Flora Obscura ONLINE
This is a recorded version of this course (originally released 2023). Lessons have been activated and are ready to be enjoyed at your own pace. Once you purchase the course, you will need to wait for the access email to be sent manually to you. Depending on the time of day and your time zone, there may be a few hours between purchase and email. Please type your email address carefully and check your junk folder.
Continued access period: LIFETIME.
SYLLABUS: in this happily eccentric course, we will explore the quirky and compulsive art of botanical appropriation. Combining inspiration from a wide range of sources, from the predictable to the seemingly outlandish, I have designed lessons that will stimulate your imagination whilst developing your knowledge of and appreciation for flowers. Making reference to botany, symbolism in Italian Renaissance art, graveyard kitsch, and recent research from the field of plant neurobiology, we will use novel drawing techniques (utilising flower parts themselves), collage and watercolour. The result will be the cultivation and evolution of our own botanical imaginings, stylised designs, and repeat patterns. Species and taxonomies unique to us. The work of Hilma af Klint, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Hieronymus Bosch, Hannah Höch and others, will provide stimulating references, and added interest and enjoyment.
FORMAT: a new session (ten in total) was uploaded to a course page on my website every weekday during the live run of this course. Each daily session includes a learning objective, topic overview, contextual description, and video tutorial. In addition, two short bonus films, with briefs for weekend activities, were shared on the two Friday afternoons during the run. Content will remain accessible for the "lifetime" of the course. When I eventually observe that the course is no longer being accessed by students, I will email and give you four months notice of its retirement.
MATERIALS:
• Sketchbook (A5 or larger, with cartridge paper pages)
• Watercolour paint (black, white, red, yellow, and blue, plus any other colours you fancy)
• White plate or palette for mixing colours
• Watercolour brushes (flat and round in a range of sizes)
• A couple of A3 (or equivalent) sheets of the following: cartridge paper, tracing paper, and watercolour paper (I use at least 300gsm/140lb in weight)
• A sheet of squared or graph paper, any size, to lay beneath tracing paper and use as a guide. A link to a printable version of this will be provided in Lesson One
• Ruler, pencil, scissors, pencil sharpener, eraser, 2 fold back clips, low-tack masking tape, sharp knife, and paper glue
• Black fineliner pens (with a range of nib widths)
• Handheld mirror around the same size as the one shown in photo 3
• Magnifying glass (a basic one from an office of classroom supplies shop will be fine)
• Old books or magazines with a selection of text and illustrations in black and white and colour. These are to cut images from for collage. Those with images relating to the following areas would be suitable: architecture, medical/health, archaeology, railways, astronomy, geography etc (not all of these of course). Or, if you have a printer, you’ll be able to print off a downloadable selection from my website at the beginning of the course)
• Fresh flowers. Don’t get these ahead of time, you want them as fresh as possible. Anything will do. Unless you are doing the course in a remote snowy place, you should be able to get hold of some flowering weeds or a bunch from a petrol station. These will not be for the first lesson, so just wait for the guidance I give in the course.
CONCESSIONS
The lower price is provided on an honesty box basis for people on a genuinely low income. It is funded via a private grant for widening participation in art education. The discount is not funded by customers paying the full price. Please access it only if you are in actual need.
COPYRIGHT
All content is copyright Tansy Hargan. By signing up for this course you agree not to share, distribute or monetise its content in any way. Videos are not to be replayed in classrooms and studios. If you are a teacher and would like to see me (in person or online) in your school or studio please get in touch [email protected]
