The Drawing Workshop

And so we come to the end: our final art and science session went very well. Holly Somerville gave an informative and inspiring talk, showing a series of exquisite drawing and paintings from her body of work, including a beautifully observed Agapanthus. So, after our warm-ups, we concentrated on the Aganpanthus in the gardens, now in full bloom – taking great inspiration from Holly’s fascination with the sculptural, architectural quality of the plant-forms she depicts. She is really a master of placement on the page and the considered use of white space.

We put together a How-to for this session – just to be used as a starting point. It does help you conquer the Dread of the Blank Page, we have found, and can be used as a spring board into further discovery of your own style. Feel free to download by clicking here..
[I don't have any contact information for one of our participants to whom I'd promised to send this, so I hope you're reading this now. :-)]

I love that drawing is a never-ending discipline – there is always, always more to learn.

Thanks to all at the National Botanic Gardens who have been so accommodating and helpful to us, giving all sort of technical and administrative help during this series. And thank you to all who came and participated in our drawing workshops, full of enthusiasm, ready to draw, learn and share.

We learned so much!
Thank you.
Debbie and Anne

Here are some pictures of the day:

WORKSHOP 3: 23rd June.
>> Exploring exotic species in the Great Palm House

11am – 2pm. Meet at Visitors Centre

Scientist talk– Evolutionary biology: Kingdom, phyllum, class, order, family, genus, species: a system which reflects an unbroken descent from common ancestors.

Short introductory talk on the specific evolution of a plant, using the Cycad, as an example in the Great Palm House.

Group activity: After warm-up exercises, the group will make detailed studies of the Cycads, paying attention to the particular adaptivity of the plant to its habitat. They’ll be invited to use the magnifying glass also to examine its specially adapted features.

• All are welcome. Our teaching method allows each participant to work comfortably in a relaxed atmosphere at his or her own level.

• Materials are provided, though of course you may wish to bring your own, as well as a folding stool or easel. Come prepared for the weather!

Looking forward to seeing you then!

Debbie and Anne

* Book Now, Places limited. * Cost: €25

WORKSHOP 2: 26th May – Phyllotaxis and Fibonacci

Anne and I very much enjoyed meeting everyone last weekend in the National Botanic Gardens. We were as so often, lucky with the weather – the sun shone and all was sparkling and beautiful in the gardens. Brendan Sayers (Orchid expert and Glasshouse Foreman) and Anne gave inspiring and engaging takes on Patterns in Nature, including fascinating observations on how certain number sequences occur over and over in plant forms. It was a quite a discovery that nature embodies this beautiful, hidden order; that scientific principles are not confined to labs and theorems, but can be found in everyday plantforms that we see all the time, like sunflowers and pinecones.

A truly impressive range of drawings was made:

..and all the participants were invited to keep a drawing diary until next time, with a daily drawing on each page, of any subject matter. I’ve been drawing people this month: would love to see what you are drawing.

Our second in the series of three workshops, to celebrate Dublin City of Science 2012, will take place on the 26th May, at 11 am, in the Botanic Gardens, and will finish at 2pm. We believe both art and science are creative at their cores and based on the same dynamic process of discovery and inquiry. These workshops encourage the exchange between disciplines and foster creative ‘ways of seeing’ as well as exploring the intricate and rich biodiversity that exists in the National Botanic Gardens.

Workshop: Exploring Patterns

WORKSHOP 2: 26th May
>> Exploring patterns
In this workshop, we present a short introductory talk to our group about the basis of scientific thinking in relation to Phi: The Golden Ratio, as it relates to the phyllotaxis (the placement of leaves on a stem); the concept of phyllotaxis, and how Fibonacci number sequences are found in plant, leaf placement, tracing the related observations of artist and botanists through the ages (including Leonardo da Vinci), showing relevant diagrams and drawings, and covering Karl Friedric Shimper, Alexander Braun and the Bravais brothers’ application of mathematics to phyllotaxis.

The group, after warm-up exercises, will make detailed studies of roses, sunflowers or pineapples which all provide manifestations of a Fibonacci-based phyllotaxis. Here the emphasis is not on the rigid application of the numbering system, but rather a exploration of it, as a fascinatingly prevalent but not absolute tendency.

WORKSHOP 3: 23rd June
>> Scientist talk
Evolutionary biology: Kingdom, phyllum, class, order, family, genus, species: a system which reflects an unbroken descent from common ancestors.

Short introductory talk on the specific evolution of a plant, using the cactus, for instance, or another plant as an example, perhaps with a dissecting microscope.

Group activity: After warm-up exercises, the group will make detailed studies of the cactus, paying attention to the particular adaptivity of the plant to its habitat. They’ll be invited to use the microscope also to examine its specially adapted features.

• All are welcome. Our teaching method allows each participant to work comfortably in a relaxed atmosphere at his or her own level.

• Materials are provided, though of course you may wish to bring your own, as well as a folding stool or easel. Come prepared for the weather!

• We can now accept bookings for the first workshop.   Email us by clicking here to book your place.

Looking forward to seeing you soon!

Debbie and Anne