Nature in the Sketchbook, in the Garden, in the Museum

Students will use the resources of the Chicago Botanic Garden and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago to learn about the many ways artists and scientists have come to understand ideas of nature. As a studio course, students will complete an exploratory body of small observational paintings, drawings, and notes that they will make in a sketchbook, which will serve as an investigative record for the duration of the course. While the course will provide many specific examples for artistically engaging with and approaching ideas of nature, student work will be self directed insofar as students will make notes, drawings, and paintings, based on what interests them about nature. Class activities include outdoor painting and sketching in the Garden, discussions with scientists, art historical lectures at the Art Institute of Chicago, and a visit to the Prints and Drawings Collection. Students will come to think about depicting nature in their own way. This class is designed for students who have had some experience painting and drawing and would like to increase their ability to use nature as an inspiration for two-dimensional art making practice.

Note: This course will meet at Chicago Botanic Garden and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The first class session will be Chicago Botanic Garden, Plant Science Lab, Regenstein Center.