Explore drawing botanical subjects with colored pencils in this two-session course. Colored pencils are a relative newcomer to the art of botanical illustration but are finding popularity for their ease in creating vibrant and colorful botanical portraits. Join botanical artist and instructor Corry Buckwalter to learn a variety of techniques including blending, burnishing, embossing, creating volume, color mixing and layering, underpainting, among other skills. Draw leaves, flowers and more. Botanical illustrations and plant portraits by modern botanical artists are studied for inspiration. Come prepared to draw, relax and connect with the colors of nature.

Colored pencils class supplies list:

• Pad of smooth drawing paper, i.e. Bristol Smooth, 9” x 12”, 15-25 sheets, such as Canson brand, or another.
• Sketchpad, 8×10 or larger.
• Hotpress watercolor paper, sheets or block, Stonehenge Aqua Hotpress by Legion or Blick Hotpress or similar brand, 9×12 inches, around 15 sheets, 140 lb.
• Roll of white trace paper, 12 inches.
• HB, H, 2H and 4H graphite pencils.
• Colored pencils: many colors included in Prismacolor Premier and other sets are not used in botanical drawing so it would preferable if students individually purchase the following colored pencils that are specific for botanical drawing:Warm Grey IV, Ivory, White, Dark Sepia, Indigo, Earth Green Yellowish, Permanent Green Olive, Earth Green, Cadmium Yellow Lemon, Pale Geranium Lake, Venetian Red, Yellow Ochre, Chrome Oxide Green, Ultramarine, Cobalt Turquoise (these are names of pencils for the Faber-Castell Polychromos brand, which is excellent quality and fun to draw with). If you have more colors including a Prismacolor Premier set, we can definitely use them in class so bring what you have!
• Colorless blender pencil, Prismacolor or Blick brand.
• Colorless blending marker, ProMarker, Winsor & Newton brand, alcohol-based.
• Kneaded and plastic erasers.
• Portable pencil sharpener. I highly recommend the Muji brand portable hand sharpener. It is excellent for sharpening colored pencils, and is only around $10 at www.muji.com. This sharpener creates an amazing point which is long lasting and does not waste a lot of pencil in the sharpening process. A key to successful botanical drawing in colored pencils is using a very sharp pencil, so do consider purchasing a good sharpener.
• Ruler. Clear plastic is best for measuring, but use what is available.
• Embossing stylus, such as Fiskar or Kemper brand, or another brand.
• Magnifying glass.

Corry Buckwalter is an art instructor, artist, author, and landscape designer based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She learned the craft of painting from established realist painter Elaine S. Wilson, and is committed to teaching observational drawing and painting techniques in a systematic process for artistic confidence for each student. Corry studied botanical illustration with botanical artist Ann Swan and at the School of Botanical Art and Illustration at Denver Botanical Gardens. She regularly teaches drawing, painting and botanical art classes for adults and teens at the Ann Arbor Art Center and is on the visual arts faculty at Washtenaw Community College in Michigan. Corry has shown and sold her paintings in local juried exhibitions for more than 10 years. In addition to teaching art classes, she designs residential landscape projects in Southeast Michigan. Corry has written feature articles about urban design, the environment and city planning for numerous magazines since 2007. She holds a Master of Landscape Architecture degree and a Master of City and Regional Planning degree from Cornell University and grew up spending her summers in Manchester, Vermont. Corry is a member of the American Society of Botanical Artists and ASLA. Visit www.climateconsciousdesign.com to learn more and follow Corry on Instagram @corrybuckwalter_studio