Agr, Lndscp & Envir: Illustrating Botanicals

Training in the skills required to produce aesthetically pleasing visual representations of botanical subjects grounded in technically correct plant morphology and anatomy. Use of line, shading, and color explored in depth. Media include graphite, pen and ink, colored pencils and watercolor. Includes a final project. Prerequisite: Junior/Senior Standing.

Open to PACE and degree students;

Throughout history artists have produced botanical drawings and paintings that are appealing not only for their beauty, but also for the scientific information they convey. This course focuses on the skills required to produce botanically accurate and aesthetically pleasing visual representations of a wide range of botanical subjects. Students learn plant anatomy and practice drawing a variety of live plants in the studio, the field, and in the greenhouse. The use of line, shading, composition, and color are explored in depth. Students are introduced to media that include graphite, pen and ink, colored pencils, and watercolor. Design is presented as a tool to clarify concepts and visual ideas. Participants leave the course with enhanced drawing and observational skills, a firm foundation in color theory (and an understanding of how to apply it), knowledge of basic plant morphology, and a final project that is a culmination of all of the above.

Unless reasons for excused absences are present (and ideally communicated to the instructor before the start of class) all students are expected to come to every class, be on time, and be present. This includes participating in class critiques, completing all class work and homework assignments, reading the day’s handouts, and taking notes when necessary. Critiques are a regular part of the class routine and are meant to be a positive learning experience - be an active participant during critiques, make an effort to look at all student work, and give meaningful, supportive feedback. Bring all necessary materials to every class. ATTENDANCE & LATENESS It is essential that you come to class on time; lateness disrupts the class and makes it difficult for you to catch up during class. One point will be deducted from your final effort and participation grade for every two classes that you are late for. Advise me via email before class if you are sick or require an excused absence and I will email guidance on homework assignments. In the event that a student cannot be present, pertinent materials from weekly lessons (handouts, presentations, assignments) can always be accessed on Brightspace, and I may suggest scheduling a student/teacher Zoom meeting where important elements of class can be communicated remotely and questions can be answered. Homework will still be due the next class you attend, unless arrangements are made for further extension. Extenuating circumstances happen, please attend class even if you have not done your homework (homework can be made up, but you will not be able to retake missed class-time). HOMEWORK & FIELDWORK Homework is assigned at each class meeting. A minimum of four to six hours of drawing time a week is expected, plus readings. If you have had little experience drawing in the past, you may need to put in more hours to properly master some skills - practice is the foundation of skill-building. Develop good work habits; your “eyes” and “hand” will learn best if you spread your working time out over the week. You are expected to learn botanical terms and concepts relevant to the ideas and techniques that we are exploring, and you will be asked to demonstrate that you understand these terms and concepts during class - and on a mid-term exam. A final project is assigned during the last quarter of the semester - preparatory sketches and studies for this will constitute some weekly assignments; the final project will account for 25% of your total grade. Fieldwork can be done wherever you find appropriate subjects - this could be outdoors, in the UVM Greenhouse or other University buildings, or even your home. LATE WORK Homework is expected to be handed in on time each week (in-person and on Brightspace); this is crucial to the progression of your skills, and it is difficult to catch up once behind. It is your responsibility to make special arrangements with me regarding late work, otherwise grades for homework and final projects may be lowered one grade point for each week that they are late - special arrangements should be negotiated before the work is due to avoid penalty. Unless an explicit arrangement for unique circumstances is coordinated with me, no overdue assignment will be accepted beyond the third week after the initial assignment was due, resulting in a “0” grade. FINAL PROJECT The final project will ask you to conceive of, design, and complete a botanical plant portrait that reflects what you have learned in class. The work can be executed in any media, or mixed media, that has been covered in class. A detailed handout, with instructions and suggestions describing this project, will be distributed at the appropriate time. You will collaborate with the instructor when selecting a final project, and periodically throughout the project. COURSE MATERIALS Students will be required to source their own drawing and painting materials based on a list supplied before the start of the semester.

GRADING Weekly assignments are graded on a 10-point scale; the mid-term exam and the final project will be graded on a 100 point scale. Collectively, homework will account for 60% of your final grade; the mid-semester exam will account for 10% of your final grade; the final project will account for 25% of your final grade; and overall class participation (graded on a scale of 10) will account for 5% of your final grade. If you get a 6 or below on weekly assignments, you are strongly encouraged to redo the assignment (in part or in full). After you redo the assignment the new grade will be the final grade for that work. With the exception of the final project, you can redo any assignment for a higher grade, if you wish. Late assignments (without extenuating circumstances that I should have been notified of early in the week the assignment is due) may be lowered up to one grading step for each week that they are late. EVALUATION HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS will be evaluated based on the following four categories, each weighted uniquely out of the 10 total points. An individual grade sheet listing marks achieved in each criteria category will be generated for each assignment: 1. Lesson Comprehension (4/10) • How well did you understand and master this week’s concepts (creative techniques, design principles, pertinent botany)? • Are you successfully building on earlier lessons? 2. Process & Details (3/10) • Did you complete all work, as outlined in the assignment instructions (drawing number and scale, tools used, bounding boxes, preparatory steps/sketches, etc.)? • Did you consider light source? • Does your drawing include adequate subject type, scale, variety? 3. Observation & Effort (2/10) • Is your observation thorough? • Is your time investment reflective in the work? • Do your marks look rushed? • Did you take time to correct errors? 4. Materials Care (1/10) • Have drawing/painting tools and papers clearly been kept in optimal condition (clean, sharpened, flat)? FINAL PROJECTS will be evaluated based on the following (similar but not same) four categories, each weighted uniquely out of the 100 total points: 1. Mastery of skill (40/100) • Does your work show a mastery of techniques, principles, and knowledge (line quality, value range, contour/dimensionality, medium application, color theory, articulation of botanical morphology)? • Is your composition thoughtful, balanced, engaging? • Did you successfully employ all relevant skills built throughout the semester? 2. Process & Details (30/100) • Did you complete all work, as outlined in the project instructions (drawing dimension, appropriate media and subject selection, thorough preparatory steps/sketches, color studies, etc.)? • Is your staging thoughtful - did you carefully consider light source? 3. Observation & Effort (20/100) • Is your observation thorough? • Is your time investment - and pacing - reflective in the work? • Do your marks look rushed or unfinished? • Did you take time to correct errors? 4. Materials Care (10/100) • Have drawing/painting tools and papers clearly been kept in optimal condition (clean, sharpened, flat)?