Boston Flora

Tag: Tom Smith

  • Saturday, February 28, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm – Garden Design Perspective Drawing: From Concept to Sketch

    Learn to bring your design ideas to life through clear, compelling perspective sketches at Berkshire Botanical Garden on Saturday, February 28, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Taught by Tom Smith of Springfield Technical Community College, this workshop introduces the fundamentals of freehand one-point and two-point perspective drawing, essential skills for communicating spatial concepts in garden and landscape design. Begin by sketching simple objects and small garden scenes, then build your skills to illustrate larger, more complex spaces, such as front yards, patios, and planting designs. Emphasis will be placed on accurate proportion, depth and clarity, ensuring your drawings effectively convey your vision in ways that flat plan or bird’s-eye views cannot. Perfect for designers, students and gardeners looking to strengthen their visual communication and present ideas with confidence.

    Tom Smith teaches at Springfield Technical Community College. His past career experiences include precision machining, HVAC ductwork fabrication, installation, and service technician roles, as well as a stint in the U.S. Navy. He also wore many ‘hats’ within a small landscape company as a designer, estimator, salesperson, horticulturist, and construction crew leader.

    $130 for BBG members, $150 for nonmembers. Register at https://www.berkshirebotanical.org/events/garden-design-perspective-drawing-concept-sketch

  • Saturday, November 1 – Saturday, November 22, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm – Rendering

    Bring your garden designs to life through rendering — a vital drawing skill that adds depth, detail and visual impact to your work. This four-week Berkshire Botanical Garden hands-on course, on Saturdays, Nov. 1 to 22, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., is ideal for garden designers ready to move beyond basic drafting. Taught by Tom Smith of Springfield Technical Community College, the class focuses on developing lifelike visual representations that help communicate design concepts clearly and persuasively. With the class structured as a studio workshop, students will explore the artistic side of landscape design using B-range pencils and techniques like illustrative rendering, including sections, elevations, and plan obliques. Whether you’re a budding designer or a creative gardener, this class will sharpen your visual communication skills. Completion of Drafting for Garden Design or equivalent coursework is a prerequisite. BBG members $215, nonmembers $240. Register at https://www.berkshirebotanical.org/events/rendering-0

  • Saturdays, December 14 & December 21, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm – Planting Design Studio

    This Berkshire Botanical Garden course, offered Saturdays, December 14 and 21, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., teaches students how to design a planting plan for private and public garden spaces. Explore the manipulation of space by using plant material through a series of exercises dealing with form, color, and texture. Students will consider the nature of plant characteristics in specific design settings. Style of house will be used for a source of inspiration while honoring the horticultural needs of each plant. Students will make presentations for each project, and class critiques will be positive, instructive, and essential to the learning process. This is a participatory class and will include completing various design projects throughout the course. Taught by Tom Smith of Springfield Technical Community College.

    Tom Smith teaches at Springfield Technical Community College.  His past career adventures include precision machining, HVAC ductwork fabricator, installer and apprentice service technician, and the U.S. Navy.  He also wore many ‘hats’ within a small landscape company as a designer, estimator, salesperson, horticulturist, and construction crew leader.  

    The fee for this two session class is $215 for BBG members, $240 for nonmembers. Register at https://www.berkshirebotanical.org/events/planting-design-studio