| Course Number: | EDU 5710 S23 |
| Instructor: | Sean Beckett, M.S. |
| Location: | In-person & online |
| Dates and Times: | June 19 - Aug 19, 2026. June 19-21, 9 am -5 pm, at North Branch Nature Center |
| Credits: | 1 Graduate Credit |
| Tuition: | Tuition is set by and payable to North Branch Nature Center |
Whether you draw for identification, documentation, appreciation, expression, or a combination of all these, the practice of nature illustration gives us so many interesting gifts. This is a one-credit course for artists and naturalists who would like to build drawing skills and see and understand plants better. Each day we will address a different group of plants, their parts and lives, and particular challenges for the artist. While primarily a drawing class, as that is essential, we’ll also cover the practical use of color media to enhance our drawings.
Drawing plants is a skill learned mostly by practice, but helped along by examples, demonstrations, guidance, and good company. Over this three-day course, we’ll spend about half our time in the field, keeping a plant sketchbook, and working together as a community of learners to share and discover with one another. We’ll also make use of the indoor classroom to practice and present.
Audience: Naturalists and Educators with a Bachelor's Degree
Course Goals and Objectives:
Course will take place in-person, in the field and in the classroom, on the Friday-Sunday listed in the scheduled course meeting time above. Course will begin at North Branch Nature Center and visit several sites during the weekend to cover course content in the field. Nightly reflections for each of the in-person days will be due immediately following the weekend. A final project will be due by August 19, 2026.
Costs for required readings/resources, if any, may not be included in the course tuition. Please contact NBNC for more information.
Balsan, F. (2026). Creating botanical art: Learn to draw and paint flowers and plants in the style of the great masters. Sirius.
Jain, D. (2024). Bridging art and science: The role of botanical illustrations in plant taxonomy. ShodhKosh: Journal of Visual and Performing Arts, 5(6), 587–591.
Howard, S. (2026). RHS watercolour botanical art: A botanical guide for artists. Octopus Books.
Gale, L. A. (2024). Botanical illustration: The complete guide. Crowood Press.
King, C. (2022). The Kew book of botanical illustration. Search Press.
Leslie, C. W. (2021). Keeping a nature journal: Deepen your connection with the natural world all around you (3rd ed.). Storey Publishing.
Wessels, T. (2005). Reading the forested landscape: A natural history of New England. Countryman Press.
(802) 229-6206
This course requires registration with North Branch Nature Center (NBNC) first. Please click on the Register Now! link below.