Workshops
Classes are held at the Crosbie Morrison Building, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Black Mountain, Canberra.
Following are the workshops on offer for 2010:
Bookings are required for all workshops.
Course fees include individual tuition and morning tea in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Classes run from 9.30 am to 4.00 pm each day.
Following are the workshops on offer for 2010:
Botanical art for beginners
Nilavan Adams
CIBA-WS1
February 13th and 14th ($215)
Nilavan was born in Bangkok, Thailand, and came to Australia in 1974. Her passion for botanical art began in 2004, after she left full-time employment. She is a fine botanical artist and has received awards from the Wildlife and Botanical Artists Inc. and the Orchid Society of Canberra. Nilavan’s style of painting focusses on the application of dry brush techniques which render fine detailed paintings that display a velvety appearance. She regularly exhibits in Canberra and Sydney.
Nilavan conducts watercolour techniques and botanical painting classes for beginners at the Canberra Institute of Technology and also works for CIBA. Teaching botanical art has enabled her to share with others her passion for the natural beauty of floral subjects by translating them into paintings. During this workshop, students will be guided through the fascinating world of botanical art by observing plant specimens, sketching, mixing colours and rendering a painting.
Nilavan conducts watercolour techniques and botanical painting classes for beginners at the Canberra Institute of Technology and also works for CIBA. Teaching botanical art has enabled her to share with others her passion for the natural beauty of floral subjects by translating them into paintings. During this workshop, students will be guided through the fascinating world of botanical art by observing plant specimens, sketching, mixing colours and rendering a painting.
Pencil drawing*
Susannah Blaxill
CIBA-WS2
March 6th and 7th ($400)
*Fully booked, waiting list accepted.
Shirley Sherwood once said of Susannah Blaxill that ‘she is one of the very, very best’. Susannah was born in Armidale and now lives in the Southern Highlands. She does superb paintings using the media of pencil, ink, charcoal and watercolour. Her pencil drawing classes with CIBA were very popular in 2008. Susannah will repeat content from these workshops and demonstrate to students her expert method of drawing with charcoal and pencil. View more of Susannah's work here.
Banksias
Diana Bilderbeck-Frost
CIBA-WS3
April 10th and 11th ($215)
Diana was born in England and studied fine arts at the Ealing School of Art, London. Her career has taken her from fashion and embroidery design through to costume and theatre design. She was the principal costumier for Opera Australia as well as a freelance book and magazine illustrator. Diana has exhibited her exquisite botanical art widely throughout Australia.and received many awards. Diana is eager to demonstrate how to tackle one of those very difficult subjects – Banksias. Learn some essential tips and techniques!
Chestnuts and other prickly subjects
John Pastoriza-Piñol
CIBA-WS4
June 5th and 6th ($215)
Study how to paint chestnuts in all their glory. The technique is applicable to other subjects that require such a detailed and exacting painting style. John studied a doctorate in botany at University of Vigo, (Spain). This resulted in a strong academic background in botany which he combines with his passion for botanical art which ultimately influences his distinctive composition and painting style. John says of his work: “My style is strictly accurate realism but minimal in composition – it could be described as either Japanese inspired or having art nouveaux influences. John teaches internationally and his paintings are in public and private collections around the world. He is a recipient of many awards as well as an artist featured in the prestigious Highgrove Florilegium.
Watercolour and graphite
Belinda Biggs
CIBA-WS5
July 24th and 25th ($215)
Award-winning artist Belinda Biggs is experienced at working with a large range of media: watercolour, pencil, graphite. She is a regular exhibitor in ‘Botanica’, Sydney. and a keen member of the Botanical Art Society of Australia. Her beautiful works are exhibited in major Australian exhibitions as well as being displayed in private collections in Australia, England, New Zealand and the United States. In this weekend workshop Belinda will share her secrets of botanical painting using a combination of watercolour and graphite. The use of graphite with watercolour is a popular style that is enhancing many contemporary botanical paintings.
Botanical drawing: form, tone & the third dimension
Leonie Norton
CIBA-WS6
August 7th and 8th ($215)
Leonie will give an intensive drawing lesson – an invaluable skill for all botanical artists. Create the illusion of three-dimensionality with tone, highlights and shadows, which reveal form, depth and texture through the effect of light. Learn about perspective and composition, and how to quickly bring your drawing to life through a special technique of effective shading. Stippling forms part of this workshop. Explore various techniques using black drafting pens to create multiple dots, which subtly varies the density of shading to create tone and form. Class demonstrations and individual tuition will form an integral part of this workshop which is suitable for all skill levels.
Summer fruits
Stephanie Goss
CIBA-WS7
November 27th and 28th ($215)
Steph Goss moved to the Macedon Ranges in Victoria, from Adelaide, where she studied art and design as well as photography while completing a teaching course.
She has specialised in the watercolour painting skills necessary to produce wonderful fruit and vegetable images. Steph has had very successful solo exhibitions and has exhibited and sold her work in many exhibitions around Australia and in Europe. Currently she is producing two series of fruit cards, some of which have been chosen by Maggie Beer to sell as specialty items in her store in the Barossa Valley in South Australia. Steph has conducted painting workshops at the Botanical Art School of Melbourne for the past 8 years as well as at the Adelaide, Geelong and Bendigo Botanic Gardens.
Further information and bookings:
To reserve your place for any of the workshops please download and complete the CIBA Workshop Booking form, or contact the workshop coordinator, Nilavan Adams, on 0422 357 441 or email CIBA at cibaworkshops@hotmail.com.
CIBA Workshop Booking form
CIBA Workshop Booking form 
Cancellations policy
Below is the policy of BIBA and CIBA on cancellation by prospective participants and the cancellation by our organisation of a workshop.
- If a prospective participant who has booked and paid for a workshop wishes to cancel, we requires notification at least one week prior to the workshop. If such notice is given, we can then make a full refund.
- If a prospective participant cancels from a workshop and provides short notice (less than a week) we reserve the right to only provide a full refund on a case-by-case basis, i.e. for ill health or in an emergency situation.
- If a workshop is cancelled by CIBA or BIBA, a full refund will be made to each student.
- If for any reason, an instructor is unable to conduct a planned CIBA or BIBA workshop, we will endeavour to provide a suitable alternative instructor. If no suitable instructor can be found, a full refund will be made to each student. However, in such circumstances, CIBA or BIBA will not compensate for transport, accommodation or other costs incurred by prospective participants.