Botanical Illustration 

with Olivia Mendoza
July 25, 3:00–6:00 p.m.
Tuition: $75
Materials Fee: N/A

Led by a natural science illustrator, this botanical drawing workshop will teach students to use colored pencil to render lively and vibrant plant life. There will be a demonstration on how to freehand the composition, establish texture, and layer blended colors, followed by time to practice these methods with personal guidance. Reference images will be provided, but feel free to bring your own if you’ve already found inspiration. This will be a space for nature lovers and illustration enthusiasts alike!

Plan to bring: smooth Strathmore Bristol paper (9 by 12 inches), Prismacolor Premier pencils, graphite or mechanical pencil for sketching, and erasers (kneaded, block, narrow, etc.).

Location: Main Campus - 3435 Rupprecht Way, Saugatuck, MI 49453

Olivia Mendoza (she/her) is an illustrator local to West Michigan whose love of nature comes through in her use of vivid color and meticulous detail. Her artwork shows evidence of her education in medical illustration, with her drawings’ subjects including plant life, insects, and anatomy. For her, sharing work with other admirers of the natural world is second only to the act of creating it.

Flower drawing demonstrations from past botanical illustration courses. Courtesy of artist.