Reviewed by Emma van Klaveren
Botanical artist and ABA member Emma van Klaveren leads our newly established Education Team . The team are reviewing books, art courses and materials for our members. In their reviews your members give their personal perspective on the quality and potential advantages of the subject matter. In this review Emma completed two online Kew courses developed by the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew in partnership with the well known publishers and course developers, David & Charles.
ABA Members will receive a 10% discount on these courses so if you are interested then just drop us an email at assocbotart@gmail.com to receive your discount code.
We hope you find Emma's reviews helpful.
Part I - Introduction to Botanical Painting - Vegetables
- Self paced course includes two hours of digital tuition which is equivalent to a full day workshop at Kew.
- Video lesson running time 123 minutes delivered by online streaming.
- Available for 12 months from purchase date and can be extended for a further 12 months.
- Student Facebook group to engage with other learners.
- Interactive activities to test your knowledge.
I was excited to review this botanical painting course where the subject was a Capsicum as these are widely available and a great subject! We call them peppers in the U.K.
I was sent a comprehensive kit to get going with plenty of help to login. The beautifully filmed introductory videos by Rachel Pedder-Smith clearly explained her teaching methods and the materials involved. I like the way you can do the course in your own time at your own pace and in your own space. Rachel started with some practice exercises to explore light and shade, colour mixing and application.
Although I am an experienced painter, I still learnt some new tricks of the trade! I like the fact that the online content was bookmarked which made it much easier to review separate sections. Alongside the videos there were also some very helpful step by step painting guides to download, describing how to paint the inside and the outside of the Capsicum fruit.
In your kit, you'll find:
2 x sheets Saunders Waterford 300gsm Hot Pressed Paper
STAEDTLER 2B pencil
STAEDTLER mechanical eraser
2 x paintbrushes: Sceptre Gold II synthetic/sable mix
1 x 000 size
1 x 6 size
W&N Cotman Watercolour Paints in seven colours:
Cadmium Red
Permanent Alizarin Crimson
Dioxazine Violet
Cadmium Yellow
Sap Green
Hooker's Dark Green
Payne's Grey
Part II - Capturing the Inner Beauty of Flowers in Pen & Ink
- Self paced course includes two hours of digital tuition which is equivalent to a full day workshop at Kew.
- Video lesson running time 127 minutes delivered by online streaming.
- Available for 12 months from purchase date and can be extended for a further 12 months.
- Student Facebook group to engage with other learners.
- Interactive activities to test your knowledge.
Delighted to try another wonderful online course provided by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in partnership with David & Charles and on behalf of Association of Botanical Artists - ABA. This time it was focusing on capturing the inner beauty of flowers in pen & ink.
Although I am an experienced illustrator I was pleased to review and revise this technique as I always found it tricky during my Diploma Course. Using the generous materials supplied, Tutor Hazel Wilks guided me through the steps of dissecting the Stargazer Lily Lilium sp., and the botany of the plant. Hazel also showed me how to measure and sketch the flower in pencil, transferring it onto Bristol Board with practice in mark making with pen and ink, leading to a final piece.
Really enjoyed this online course which you can do in your own time and review the bookmarked videos as many times as you need. You also get three downloadable handouts and the ability to connect to other students on the course Facebook page. Ten out of ten from me!
In your kit, you'll find:
Water spray bottle
2 sheets A4 sketch paper
2 sheets of A4 Winsor & Newton smooth Bristol board
2 sheets A4 tracing paper
STAEDTLER Tradition H pencil and sharpener
STAEDTLER mechanical eraser
Helix technical compass
Micron Pigma Fineline pens (sizes 01, 03 and 05)
Floral dissection handout
ABA members are being offered a 10% discount on these courses. To get your discount code email us at assocbotart@gmail.com.
I really enjoyed both courses as there is always something new to learn. If you are a beginner then I can recommend both courses and what is really nice, is that you can take your time as access to the courses are available for 12 months from the purchase date with the possibility for an extension.