Botanical illustrations: colour and motion
Weekend-long practical course
18 May 2019 10.30am - 5.30pm19 May 2019 10.30am - 5.30pm
The Clore Learning Centre, Burlington Gardens, Royal Academy of Arts
£420. Includes all materials, light refreshments and a wine reception at the end of day one.
Terms and conditions
Capture the vibrancy of the natural world in this weekend botanical illustration course. Explore the boundaries between drawing and painting as you bring flora to life with contemporary illustration.
Join us for an exciting weekend workshop exploring botanical illustration. Illustration today has grown into its own and is a celebrated art form in its own right. Social media and the internet have paved the way for illustration to become a major discipline, due to its ability to simplify complex subject matter in a meaningful way.
The weekend’s expert tutor is World Illustration Award-winning professional illustrator, Claudine O’Sullivan, whose artwork has been used by worldwide brands including Apple, MTV and Island Records. Her distinctive pencil drawings bring visualisation of botanical subjects alive using both colour and motion.
The expressiveness of this medium lends itself very well to the natural world and allows you to create beautiful and colourful work. Explore innovative ways to look at the world around you and learn to capture the remarkably diverse colours and shapes that can be found in nature.
The course is based on close observation of flowers and plants and will focus on learning the tenets of light and shade as well as colour and composition. Benefiting from personal tuition and group exercises and discussions, you will come away with a number of sketches, a final piece and a fresh look at the art of nature.
About the course
This dynamic drawing and illustration course will explore botanical drawing through observation over the course of a weekend.
Participants will work from plants to demonstrate the essential elements of structure and form, creating innovative and vibrant works of art.
Participants are advised to bring something to carry their work home in, as there are no storage facilities available.
This course is suitable for all levels.
This course is for you if:
• You have no prior experience of drawing or illustration, but are interested in the details of these practices and techniques
• You have some prior knowledge of drawing and/or illustration and would like to expand your skills
• You are curious to learn traditional approaches to drawing that are rooted in observation from the object, and wish to do so in a creative, experimental and supportive environment
• You would appreciate learning to develop approaches to drawing among a group of like-minded individuals in a focused, relaxed and supported manner
Minimum age 18
The number of participants is strictly limited to enable detailed feedback from the course tutor.
£420
Saturday 18 – Sunday 19 May 2019
10.30am-17:30pm on both days
• The opportunity to work from a variety of plants throughout the course
• All specialist practical art materials
• Course learning materials and hand-outs
• Light refreshments on both days
• A drinks reception at the end of the first day
• A certificate of participation upon course completion
About the tutor
Claudine O'Sullivan
Irish artist Claudine O’Sullivan is a professional illustrator who works primarily in coloured pencil as well as many other media. She graduated from the University of the Arts London with a First Class Honours degree in Graphic Design. Her distinct hand-drawn illustrations have gained her industry attention, leading her to be featured in the worldwide Apple Pencil campaign, which won the 2017 World Illustration Awards Professional Advertising category. Her uniquely traditional drawing style has appealed to a diverse range of brands such as MTV, Island Records, WeTransfer, Tiger Beer and Derwent Pencils.
Our courses and classes programme
Our programme of short courses and classes offers the opportunity to explore a range of subjects, led by expert tutors and practising artists.
Give this course as a gift
All of our courses can be purchased as a gift for a friend or family member – giving the gift of education and a remarkable experience. To arrange a personalised Gift Voucher, please contact Anna Pojer, Academic Programmes Manager, by calling 020 7300 5684 or email anna.pojer@royalacademy.org.uk