Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School of the Chicago Botanic Garden

Botanical Arts and Humanities

Engage your senses, discover hidden talents, and explore a more personal relationship with plants and the environment. Courses in drawing, painting, and color theory will help you develop your technical skills and further your understanding of art and the creative process. Learn from accomplished artists and teachers and enjoy the Garden as your studio.

Prairie Wildflowers in Transition
September 12 – October 24
(no class September 26)
Sundays
1 – 4 p.m.
Design Studio

Fresh Flower Enhancements
September 14
Tuesday
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Annex 1

Garden Photography with Digital Cameras
September 14 – 28
Tuesdays
12:30 – 4 p.m.
Design Studio

Frame Loom Weaving
September 15 – November 17
Wednesdays
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Design Studio

Fall Landscapes in Oil
September 16 – November 4
Thursdays
9 a.m. – noon
Design Studio

Plein Air Watercolor Workshop in Lurie Garden
September 20 – October 25
Mondays
9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Lurie Garden, Millennium Park, Chicago

Landscape Watercolors
September 23 – October 28
Thursdays
1 – 3:30 p.m.
Design Studio

Wet Carved Concrete Workshop
Fri., Sept. 24, 6 – 9 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 25, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 26, 1 – 3 p.m.
Annex 1

Calligraphy and Floral Decoration
September 28 – November 2
Tuesdays
10 a.m. – noon
Design Studio

Harvest Spa Treatments
September 29
Wednesday
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Fruit & Vegetable Learning Center

Mosaic Workshop
October 6 – November 10
Wednesdays
7 – 9 p.m.
Annex 1

February 1 – March 8
Tuesdays
7 – 9 p.m.
Annex 1

Mini-Pumpkin Swag Workshop
October 7
Thursday
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Annex 1

Photographing Autumn Color
October 15 – 29
Fridays
8 a.m. – noon
Garden View Room

Breaking Boundaries
Advanced Photography – Creative Composition
October 17
Sundays
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
AND
October 19
Tuesday
7 – 9 p.m.
Linnaeus Room

The Garden at Night: A Photographic Evening in the Garden
October 18
Monday
6 – 9 p.m.
Design Studio

Reindeer Moss Halloween Wreath Workshop
October 19
Tuesday
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Annex 1

“Frankenfurniture” Workshop

Project 1: Plant Stand:
28” x 12” x 12”
October 30
Saturday
9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Burnstein Hall

Project 2: Garden Bench: 48” x 40” x 18”
October 30
Saturday
9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Burnstein Hall

Project 3: Garden Accessories: End Table,
28” x 12” x12”; Fan Trellis, 84” x 24”; and Sweet Pea Tripod Trellis, 36”
October 30
Saturday
9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Burnstein Hall

Project 4: Sassy Chair:
willow and sassafras:
72” x 25” x 25”
October 30
Saturday
9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Burnstein Hall

Project 5: Historical Bent Willow Chair:
46” x 32” x 28”
October 30
Saturday
9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Burnstein Hall

Project 6: Garden Arbor:
40” x 40” x 48”
October 30
Saturday
9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Burnstein Hall

Jewelry Workshop
November 1 – December 6
Mondays
7 – 9 p.m.
Annex 1

February 3 – March 10
Thursdays
7 – 9 p.m.
Annex 1

Beginning Watercolor
November 2 – December 7
Tuesdays
1 – 3:30 p.m.
Design Studio

March 1 – April 5
Tuesdays
1 – 3:30 p.m.
Design Studio

Photography for Beginners
November 7 – 21
Sundays
9 – 11 a.m.
Design Studio

Pumpkin, Flowers, and Vines, Oh My!
November 23
Tuesday
10 a.m. – noon
Annex 1

Discovering the Winter Landscape in Watercolor
December 4
Saturday
9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Reed-Turner Woodland Nature Preserve, Long Grove, IL

Merry, Berry Wreath
December 7
Tuesday
9 a.m. – noon
Annex 1

December 7
Tuesday
6 – 9 p.m.
Annex 1

Holiday Centerpiece
December 21
Tuesday
9:30 a.m. – noon
Annex 1

December 21
Tuesday
6:30 – 9 p.m.
Annex 1

Watercolor in the Greenhouse
January 13 – March 3
Thursdays
9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Design Studio

Frame-Loom Weaving
January 19 – March 23
Wednesdays
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Design Studio

Behind-the-Scenes Tour: The Flower Market
January 19
Wednesday
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Annex 1

Macro Photography in the Greenhouse
January 20 – February 17
Thursdays
1 – 3 p.m.
Design Studio

Winter Photography
February 1 – 15
Tuesdays
9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Design Studio

Beginning Flower Arranging
February 3 – 24
Thursdays
1 – 3 p.m.
Plant Science Lab, Regenstein Center

The Elements of Botanical Drawing and Composition
February 6 – March 13
Sundays
1 – 4 p.m.
Linnaeus Room

Photographing Signs of Spring
March 4 – 25
Fridays
9 a.m. – noon
Design Studio

Botanical Art: Drawing and Painting on Black or Colored Paper
March 4 – April 8
Fridays
1 – 4 p.m.
Design Studio

Garden Art Mosaic Workshop
March 14 – April 18
Mondays
7 – 9 p.m.
Annex 1

Pussy Willow and Pansy Pocket Wreath
March 22
Tuesday
10 a.m. – noon
Annex 1

Intermediate Photography Portfolio Workshop
April 19 – June 7
Tuesdays
9 – 11:30 a.m.
Design Studio

Advanced Photography Portfolio Workshop
April 19 – June 7
Tuesdays
1 – 3:30 p.m.
Design Studio

Botanical Art: Sketchbook Studies of the Spring Wildflowers
April 30 – June 11
(no class May 28)
Saturdays
1 – 4 p.m.
Design Studio

Kurtis Conservation Foundation

Preserving the Harvest at Mettawa Manor
FULL – WAITLIST
August 24
Tuesday
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Mettawa Manor

Glorious Flowers in Watercolor at Mettawa Manor
October 9
Saturday
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Mettawa Manor

Photographing the Signs of Autumn at Mettawa Manor
October 11
Monday
8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Mettawa Manor

Jewelry Basics Workshop: Wirework at Mettawa Manor
November 11
Thursday
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Mettawa Manor

Winter Workshop at Mettawa Manor
FULL – WAITLIST
December 9
Thursday
9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Mettawa Manor

Gourd Art Workshops

Illinois Gourd Society Show and Sale

Halloween Party Bowl
September 17
Friday
9 a.m. – noon
Annex 1

Gourd Vessel Workshop
September 17
Friday
9 a.m. – noon
Annex 2

Woven Gourd Vessel Workshop
September 17
Friday
1 – 4 p.m.
Annex 2

Pyro-Carving
September 18
Saturday
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Annex 1

Cordovan Stitch Rim
September 18
Saturday
9 a.m. – noon
Plant Science Lab, Regenstein Center

Gecko Vase
September 18
Saturday
9 a.m. – noon
Annex 2

Sea Grass Rim Bowl
September 18
Saturday
1 – 4 p.m.
Annex 2

Artistic Feathers on Gourds
September 18
Saturday
1 – 4 p.m.
Annex 1

Beginning Chip Carving on a Gourd Birdhouse
September 18
Saturday
1 – 4 p.m.
Plant Science Lab, Regenstein Center

Silk Fusion on Gourds
September 18
Saturday
1 – 4 p.m.
Design Studio

Pyro-Cutting a Small Rustic Basket
September 19
Sunday
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Annex 1

Leaf Vase
September 19
Sunday
9 a.m. – noon
Annex 2