ASBA 2025 - Pat Robinson Schmidt - Building Botanicals Designs

Building Botanicals Designs with Pat Robinson Schmidt

Friday, October 17, 2025
9am – 4pm

This exciting class will focus on botanical design created during the Arts and Crafts movement at the turn of the century. Fabric, wallpaper and print work of William Morris will give you inspiration for your own designs. Initially working from real plant material, you will simplify lines and shapes in your drawings, making connections and building background, middle ground, and foreground. While scientific accuracy can be an integral part of your work, it isn’t required and can then open up new ways to work with botanical subject matter using color, shape and line.

Supplies:

• I will supply graph paper
• An idea, sample or photograph of plant materials for your subject. I will have actual plant material available in class
• A “structure” idea with which you will incorporate your plant material drawings. For example, a scroll structure, a trellis, a treble clef, your choice
• Mechanical pencils
• Eraser stick (for specific erasing)
• Kneaded eraser
• Ruler or straight-edge
• Drawing, sketching paper for practice and design drawing, Bristol smooth or watercolor paper for finished drawing, tracing paper
• I will have scissors in class
• Fine line Sharpee or fine line permanent art marker
• If you can bring a personal light (Ott light), that’s great. I will have a few in class
• For finished work you may choose your medium (watercolor, ink, colored pencil, graphite) and paper. Please bring what you think you might use in class!