Celebrate the arrival of the harvest season at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens with an immersive artistic journey. As the foliage transforms into brilliant hues and the air turns crisp, participants are invited to explore the abundant natural beauty of the Dahlia and Iris gardens. This comprehensive workshop spans five days, offering a deep dive into the techniques of capturing autumn’s bounty through illustration and painting. Designed for artists of all experience levels, including teenagers aged 14 and older, the course provides a serene environment to master the depiction of seasonal flora and harvests.

Capturing the Brilliance of Autumn Foliage

The opening day focuses on the vivid transformations of the forest canopy. Using various specimens gathered from the Gardens' extensive grounds, students will work with watercolors, colored pencils, or watercolor pencils to recreate the intense colors of fall. The process begins with leaf rubbings to understand complex vein structures before transitioning to paper. Key technical lessons include color mixing with granulating pigments and creating lifelike textures. Participants will learn specialized methods such as impressing and lifting to define intricate details, eventually applying layered washes to achieve a luminous, finished portrayal of a seasonal leaf.

Illustrating the Textures of Pumpkins and Gourds

The second and third days are dedicated to the unique characteristics of the Cucurbitaceae family. This segment explores the diverse shapes and growth patterns of various gourds and pumpkins. On the first day of this module, the focus is on graphite work, utilizing gestural sketching and tracing paper overlays to refine form. Students will develop armature drawings to map out complex, irregular surfaces and apply tonal shading to establish depth and light.

The following day shifts to color application. Instructors guide students through the selection of appropriate papers and media, followed by methods for transferring refined sketches. A significant portion of the session involves dissecting color palettes and creating custom swatches to broaden the available color range. By applying initial base colors and building up refined layers, participants will learn to render the "lumpy and bumpy" textures that make autumn produce so visually compelling.

Mastering the Intricate Details of the Dahlia

The final two days celebrate the dahlia, a highlight of the late-season garden. Known for its geometric complexity and wide array of shades, the dahlia provides an excellent subject for advanced botanical study. The fourth day centers on graphite studies of the plant’s individual components, including the stems, buds, and full blossoms. Students will work on refining these elements into a cohesive composition, using tonal drawing techniques to give the flowers a three-dimensional presence on the page.

The workshop concludes with a color-focused session on the dahlia. Participants utilize lightboxes and transfer paper to prepare their final compositions. The curriculum covers detailed color analysis and the expansion of color ranges to match the vibrant intensity of live blooms. Through the careful application of initial washes and the addition of fine-tuned details, artists will complete the course with a sophisticated botanical portrait that captures the essence of the autumn garden.

Instructor Profile and Philosophy

The program is led by Mindy Lighthipe, an accomplished artist dedicated to the intersection of art and the natural sciences. With a background in studio arts and art education, she holds a certification in botanical illustration from the New York Botanical Gardens. Her professional history includes developing comprehensive curricula for natural science illustration and teaching at the University of Florida.

Lighthipe’s artistic philosophy emphasizes the careful study of subjects within their natural habitats. Known for breaking traditional conventions, she often blends multiple media—including gouache, watercolor, and pan pastels—to create bold, distinctive imagery. Her work has been featured in numerous solo and juried exhibitions globally, and she has been recognized with honors such as a Silver Medal from the Royal Horticultural Society in London.