Berkshire Botanical Garden has opened registration for its Art in the Garden Summer Program, a lineup of five workshops ranging from watercolor painting to drawing nature and the art of cut paper.
The Garden in Watercolors Session I: En Plein Air Watercolor Painting in the Summer Garden, will be offered four consecutive Wednesdays beginning July 5, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Each class will begin with an introduction and demonstration by instructor Ann Kremers, followed by study of forms, composition, and simple, direct color schemes. Participants are welcome to attend all four classes or individual classes, but all are encouraged to attend the first session, when the basics of watercolor, paint brushes and paper will be explained. Students of all levels are welcome; no previous experience is necessary. This four-session workshop will be repeated beginning August 2, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., and will follow the same curriculum. Fees for the classes are: four sessions $185 / $155 members; individual classes, $50. A materials list is available at berkshirebotanical.org.
A workshop on the Art of Cut Paper — Scherenschnitte, is offered on Thursday, July 20, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Taught by Pamela Dalton (pictured below,) this hands-on program includes instruction on the simple techniques of cut paper. Students will create multiple Scherenschnitte, executed in the style of the Pennsylvania German tradition drawing on farming and gardening themes from the 19th century. The instructor will also share paper cutting from a variety of cultures and historic periods. Fees for the class are $85 / $75 members. View a materials list at berkshirebotanical.org. A materials fee of $10 is paid directly to the instructor.
Basic Drawing: Observing Nature with Graphite Pencil, a workshop taught by Carol Ann Morley, is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, August 14 and 15, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Students will learn how to look at the natural world and give shape and definition to their subject through graphite shading techniques. This workshop is open to any level of student from beginner to those with drawing skills. Fees for the workshop are $250 / $225 members.
Carol Ann Morley will also instruct the workshop, Drawing in Nature: A Visual Narrative. This consecutive three-day program begins Wednesday, August 16, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and focuses on how to present an image of nature to achieve an interesting drawing that engages the attention. Students are encouraged to bring several natural subjects to choose from as the focus of their drawing, and will work in graphite during design stages, but can select a color medium for a final rendering. Open to students of all levels. Fees for the workshop are $315 / $290 members
Berkshire Botanical Garden is located at 5 West Stockbridge Road, (Routes 102/183) Stockbridge, Ma. For additional information on these classes, bios of the instructors, or to register, visit berkshirebotanical.org or call 413 320-4794.
