School of Botanical Art & Illustration at Denver Botanic Gardens

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The School of Botanical Art and Illustration (SBAI) will continue operations as usual, but content will no longer be posted here.

Follow Denver Botanic Gardens and Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms to stay in the loop on all things about the Gardens!
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Please sign up for the Art Exhibitions e-newsletter to receive SBAI program announcements and registration dates (Click on "Art Exhibitions and Programs" button):
https://botanicgardens.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=cbad7b587235ab57c0ed048d8&id=46ae68fad9

Both our upcoming lecture series feature fascinating people talking about art, plants and everything in between.

Our free “Food for Thought” lunchtime series includes artists who run creative businesses and arts professionals with great tips for your arts business!

The upcoming "Intersections" lectures feature diverse guests including artists, scientists and filmmakers.

Register for Food for Thought: https://catalog.botanicgardens.org/DateSelection.aspx?item=4901

Register for Intersections Lectures: https://catalog.botanicgardens.org/Default.aspx?q=Talk&tagid=&from=08%2F27%2F2024&until=08%2F26%2F2025

We are already through 1/3 of our 2024 Session 2 classes!

We’ve had some wonderful instructors and engaging courses. There’s plenty more art to be made in our classrooms, in person or online.

Please view our catalog of classes and sign up today! https://www.botanicgardens.org/education/school-botanical-art-illustration

Pictured: Vincent Jeannerot, David Morrison

Join us!
Science-Art Symposium: Mechanisms of Change, Friday & Saturday, September 13 & 14 at Denver Botanic Gardens.
Explore the intersections of art and science through fascinating talks, film and performances. SBAI Students can register at the student price ($20).

More information here:

Science-Art Symposium: Mechanisms of Change Join us at the Gardens to explore art, science and the space where the two come together to foster the health and wellness of the environment and

Meet the Instructor Monday!

Darcy Evans is an experienced publishing professional who specializes in illustrated children's books. She has spent her career editing and reviewing children's literature and teaching and giving lectures on the subject.

If you share Darcy's passions, join her for one of several upcoming classes! If you have taken classes with her before, Picture Books: From Concept to Reality is for you, and if you are new to the children's book world, any or all of the Focus on Picture Book series will give you an excellent introduction!

More information available here: https://catalog.botanicgardens.org/default.aspx?q=Darcy+Evans&tagid=10&from=08%2F23%2F2024&until=08%2F23%2F2025

📸: Darcy Evans

Curious about printmaking?
Join instructor Deb Rosenbaum for an introductory sampler class to explore a variety of simple printmaking techniques including relief, dry point intaglio and monotype!

Exploring Printmaking begins onsite on Wednesday September 4, 5-8pm.
Register here: https://www.botanicgardens.org/programs/exploring-printmaking

📸: Deb Rosenbaum

This Saturday, join us at the Gardens for our last Spirit Guides Drop-in Artmaking activity!
Inspired by the Spirit Guides exhibition, paint your own miniature papier-mâché animals, such as butterflies, swans and rabbits.

Saturday, August 24, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. outside Boettcher Memorial Center. All ages. Various papier-mâché animals for purchase, access included with Gardens admission ticket.

More information on the Sprit Guides exhibition here: https://www.botanicgardens.org/exhibits/spirit-guides-fantastical-creatures-workshop-jacobo-and-maria-angeles?fbclid=IwY2xjawEwS0hleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHb3myiv3rPnW93h8E5I2O35NM_Au3aMh0NieIymqKyIsblmB3K09MvPhsQ_aem_YAidWbvdiJo64prdad5fng

📸: Melinda Laz

Spend some time honing your observational skills as you blend art and science in a Nature Journal!
Join instructor Sarah Pedry to learn the basics of the practice, and find a new way to get in touch with your art practice and your environment.

Online and onsite class sections available, both beginning the week of August 26th.

Register here: https://catalog.botanicgardens.org/default.aspx?q=Nature+Journaling&tagid=10&from=08%2F16%2F2024&until=08%2F16%2F2025

📸: Sarah Pedry

Learn All About Alliums!

Start with a Botany Spotlight online lecture on August 27 with organic chemist Dr. Eric Block and Botanist Dr. Melissa Islam to learn why onions make you cry, why garlic can give you bad breath, and many more facts all about Allium!

Then join instructor Charlotte Ricker to apply your knowledge in Drawing Allium Flowers, beginning October 6, where she will provide tips and strategies to draw the incredibly complex flowers of this expansive genus of plants!

Register here:
https://www.botanicgardens.org/programs/botany-spotlight-alliums-online

https://www.botanicgardens.org/programs/drawing-allium-flowers-online

📸: Melinda Laz

Renowned colored pencil artist David Morrison is coming to Denver!

Though his class is full, there are still spots available for a special evening of Show and Tell! David Morrison will bring a selection of his finished and in-progress works to share and discuss. Participants may each bring 1-3 works to share with the group in this casual critique environment.

Thursday, August 22, 6-8pm. Register here: https://www.botanicgardens.org/programs/show-and-tell-david-morrison

📸: David Morrison, Milkweed, Colored Pencil, 2023.

Time for a Student Shout Out!

SBAI sends its warmest congratulations to student Wendy Wibbens on her exhibition at Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center! If you are in the Salida area, stop in to see her beautiful works on display through September 30!

Exhibit by Chaffee County Artist Wendy Wibbens Now on Display at HRRMC - by Carly Winchell - Ark Valley Voice A collection of original colored pencil and graphite drawings by Buena Vista artist Wendy Wibbens is on display at Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical

Meet the Instructor Monday!

Dr. Melissa Islam is a botanist with a rich and passionate knowledge of plants and a desire to inspire others. Her education, research and professional experience focuses on plant evolution, taxonomy, floristics, and natural history collections.

Though normally teaching online classes for SBAI, Dr. Islam is visiting Denver this month! There are just a few spots left in her botany feedback session, The Botanist Is In, on August 16th, where students can receive feedback and suggestions on the botanical accuracy of their latest illustrations.
You can also join Dr. Islam online later this session for her class on Fifteen Common plant families, beginning November 5!

Register here: https://www.botanicgardens.org/programs/botanist
https://www.botanicgardens.org/programs/fifteen-common-plant-families-online

📸: Dr. Melissa Islam