Drawing for Portfolio: Skills Development

What you’ll learn

Summer of Paris, blooming in its gardens, home to rich legacies and historic anecdotes of botanical art, shall become your classroom. You will have a comprehensive introduction to the field of botanical illustration, ranging from scientific representation to contemporary interpretation. The course interweaves theory with practice, in-studio sessions of painting, drawing and printmaking, balanced with field trips to iconic Parisian gardens, natural history museums and ecocentric creative venues.

Starting from traditional forms of scientific illustration, you shall trace a trajectory that encompass the various facets of botanical art, nature drawing and floral painting, moving from hyperrealistic illustrative techniques to experimental printing, herbarium, collage, floral pattern design, mixed media compositions and interpretive abstract representations. Conceptually, you will engage in a discourse on the environmental significance of botanical art, modern eco-conscious landscaping, interdisciplinarity between scientific and artistic practices, situated in the fabric of the flora of Paris.

Places you may explore

You will explore the haunts and archives of the Parisian giants of botanical who made Paris the epicentre of their craft from the 17th till the 19th century. You will discover the rich heritage landscape designing in Paris. You will visit gardens, botanical parks, natural history museums, garden cafés and contemporary ecocentric creative hubs around the city.

Supplies

While PCA provides the essential tools for the class to run, students provide their own supplies. A list of required materials will be shared on the summer student portal before the start of the program. Expenses for supplies are estimated at between €30 to €150.

Course Highlights

• A multidisciplinary hands-on creative adventure in the footsteps of Parisian maestros of botanical art such as Nicolas Robert, Claude Aubriet, Pierre-Joseph Redouté, and Pancrace Bessa. Guided exploration of the rich Parisian heritage of botanical art in museums, parks and cafes.
• Interlinking ecocentric art with historical narratives and symbolisms in the field,examining westcentric and patriarchal biases in botanical artforms and landscape design, their evolution in the postmodern art world, and role in transforming the Parisian creative scenes.
• Material experiments in mixed media art that dabble in the interdisciplinary nature of the craft, at the intersection of biology, chemistry, drawing, design and printmaking. Learning to draw from life, landscape and drawing exercises, guidance on sketching plant anatomy in traditional and interpretive ways, experimental illustration training.
• Sketching collectively printmaking outdoors over picnics and apéros in typical « jardins à la Française ». Daytrip to Versailles gardens.
• A chance to engage with artists and exhibitions in Paris with a focus on botanical themes.

Prerequisites

No previous drawing experience is required. Students simply need curiosity, openness to creative experimentation, the ability to participate in both studio sessions and outdoor visits, and basic English comprehension, as the course is taught in English.

When

Session 1 (June 15 – June 26), Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm

Tuition Cost

Early Bird Rate (before January 31): 3 Credit: €2,500 | Audit: €1,700
Standard Rate (after January 31): 3 Credit: €2,900 | Audit: €1,950

Bundles

2 classes = 5% off tuition fees
3 classes = 10% off tuition fees