Rhythms of the Garden: Painting the Pulse of Nature

All Media - Participants should be comfortable creating in their chosen media. Step into the quiet beauty of the Asticou Azalea, Thuya, and Abby Aldrich Rockefeller historic gardens and discover the living patterns that shape the natural world. In this workshop, we'll slow down and look closely—at the curve of a petal, the rhythm of a fern's unfolding frond, the repetition of leaves spiraling toward the light. Through direct observation and expressive brushwork, you'll explore how nature's intricate designs reveal both structure and spirit. Working directly from flowers, leaves, and plant forms found in the gardens, we'll study how line, color, and rhythm create harmony in both nature and painting. Demonstrations will guide you through capturing organic patterns, luminous washes in watercolor, glazing techniques in oil and subtle transitions of tone and texture. Along the way, we'll draw inspiration from artists and garden designers who sought the sacred geometry within natural form. This class invites you to paint not just what you see, but what you feel—to translate the pulse of the garden into color and movement on paper. This workshop is suitable for painters with experience in their chosen media. Demonstrations will be in watercolor and water-soluble oils. Participants should bring their own supplies, easels, and a love of the natural world. Join me in painting the spirit of these incredible gardens.

Timeline:

Saturday July 18, 12-4pm | Asticou Azalea Garden; we will start inside in the classroom

Saturday July 18: 5 - 7:30pm | Students will receive a complimentary ticket to Hudson to Harbor 

Sunday July 19: 9 am - 12pm| Thuya Garden

Monday July 20: 12- 4pm | Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Garden; painting and talk by the garden staff about the history of the garden

Monday July 20: 4:30/ 5:00pm - 6:30pm | Group dinner; spot to be determined but add to your cost of workshop

Total instruction time for workshop= 11 hours

Additional Information:

Students should bring their own supplies for painting plein air. An easel and the appropriate materials for the media of their choice. Students should have the basics down for the media of their choice. A suggested umbrella for painting is the EasyL umbrella by Artwork Essentials. Watercolorists can use a chair and a board if they do not have an easel. In addition, each student should have a hardcover sketch book.

-Pencil- my favorites are a Kohlinoor mechanical pencil or a prismacolor ebony

pencil

-Grayscale markers are useful.

-Black sharpie, fine line and slightly bigger.

-Colored pencils (Prismacolor, Caran d’ache, or Derwent)

-Any other drawing tools the artist enjoys.

-Hat, sunscreen, water, snacks and all the other items students required for a day

spent mostly outside.

STUDENTS MUST BE ABLE TO HAUL THEIR OWN SUPPLIES - Please do not depend on parking near where you are painting, nor being able to wheel your supplies to your destination.