Expert artist-teachers offer accessible instruction with the Arboretum as studio and subject. Classes range from beginning to advanced skill levels.
(100-08-24-13)
Saturday, August 24, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
$95 member/$110 non-member, Limit 20, Learning Center
Observe botanical subjects and develop field sketching techniques to record observations. Engage with the structure, colors and textures unique to late summer flowers and their pollinators. In the classroom, develop your sketches and hear from an Arboretum expert about pollinators! Discuss drawing tools, types of papers, color and light theory, stippling, and dimensionality through line and tone. Explore techniques including watercolor sketching, pencil with wet wash brush work, pencil as a base for India ink, burnt sienna and black washes. Work at your own pace with individualized instructor attention. Required materials: see website. Skill level: beginner to advanced.
(100-08-31-13)
Saturday, August 31, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
$95 member/$110 non-member, Limit 20, Learning Center
Colors and textures of apples, gourds and pumpkins offer endless opportunity to create beautiful portraits of fruits and vegetables. Broaden your artistic palette with an introduction to acrylics, where the buildup of semi-transparent glazes and textures bring a subject to life-it also easily covers painting mistakes! In this way it is more forgiving than watercolor or gouache. The workshop will focus strongly on shape, contour and dimensionality, color theory and realism in rendering techniques. An in-depth discussion of all materials, from paper, paint, and brushes will be part of this course. Work at your own pace, with individualized instructor attention. Required materials: see website. Skill level: beginner to advanced.
(100-10-05-13)
Saturday, October 5, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
$95 member/$110 non-member, Limit 20, Learning Center
Using taxidermy and other bird models, examine feathers, talons and beaks, and translate their structure and beauty as objects of art. Draw with graphite to develop finely modeled and realistic renderings. Discuss pencil and paper types, sketch development, scaling technique, accurate contour and form through line and shading, and how to "see" the anatomy beneath; learn drawing transfer techniques, composition and development of polished illustration and fixing graphite for permanence. Work at your own pace, with individualized instructor attention. Required materials: see website. Skill level: beginner to advanced.
(100-10-12-13)
Saturday, October 12, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
$60 member/$75 non-member Gate admission Limit 16 Visitors Center
It can be still and reflective as a mirror. It can be falling and rushing in white wonder. And it can be a real trick for a painter to capture! During this new watercolor intensive, you will learn how to master the techniques needed to breathe life and wonder into the water features of your work. Immerse yourself in the many water highlights of the Arboretum surrounded by the glorious autumn colors and reflections. You will bring your level of watercolor painting to new levels, and be inspired by some of her favorite "plein air" highlights in our collections. Skill level: Intermediate to Advanced. Suggested supply list for this class available on the Arboretum website.
(100-11-02-13)
Saturday, November 2, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
$95 member/$110 non-member, Limit 20, Learning Center
Choose an amphibian, reptile or an insect as the focus for your illustration. The characteristics and anatomy of the subject, pencil and acrylic characteristics and tecnhiques, and color theory will be discussed. Pencil will be used to develop accurate portraits as we explore techniques for sketching from reference materials and transfer of sketches. Use of acrylics will then explore the forms and textures of each subject, whether it would be the moist cool skin of amphibians, scales of the reptile or exoskeleton of an insect. Work at your own pace, with individualized instructor attention. Required materials: see website. Skill level: beginner to advanced.
(100-12-07-13)
Saturday, December 7, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
$95 member/$110 non-member, Limit 20, Learning Center
Relieve mid-winter blues while we learn about butterflies and silk moths native to Minnesota. Prepare detailed sketches, transfer a final sketch, and render with detail using mixed media. Combine watercolor and colored pencil to bring in a variety of color and textural interest to these subjects; explore how blending these media provides a rich presentation. Delve into new media, making a digital scan of individual pieces of art with a discussion of digital prep, color correction and other digital adjustments of traditional artwork. This is the first step towards digital archiving and printing preparation. Work at your own pace, with individualized instructor attention. Required materials: see website. Skill level: beginner to advanced.
(100-02-01-14)
Saturday, February 1, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
$95 member/$110 non-member, Limit 20, Learning Center
Explore digital media techniques for creating aesthetic and biologically accurate renderings of nature. Using Photoshop and other digital artist tools, you will convert field sketches into digital files, prepare layers, develop digital drawings, digital airbrush painting techniques, and create textures, backgrounds, color washes, and three dimensionality in your subject. Required materials: personal laptop (PC or Mac), a digital drawing tablet, and one of your paper illustrations to develop digitally. Skill level: beginner to intermediate levels with computer knowledge and rudimentary Photoshop experience.
(100-03-01-14)
Saturday, March 1, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
$95 member/$110 non-member, Limit 20, Learning Center
This workshop will delve deeper into the Photoshop; you will learn how to create brushes, use selections, content-aware scaling, content-aware fills, puppet warp, and photographic references. Create skies, clouds and landscapes digitally! Finally, learn how to bring in separate files of previously created subject matter into a landscape and create a seamless finished piece. You'll prepare files for export, discuss animation using the Photoshop program. Required materials: personal laptop (PC or Mac), digital drawing tablet and files from Digital World of Photoshop I. Prerequisite: Art and the Digital World of Photoshop I or instructor permission. Skill level: Intermediate to Advanced with some computer and Photoshop experience.
(100-07-10-13)
Wednesdays, July 10, Aug. 14, Sept. 11, Oct. 9, Nov. 13 and Dec. 11, Noon-1:30 p.m.
$80 member/$95 non-member, All Levels, Lecture, Limit 30, Snyder Building Register
Join our thriving "book club" with acclaimed teacher and author Toni McNaron, University of Minnesota professor emerita of English. Explore several noted titles that offer fascinating contrasts between a male and female sensibility in writing about nature. Gain insights into the significance of nature in our lives. Discuss whether these works are influenced or shaped by the author's gender. Selected readings include a pair of creative non-fictional works: Annie Dillard's Pilgrim at Tinker's Creek and Henry D. Thoreau's Walden Pond (July 10 and August 14); selected poems of Robert Frost and Mary Oliver (September 11 and Oct. 9); and a pair of novels: Ole Rolvaag's Giants in the Earth and Willa Cather's My Antonia (Nov. 13 and Dec. 11).
(100-07-27-13)
Saturday, July 27, 9:30 a.m.-Noon Register
$40 member/$55 non-member, All Levels, Hands-On / Demo, Limit 32, Learning Center
Create an arrangement of summer splendor! Using seasonally harvested Arboretum and Minnesota-grown botanicals with unique focal points of fruits and vines, design emphasis will be placed on color blending techniques and using a variety of textures and scent to create unique arrangements. Leave with knowledge of basic floral preparation practices, concepts of layering and form and handy tips on how to gather the necessary materials to create your own masterpieces at home. The class will be taught by a local, industry recognized floral artist, Ashley Fox (www.ashleyfoxdesigns.com). Ashley says that the final arrangement that you take home will be valued around $100, and all materials (including the vase) are included in your class fee.
(100-09-28-13)
Saturday, September 28, 9:30 a.m. - noon
$68 member/$84 non-member, all materials, including vase, Limit 20, Learning Center
Take some of the burnished leaves of autumn together with fragrant and warm-hued roses to create a floral arrangement that will take your breath away. With accomplished and award winning floral artist Ashley Fox as your guide, you will be inspired to use color and texture to create your one-of-a-kind arrangement. Leave with new floral preparation tricks and hints, a refined sense of layering and form, and confidence in being able to create additional arrangements at home. You'll receive everything you need in this "make and take" class, including the vase! Your finished arrangement will have a florist value around $100.
(100-11-23-13)
Saturday, November 23, 9:30 a.m. - noon
$68 member/$84 non-member, Includes all flowers, veggies and container, Limit 20, Learning Center
Create your own Thanksgiving centerpiece that goes way beyond the pumpkin! Be inspired by acclaimed floral designer Ashley Fox (www.ashleyfoxdesigns.com) while creating a fresh and lush design to impress your guests on Thanksgiving. You'll use squash (cucurbits), artichokes and pears, along with fresh cut flowers and trailing vines in a footed, dark container. Discover the balance between using fresh cuts and real fruits and vegetables to create a low, dramatic and inviting design to enjoy during your favorite meal of the year. Your finished masterpiece will have a florist value around $100. All materials provided.
(100-12-14-13)
Saturday, December 14, 9:30 a.m. - noon
$68 member/$84 non-member, All materials, Limit 20, Learning Center
Nothing welcomes your guests into your home during the holidays like a breathtaking holiday wreath. Go beyond a few fir branches in this special holiday workshop with acclaimed floral designer Ashley Fox. Ashley will show you how to create a whimsical wreath on a honeysuckle vine base using materials from the Arboretum and a floral wholesaler, including dark feather-leaf myrtle, tiny spruce cones, aromatic cedar, and more. You will be dazzled by what you will create, and the experience is certain to put you into the holiday spirit. This wreath (with a florist value of $100) will last through the holidays...the memories of time spent with others creating beauty will last even longer. All materials provided.
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To register, make note of class name(s) and number(s), then click the leaf to go to our OnLine store!
Questions?
Call 952-443-1422
or email: ArbEdu@umn.edu
Emma V. White cover, 1900
One of Peter Juhl's Balanced Stone Sculptures
Flower Arrangement by Ashley Fox Designs
Flower Arranging Workshop photo: Ashley Fox
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