BROOKSIDE GARDENS SCHOOL of BOTANICAL ART & ILLUSTRATION

WEEKLY CLASS PROGRAM

PRELIMINARY – Start Drawing & Painting

A preparatory level subject designed by Margaret Saul © 2004

MATERIALS: From “Part A” on main school list (Refer to Handbook, page 34). Plus - “Poster Tack” such
as the blue adhesive material found in store school supplies.
NOTE - The following materials from “Part A” are NOT required – Pencil grades: 6H & 2H. Also not
required - Tracing paper, ring binder, retractable pencil or magnifying lens. All painting materials are
provided at class three.

>>>BRING TO THE FIRST CLASS ONE OF THE FOLLOWING - A small soft toy, seashell, small garden
ornament, room ornament or figurine, a toddler’s shoe or any small object you would like to draw. (Items
can be exchanged for drawing in class if time permits. Please – no heirlooms or antiques.)

CLASS 1: Drawing For All

AIM: (i) Outline of botanical art and an introduction to the drawing process

LESSON OUTLINE: Introductions

Overview of Classes
View Working Drawings & Paintings
Drawing is a skill that can be learned
Start Drawing
HOMEWORK:
To enjoy this exercise you must switch off from daily concerns and focus on DRAWING. Before you can
expect to gain satisfaction from your drawing endeavors you must allow time for the mind switch that must
occur in order for you to enjoy this process – one that all creative artists seek.

Using line work only, draw three objects that are of interest to you -
1. “ANGULAR/ RIGID” such as a stone or some kitchen gadget
2. “Rounded & Pliable” hand-molded blob with holes - a piece of “poster tack”
3. “Light & Delicate” such as a soft downy feather.

Allow one hour for a “time of discovery” sensing their properties with hand and pencil –
(i) Fill two or more sketchbook pages with warm-up sketches of your chosen subjects – a mix of quick
impressions and “blind drawings” of your subject drawn from different angles. Enjoy sensing contrasts in
shape and 3-D form and explore interesting textures or record details previously not noticed. If you like,
allow these warm ups to overlap until your page is covered in lines of discovery!

(ii) Sketch a final drawing of all three objects placed together on a page.

(iii) Bring all your drawings to class to share your experience with fellow students. Please do not be too
critical of the results.

BRING TO NEXT CLASS: Vegetables etc with rounded & cylindrical shaped properties – carrot, root
of ginger, pepper, onion, apple, acorn squash. Also, any rounded ornament you may have and any suitable
subjects from this first class.

1
PRELIMINARY – Start Drawing & Painting WEEKLY CLASS PROGRAM

CLASS 2 Draw & Draw & Draw some More!

AIM: (i) Develop awareness for Space, Shape & Form (ii) Information about art materials used by the School

LESSON OUTLINE: Review previous class/ Homework

Twists and Turns: Space exploration - creating form on the flat page
Shading
Art Materials – School list

HOMEWORK: Draw a number of variably sized objects (natural & manufactured) that contain rounded
forms. Sense these forms using multiple lines to describe or sense the degree of depth (perspective) across
the form and to describe the type of surface - as instructed in class.

CLASS 3 Botanicals – A Dabbling Good Time with Paint

(Comprehensive instruction in color study & application starts with Painting 103)

AIM: An introduction to the Saul palette & basic watercolor applications.

LESSON OUTLINE: Review previous class/ Homework

Color Mixing – watercolors
Watercolor wash Applications: Coloring-In Botanicals
(Brief Outline of the School’s Drawing Program)

NOTES: