Advance registration required | Fee: $235
Join local artist Anne Erlewine at Matthaei Botanical Gardens for an immersive winter botanical illustration course focused on drawing and painting plants from observation. Through guided practice, students will learn multiple techniques that train the hand and eye to accurately record what they see on paper. As skills develop, participants will bring their practice together to create and complete a finished painted composition.
The course balances focused skill-building with enjoyment of the creative process and is designed to be accessible to a range of working styles and paces.
Course format
This is a 6-week curriculum spread over 8 weeks, meeting weekly on Wednesdays.
Two additional sessions are included at no extra cost:
January 21 – a free, open-to-the-public introductory class for those interested in experiencing the course before enrolling (space permitting).
February 18 – a complimentary mid-course session where enrolled students are invited to bring a friend for a review of techniques from the first three weeks.
Dates: 1/21, 1/28, 2/4, 2/11, 2/18, 2/25, 3/4, 3/11
Time: Wednesdays, 5:45–7:45 pm
(Optional 15-minute observation meditation in the Conservatory at 5:30 pm)
Location: Room 139, Matthaei Botanical Gardens
Capacity: Limited to 16 participants
All course materials are provided for those who prefer not to purchase supplies; a recommended supply list will also be available. Optional homework will be suggested between sessions to support skill development, though all objectives can be completed during class time. A full course syllabus will be provided upon registration.
Free parking is available for all students.
About the instructor
Anne Erlewine works from her studio in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Anne’s paternal grandmother was a fine artist who encouraged Anne to develop her skills early on. Anne received a running scholarship at the University of Michigan where she studied art and writing. Anne also studied intensive watercolor and figure drawing at Naropa Institute in Boulder, Colorado during the Beat Generation reunion.
