Thank you for your interest in the Friends’ Botanical Art Classes. The Friends have a range of classes available for students of all skill levels from beginner through to advanced.
Enrolments for 2025 Term 1 classes will open soon. Term 1 will offer face to face classes and online classes via Zoom. We have classes available every day of the week, night and day, on weekdays and weekends so, we hope you are able to find a class at a time and skill level which suits you.
Outlines including the materials list for each class are provided below. Additionally, you can read all about our tutors to find a teaching style which suits you.
All students enrolled in classes are required to be members of the Friends.
We hope you are able to find a class which meets your needs and we are able to welcome you to one of our classes in Term 1.
Term 1 starts on 30January 2025.
Please note:
Priority Bookings: Bookings for Term 1 botanical art classes are open to current students until 9 December 2024. After that date, bookings for botanical art classes open to all interested in attending a class – availability pending vacancies.
If you would like to join one of the Friends’ classes for the first time, please do not hesitate to email us on botanicart@frbgmelb.org.au
If you have no botanical art experience or have not been part of our botanical art program before, the best place to start your journey is by attending a Friends’ ‘Introduction to Botanical Art Workshop’. Once you have completed this workshop, you will be welcome to join one of our term classes.
Classes times and outlines for Term 1
Monday Classes
MOTH ORCHID IN WATERCOLOUR
Mon 1.30pm – 4pm with David Reynolds
This class will be presented each week Face to Face at Domain House and is an intermediate level.
BOTANICAL DRAWING WITH COLOURED PENCIL I – ONLINE
Mon 6pm – 8pm with Amanda Ahmed
This class will be presented each week Online via Zoom and is a beginners level.
This is an introductory coloured pencil course where you will gain increased confidence in drawing from life and a basic understanding of coloured pencil techniques such as layering and colour mixing. Several exercises in coloured pencil and at least one fully rendered coloured pencil drawing will be completed.
Tuesday Classes
BOTANICAL DRAWING WITH GRAPHITE I
Tues 2pm – 4.30pm with Amanda Ahmed
This class will be presented each week Face to Face at Domain House and is a beginners level.
Some subjects to be explored will be tomatoes, a basic leaf and gumnuts. You will develop more confidence in drawing from life and a better understanding of graphite pencil techniques.
MOTH ORCHID IN WATERCOLOUR – ONLINE
Tues 6pm – 8pm with David Reynolds
This class will be presented each week Online via Zoom and is an intermediate level.
Wednesday Classes
BOTANICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY PAINTING AND DRAWING
Wed 10:30am – 1pm with Dianne Emery
This class will be presented each week Face to Face Class and is an intermediate/advanced level.
Students will develop confidence and accuracy in drawing and painting from life. Their skills of accurate observation and rendering different surfaces will be enhanced. Using tools such as constructive drawing and understanding light effects they will be able to improve the illusions of forms in space, as well as creating interesting compositions relevant to their subjects.
BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE CLASS IN WATERCOLOUR
Wed 1.30pm – 4pm with Jessie Ford
This class will be presented each week Face to Face Class and is a beginners/intermediate level.
This class will provide how to render realistic drawings and watercolour paintings. The term will be divided between two different and simple subjects with plenty of demonstrations and one on one feedback.
RED RADISH IN WATERCOLOUR
Wed 6pm – 8.30pm with Jessie Ford
This class will be presented each week Face to Face Class and is a beginners level.
This class will provide how to render realistic drawings and watercolour paintings. The term will be divided between two different and simple subjects with plenty of demonstrations and one on one feedback.
SUMMER BOTANICAL STUDY – ONLINE
Wed 6pm – 8pm with John Pastoriza-Piñol
This class will be presented each week Online via Zoom and is an advanced level.
The tutor will assist with composition, painting techniques, colour theory, which will be
offered in class and assigned for homework. Students who enrol in this course should be at an
intermediate to advanced level.
Thursday Classes
BAMBOO IN WATERCOLOUR
Thurs 10am – 4pm with Craig Lidgerwood
This class will be presented every second week Face to Face at Domain House and is an ongoing beginners level.
Starting 17 October.
During this class, we will develop techniques, discuss approaches and begin to understand the materials utilised to create a finished botanic artwork. You will learn fine attention to detail and grow your confidence to further develop your own style.
NATURAL HISTORY SUBJECT IN WATERCOLOUR
Thurs 10am – 4pm with Craig Lidgerwood
This class will be presented every second week Face to Face at Domain House and is an intermediate level.
During this class, we will develop techniques, discuss approaches and begin to understand the materials utilised to create a finished botanic artwork. You will learn fine attention to detail and grow your confidence to further develop your own style.
BOTANICAL DRAWING WITH GRAPHITE II – ONLINE
Thurs 6pm – 8pm with Amanda Ahmed
This class will be presented each week Online via Zoom and it is a beginner/intermediate level.
At the end of the term, you will have built up a series of sketches and studies in your drawing book
and completed at least one fully rendered drawing in graphite. You will have developed more confidence in drawing from life and a better understanding of graphite pencil techniques.
Friday Classes
BOTANICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY PAINTING AND DRAWING
Fri 10:30am – 1:30pm with Dianne Emery
This class will be presented each week Face to Face Class and is an advanced level.
Students will develop confidence and accuracy in drawing and painting from life. Their skills of accurate observation and rendering different surfaces will be enhanced. Using tools such as constructive drawing and understanding light effects they will be able to improve the illusions of forms in space, as well as creating
interesting compositions relevant to their subjects.
Saturday Classes
MOTH ORCHID IN WATERCOLOUR – ONLINE
Sat 10am – 12pm with David Reynolds
This class will be presented each week Online via Zoom and is an intermediate level.
ONGOING BEGINNERS CLASS IN WATERCOLOUR
Sat 10am – 4pm with Craig Lidgerwood
This class will be presented every second week Face to Face at Domain House and is an ongoing beginners level.
During this class, we will develop techniques, discuss approaches and begin to understand the materials utilised to create a finished botanic artwork. You will learn fine attention to detail and grow your confidence to further develop your own style.
Sunday Classes
NATURAL HISTORY SUBJECT IN WATERCOLOUR
Sun 2pm – 4pm with Craig Lidgerwood
This class will be presented each week Online via Zoom and is an intermediate level.
This class will introduce participants to the necessary observation, composition, drawing and
painting skills to develop a botanic artwork using a variety of materials and techniques.
Class Prices
All classes are $320.00 (except Friday class)
Friday class is $350.00
Beginners’ Botanical Art Pack for Members
The Friends have negotiated a discounted art pack for beginners’ of botanical art with Eckersley’s Art Supplies. The beginners’ art pack is available for purchase online only at Eckersley’s.
Pack includes a range of paper pads(3), pencils(5), ruler, erasers(2), sharpener, brushes(4) and paints(6) at the discounted price of $244.00 inc. GST (Normal retail over $300.00 inc GST).