It is now getting towards the busiest part of the year for any botanical artist living in the northern hemisphere. Spring is well on the way and all sorts of flowers are popping up in the garden. There are lots of exhibitions and shows going on or being planned. For me, there has been an even greater focus on teaching.

I was thrilled to be asked by the American Society of Botanical artists to teach at their annual conference in October, which this year is back in Pittsburgh. Of course I said yes and I will be teaching coloured pencil. Additionally I will be doing some demonstrations at the conference, and hopefully attending a workshop or two myself. Learning is never-ending – thank goodness.

The response to the launch of my online botanical art course has been tremendous. I already had people who were trying out the course for me and ironing out problems (which always arise) and they were very positive. There was also a waiting list which in the end I considered my February quota of new students. I am delighted that I have already had positive feedback from some of the newer students too.

I have to carefully work out how many students I can manage at any one time. I want them all to get the feedback they need while leaving me time to paint.

Once I pressed the ‘go’ button to publish the course, the first person signed up literally a couple of minutes later!

I am now taking bookings for people to start at the beginning of May, so if you want to start then, do get in touch soon.

I will be having a workshop in using graphite for botanical art at the end of this week and the workshop after that will be 13-15 May when the subject will be ‘The delicacy of spring blossom – or proud Irises’. There are still places available for that workshop.

Prior to that I am taking part in the Chichester Open studios event over the first two weekends in May. The organisers have arranged a pre-trail exhibition at the Oxmarket Centre of Arts 12-24 April. I will post reminders of these events as they arise.

But in the meantime:

Online Botanical art course, signing up for May – your home.

8-9 April   ‘Botanical drawing and shading in graphite’ – workshop in Bosham

12-24 April   ‘The Chichester Pre-trail exhibition’ at the Oxmarket

30 April – 2 May & 7-8 May  ‘ Chichester Open studios art trail’

4 – 5 May  ‘Spring – The Soft & Structural in Watercolour or Coloured Pencil’ – Goodnestone Park Gardens, Kent with Fieldbreaks.

13 -15 May ‘The delicacy of spring blossom – or proud irises’ workshop in Bosham

24 June – 1 July ‘Norwegian workshop holiday’ – Åsgårdstrand, Norway

If you want to know anything about any of the above, do get in touch via the contact form at the end of this blog.