garden pass member / $40 non-member
WHERE: Acer Room and Outdoors

Using color rich oil pastels as the medium, you’ll draw your unique vision of roses. Experience the unbeatable June roses of Longwood while working in the Garden. The freedom to work large and bold is encouraged after a demonstration by the instructor. You will receive individualized instruction in a constructive way without getting caught up in overwhelming or extraneous details. Today the focus is on being spontaneous and playful.

Limited enrollment.

Bring a hat and a camera. If the weather does not cooperate we will bring the roses inside! (Students will receive a set of oil pastels to use and take home.)

Colored Pencils

with Eileen Rosen

DATE: Sundays, October 17 – November 7, 4 sessions; 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM
FEE: $81 Garden pass member / $90 non-member
WHERE: Acer Room

Colored pencils are a versatile medium to interpret flowers and plants with rich, glowing, and realistic results. Learn how to build up layers of color, to burnish, and use the least obvious colors to get the elusive subtleties of nature. Initially work from simple forms of fruits and vegetables, and progress to more complex plants and flowers, learning to emphasize accurate drawing and form. No previous art experience is needed as instruction is based on individual needs.

Limited enrollment.

A supply list will be included with your confirmation letter.

Photographing Fall Splendor

with Joshua Taylor

DATE: Saturday, October 23; 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM
FEE: $135 Garden pass member / $150 non-member
Lunch included
WHERE: Catalpa Room

Fall at Longwood Gardens is the perfect time for photographers to capture beautiful landscape images of nature’s best colors. This workshop is designed for all skill levels of photography.
Emphasis will be on landscape photography with trees as the subject and close-up techniques for capturing designs and patterns in nature. Also, learn how to do panoramas (stitching of multiple images) and focus stacking.

Participants will have the opportunity to practice their skills while shooting with the instructor around the ponds and grounds of Longwood Gardens.

The workshop includes an illustrated handout, a digital presentation by the instructor, and a formal critique of participants’ images in the afternoon. The goal of the workshop is to capture the best possible images worthy of sharing.

Note: Participants must bring their own digital photographic equipment and are encouraged to bring a laptop computer and a flash drive to download images for the afternoon critique.

Another option is to bring a flash drive/CD with previously shot JPEG landscape images. Participants should have a working knowledge of their camera. Activities are NOT applicable to point and shoot cameras. A tripod is optional, but highly recommended.

Autumn Still Life in Oil Pastels

with Eileen Rosen

DATE: Saturday, October 30; 9:00 AM to 12 Noon
FEE: $36 Garden pass member / $40 non-member
WHERE: Betula Room

A warm palate of autumnal leaves, gourds, and pumpkins will inspire paintings in oil pastels. You’ll begin by drawing large simple masses of shapes and color enabling you to fill the entire canvas. Large, creative designs focusing on suggestion rather than detail will result in expressive, individualized, artful paintings.

Limited enrollment. Students will receive a set of oil pastels to use and take home.