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School of Botanical Art and Illustration

McCrillis Gardens ~ Botanical Art Classes for Everyone

6910 Greentree Road
Bethesda, Maryland 20817
301-962-1455

Step out of the everyday....

Become absorbed in drawing and painting the natural beauty of plants. Learn how to draw and paint.

 

Parrot Tulip 2007Master Class April 26 - 29, 2010 ~ Join John Pastoriza-Piñol, an Australian master botanical artist with artwork in the Highgrove Florilegium UK.

Fancy Tulips: A poignant reminder about the risks associated with the Share markets, Tulips are certainly a symbol of man's greed and fiscal hysteria. Originating from central Asia and the Middle East, tulips were prized by the Ottomans and slowly were introduced into Europe through trade routes.

They became a prized treasure in Europe's major trade hub, the Netherlands, in the late 16th century and soon supported a thriving yet ill-fated stock market where some tulips sold for more than the equivalent of $5 million. The most highly prized tulips exhibited variegated patterns, the result of a virus that was spread via aphids. After the fall of the Tulipomania, many varieties disappeared completely and are only recorded through botanical illustration. Over the last 120 years, Tulips became synonymous with Holland and remain their major global export. Many of today's hybrids exhibit qualities not seen in nature and the structure of the bloom is almost perfect.

Over 4 days, John will assist you with painting a tulip bloom and foliage. Tulips will be collected from the stock grown at Brookside Gardens and John will identify differences between the various tulip types: Singles, Darwins, Parrot, Kaufmanniana, Viridiflora, Waterlilly etc.

To register, search for ParkPASS course #88199.

School of Botanical Art & Illustration Certificate Program

Recent years have seen a resurgence in the popularity of botanical art and illustration from both the collector’s and the student’s point of view. Developed in collaboration with world-renowned botanical artist, Margaret Saul, the Brookside Gardens School of Botanical Art & Illustration offers botanical art class that serve all levels, from beginner to advanced.

Upon completion of a specified number and combination of botanical art classes, those students who choose to follow this course of work will earn a the prestigious Brookside Gardens School of Botanical Art & Illustration Certificate. Certificate work is not required to participate in the School. Classes also may be taken singly and at the student’s leisure.

Want to learn more?

School of Botanical Art & Illustration handbook (pdf, 2123KB)

IMPORTANT: Check below additional Documents (not included in the handbook):

The Brookside Gardens School of Botanical Art and Illustration is located at McCrillis Gardens in Bethesda, MD. Limited botanical art class offerings are also listed in the current issue of the Guide to Programs and Events. For more information, contact Mark Richardson on 301-962-1470.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

For information on individual classes, browse programs online at:
ParkPass, School of Botanical Art or ParkPass, Visual Arts

Sites of Interest

If you are interested in learning more about the field of botanical artistry or botanical art classes in your area, visit the other websites listed below:

Online Galleries and Art Societies
Other Schools of Botanical Art & Illustration