Category: Botany

Online Botanical Painting in Watercolour

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Blooming Beautiful

with Mary Dillon

Workshop 1. Wild and Garden Blooms. June 2, 3, 2021

Workshop 2. A Summer Garden. June 24, 25, 2021

I’m delighted to offer online opportunities for you to learn botanical watercolour painting with me.

During each online workshop we will slow down, taking time to really look at our plant subjects.

Using first wet and then dry watercolour painting techniques we will experience the mindful process of botanical art while learning to capture the beauty of our natural world.

Demonstrations will include:

  • Observational drawing
  • Colour mixing and matching
  • Capturing light and shade
  • Layering of colours
  • Painting fine detail
  • Finishing with a WOW!

To make the experience as stress free as possible, I will provide an image and a line drawing of a simple flower or plant subject for anyone who wishes to use it. For those who choose to draw their own subject, I’ll suggest a simple subject, for example- wild poppy / petunia.

The workshops will happen over two days – 5 hours per day.

Workshop 1. 

June 2, 3, 2021 

Wild and Summer garden flowers

1 pm  – 6 pm, GMT, ( 9 am – 2 pm, EST, and 6 am – 11 am PDT)

Cost €140

To Register: Please email me: marydillonbotanicalart@gmail.com

Workshop 2.

Wild and Summer garden blooms.

June 24, 25, 2021 

3 pm  – 8 pm, GMT, ( 11 am – 4 pm, EST, and 8 am – 1 pm PDT)

Cost €140

To Register: Please email me: marydillonbotanicalart@gmail.com

The following will be included:

  • Course outline with objectives
  • Course notes
  • Materials list
  • Colour list and image for palette layout
  • Image and line drawing of plant
  • Template for watercolour layering
  • Slideshow presentations
  • Video demonstrations
  • Live demonstrations
  • Feedback will be available throughout by email.

Thanks to these previous students for your kind responses to previous online workshops.

Mary is a world class botanical artist and an outstanding, engaging and inspiring teacher who has helped me take my botanical artwork to new heights. Her ‘Painting with Movement and Depth’ ZOOM class was truly breakthrough and highly enjoyable. Mary shared her unique insights and approaches to achieve beautiful botanical painting along with very clear, step-by-step demonstrations. She made sure we had time for personal practice at each phase and provided individual feedback that was so helpful and encouraging. The course was so well organized and included great supplemental materials. I am so happy that I took Mary’s class and look forward to taking more of her classes in the future.

Amy,

New York, USA  

Mary’s online workshop ‘Painting with Movement and Depth’ helped me move to another level with my watercolor painting. Mary shared her process with us in an organized and fun way. There was plenty of time for painting practice and she gave immediate feedback on our work.

Liz, 

California, USA

In a recent online workshop for the New York Botanical Garden, Mary taught us the four essential steps she uses in her amazing work. As it becomes clear that the latter steps require patience, perseverance and perhaps forbearance, Mary reminds us that we are creating an emotional connection to the plant and the painting for both artist and viewer. With her warm and engaging teaching style, Mary invites us to slow down and recharge as we make choices and create. I look forward to my next opportunity to work with Mary either in person or online.

Joan, 

Massachusetts, USA

I wish to thank you sincerely for this WONDERFUL online class. It is the first time that all the concepts of layering the paint fall together in the right place for me. The explanations, demonstrations, guidance are just perfect. And I love your comprehensive and constructive feedback on our work. To me, you are one of today’s greatest botanical artists.

Linda, 

Canada

Mary Dillon

www.marydillonbotanicalart.com

Instagram: @marydillonartist

Easy and Slow……. Greece……Botanical Art Holiday, September 12 – 18, 2021

Published on by MARY DILLON4 Comments

Would you like to take a break, to slow down, feast your senses, enhance your painting skills and master new ones, to rest and nourish your body, your mind and your soul? Join me on a beautiful Greek island in September 2021 for a botanical art holiday.

Perched in the heart of a Greek mountain village above the bay of Karystos on the island of Evia, Villa Kasteli, a traditional mountain villa with its panoramic sea and mountain views, is the ideal location for a relaxing botanical art holiday. Just two hours by car and boat from Athens airport, ‘getting away from it all’ couldn’t be easier.

Villa Kasteli

A family run boutique retreat centre for artists, yoga enthusiasts and garden lovers, Villa Kasteli has everything you might need for a relaxing and inspiring botanical art holiday. Run by the Lorenz family, at Villa Kasteli every effort will be made to ensure that you eat well, sleep well, rest, paint and explore.

Terrace where breakfast is served

Studio

Our light filled spacious studio is situated in the midst of beautiful mediterranean garden plants. We will have 25 hours of Botanical art tuition in the studio or in ‘the field’. During your free time the studio will be available for some personal painting.

Light Filled Studio at Villa Kasteli
Painting on the terrace of Villa Kasteli

Local Inspiration

Olive groves and fig trees provide a backdrop to a rich array of native Mediterranean plants in the nearby countryside. The award winning Montofoli Estate and vineyard will be a perfect location for some field studies.

Mediterranean garden plants
Ophrys ferrum and Colchicum autumnale

Native species from the Island of Evia.
Montofoli Estate, Karystos

Featuring :

• Optional guided meditation with gentle stretching to end each day.

• A guided botanical walk along the hillside under the medieval Castello Rosso to the village of Mili.

• Dinner at Stella’s restaurant under the shade of the Platanos orientalis, Greek sycamore trees, in the village of Mili.

• Morning field trip to the nearby Montofoli Estate with time for field studies followed by picnic lunch.

Nearby places to visit :

• Castello Rosso (Red Castle), a medieval Venetian Castle overlooking Villa Kasteli.

• Mount Ochi with its hillside pathways.

• Unspoiled beaches with turquoise waters and golden sands for a relaxing swim.

• Karystos, the perfect spot for afternoon refreshments and people watching.

Castello Rosso which overlooks Villa Kasteli
Getting away from it all………..

Accommodation

Villa Kasteli has four double bedrooms with private bathrooms, an open plan living, dining and kitchen area with a fireplace. An additional four double rooms are available nearby. Accommodation can be booked for either single or double occupancy.

Each bedroom has a large, comfortable double bed. We offer the option of double or single bedding, so if you choose to share your room you don’t have to share bedding.

Catering

Breakfast will consist of locally made fresh pastries, fruit, honey, yoghurt and porridge with a variety of super food toppings. Our chef will prepare lunch and dinner using delicious locally sourced fresh ingredients. We are very happy to accommodate any of your particular dietary requirements. Wine is included with dinner each evening.

Villa Kasteli

Outdoor

We have a beautiful terraced garden for you to explore, a swimming pool and covered pergola. Many outdoor seating areas throughout the garden.

Travel 

Guests are requested to book flights at your own cost, ideally arriving around lunchtime to ensure easy transfer to meet boat schedule in Rafina, and afternoon departures to ensure the same for your return. 

Transfers can be arranged to include meet and greet at Athens airport, taxi to port of Rafina, Boat ticket Rafina to Marmari and pickup from Marmari to Villa Kasteli – two hours door to door € 40 per person each way.

Cost:

€1,600 – one person using double room

€1,300 – per person sharing for two people sharing double room.

Includes:

• 6 nights accommodation

• 6 x breakfast, lunch, dinner

• 25 hrs. botanical art tuition

• Use of studio

• Visit to Montofoli Estate.

To Book:

Please contact me for further details and to check for available places:

marydillonbotanicalart@gmail.com

Pay €500 deposit via PayPal to secure your place.

New Courses for 2019

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Rhapsody in Blue Roses, Continuum. ©️Mary Dillon

Barcelona

October 31 – November 3, 2019

Cork

September 13 – 15, 2019

I am pleased to share with you some updates on workshops I will be giving later in 2019 and in 2020.

Barcelona

October 31 – November 3, 2019

I am delighted to be returning to Barcelona in late October to offer a workshop in botanical art. While I will be covering the basic techniques needed for beginners in botanical art, this time I will also be preparing a specific ‘first day’ of the course for those with a little more experience and those who have attended previous workshops.

Barcelona poster

 

Contact:

Please contact Laura Alonso for further information:

lauraalonso27@gmail.com

http://www.arte-botanico.com

 

Cork

Having just finished a wonderful three day workshop for beginners in botanical art techniques in Waterford, facilitated by  Classical Art Atelier, we are now planning another workshop to be based in Cork from September 6 – 8, 2019. This will be a great opportunity for those who would like to learn the essential techniques required to make a botanical painting.

Contact:

Please contact Adrian Cooke of Classical Art Atelier for further information.

info@classicalartatelier.com

http://www.classicalartatelier.com

+353 (0)87 6609644C8B9B76E-270E-4A11-A07F-5E77DD51DCC7

 

 

Upcoming workshops 2018 / 2019

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Easy and slow…..!
Learning the art of botanical painting
with Mary Dillon

 

I am happy to give you details of some upcoming workshops I will be giving. I look forward to sharing with you my love for plants, painting and botanical art.

Spain     –    February 21 – 24, 2019

                     October 31 – November 3, 2019

Austria   –   May 17, 2019

Ireland    –   November 19 – 23, 2018

Spain

Barcelona

Course 1: February 21 -24, 2019
Course 2: October 31 – November 3, 2019

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ABOUT THE WORKSHOPS:

Barcelona

February 21- 24, 2019

October 31 – November 3, 2019

Studio: Art Valles, Carrer Pallars, Barcelona. Time: 9 am to 3.30 pm each day
Cost: €280

Taking our inspiration from the changing seasons we will practise observational drawing to focus on light, form and composition before moving on to learning the basics of wet and dry watercolour techniques. By exploring a vibrant but simple colour palette we will use transparent layers of colour to bring vitality to our painting.

A small group will allow for demonstrations and individual tuition. This workshop is suitable for all levels of experience.

Enquiries to Laura Alonso: lauraalonso27 @gmail.com

http://www.arte-botanicao.com

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Austria

Vienna .

Vienna School of Botanical Illustration

Botanical Garden of The University of Vienna

 

Get Together 2019, May 12 to 19

 

Watercolour for Botanical Illustration with Mary Dillon

Friday, May 17, 2019

Time: 10.00 am to 18.00 pm

Cost: €100 

Enquiries regarding workshop and Get Together 2019 registration:

office@botanische-illustration.at

http://www.botanische-illustration.at

 

To facilitate broader group collaboration, the Vienna School of Botanical Illustration are organising GET TOGETHER 2019 where artists can meet, exchange ideas and work together in practical workshops. Specialist visits to museums and archive collections along with a field trip to the Donau – Auden National Park will also be included. Portfolio showcases will be given by botanical illustrators and the workshop instructors. These will last one to two hours in the mornings and will be followed by a discussion.

All components of the programme are independent so that attendees can decide on their own level of involvement.

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Ireland

Clonmel

November 19 – 23, 2018

About the workshops:

Venue: Tipperary County Museum

For Bookings please contact:       

Julia Walsh:  museum@tipperarycoco.ie

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2016 Botanical Art Workshops

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Botanical Art – Painting the flowers and bulbs of Spring

with experienced artist and tutor, Mary Dillon

Tulipa ‘Black Parrot’ WIP,Mary Dillon

 

Friday April 22nd and Saturday April 23rd 2016

Located in Kilkenny city

close to the ring road around the city – with easy road and rail access

(1hr 12mins by car from the Red Cow, Dublin)

Paint in an easy relaxed atmosphere.

Whatever your level of experience, learn techniques to enhance your painting.

Numbers limited to allow for one to one tuition

Subjects will be included

Morning and afternoon refreshments included

Please bring your own materials for watercolour painting

Euro 120

For more information: phone – 087 2224260 / email – dillonmary@eircom.net

Tulipa rococco Mary Dillon
Tulip MD

 

I have been involved in Art Education for many years, both with students in post primary school and in the area of providing continuing professional development for teachers.In 2011 I decided to focus specifically on my interest in Botanical Art and pursued the diploma in botanical art and illustration with the Society of Botanical Artists, graduating in May, 2014 with a diploma with distinction.

In March 2014, I became the founding Chairperson of the Irish Society of Botanical Artists. I coordinated the team responsible for the inaugural ISBA exhibition project, Aibítir, involving over  seventy five participating artists.

In 2015, I was invited to become an associate member of the SBA.

I find teaching botanical art particularly rewarding as it gives me an opportunity to share my skills and to encourage others to see the world of plants in a new and exciting way.

Learning the beautiful art of painting plants!

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What is it about flowers and plants that stirs us, that makes us stop in our tracks to take a second look? Is it colour, form, or the complexity or simplicity of their structure? For many of us, seeing a flower will evoke a memory, bringing us to another time or place.

 

Nasturtium, MD
Nasturtium, MD

 

Sweet Pea, MD
Sweet Pea, MD

 

White Tulip, MD
White Tulip, MD

 

Each of us will have our own personal response to this question. That’s the wonder of what makes us just as, if not more diverse and intriguing as these beautiful objects of interest that capture our imagination. If you are like me and you also love to paint then you too will be compelled to learn the art of painting plants!

 

 

Fuchsia magellica, Deora De, Mary Dillon
Fuchsia magellica, Deora De, Mary Dillon

 

Life throws us lemons every once in a while and happily for me some time ago, just when I most needed a focus, I embarked on a course in botanical art and illustration. For me the SBA distance learning diploma course was a huge challenge, stretching me in ways beyond my expectations. In time, painting botanical art proved to have powers of healing both in body and spirit!

 

 

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Canna ‘Black Knight’ WIP Mary Dillon

 

 

Learning the skills required to paint botanical art was invaluable. Albeit from a distance, I reaped the benefit of constructive criticism and unwavering encouragement from experienced tutors, like Margaret Stevens, Founding Director of the SBA course, among others. Simon Williams became the new course Director in the latter months of my studies, ably forging the way forward for the course.

 

Having spent many years as an Arts Educator both with students in post primary school and in providing continuing professional development for teachers, I firmly believe in the value of face to face tuition. While the SBA diploma course fulfilled so many of my needs, I felt I needed to learn directly from others too.

 

I’m grateful to inspiring artists and teachers, Susan Sex, Fiona Strickland and Robert McNeil for their generosity of spirit marking them out as true teachers. Just as we learn to love from those who love us, I feel we learn to teach from those who teach us.  Margaret, Simon, Susan, Fiona and Robert all belong to a wide group of artists and teachers, whose wish is not just to keep their artistic talents to themselves, but who want to share their experience with others, simply because they love painting and plants!

 
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Botanical Painting Days

In recent times, I’ve enjoyed the privilege of guiding people as they explore this beautiful art form.
Whether you’re a beginner or experienced and keen to learn some new exciting approaches to painting plants in a systematic and enjoyably relaxing way, these days are for you.

Come along and join me!

Where:         Kilkenny City

When:           Saturdays, March 28th, April 18th and June 6th. 10am – 3pm

 

If you’d like to join me for a day painting flowers and plants,

Contact :        +353872224260 / dillonmary@eircom.net

 

 

Painting Tulipa 'Rococo' MD
Painting Tulipa ‘Rococo’ MD

 

‘ Voyage of discovery……!’

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Tricyrtis formosana, Toad lily.
Tricyrtis formosana, Toad lily.

I was recently introduced to this beauty and commissioned to paint it in all its glory. Tricyrtis formosana or Toad lily is full of interesting features. From its deep magenta unopened buds through to its curiously spotted flowers, its seed head and its magenta marked leaves.

Tricyrtis formosana, Work in Progress
Tricyrtis formosana, Work in Progress

Here are some photos of the work in progress…….

Tricyrtis formosana nearly completed
Tricyrtis formosana nearly completed

Finally….. Ready for its new home!

Detail of Tricyrtis formosana
Detail of Tricyrtis formosana

Mary Dillon           +353 87 2224260            dillonmary@eircom.net.