Botanical Illustration Diploma Program Self-Tracking Form
To be eligible for the diploma program, a student must have completed the Foundational Certificate
in Botanical Art and Illustration from Denver Botanic Gardens. Students are also eligible if they have
completed a certificate in botanical art and illustration, scientific illustration, nature illustration or
equivalent from another institution.
Requirements for Diploma in Botanical Illustration:
One hundred elective classroom hours, including a minimum of three courses (15-18 hours
each) from upper-level offerings.
Course Name Instructor
Number of
Classroom
Hours
Date
Completed
Portfolio containing four (4) finished botanical plates selected from any of the following
media (maximum plate size 11” x 14”).
Portfolio must include at least two different media:
Graphite
Carbon dust
Polycarbonate pencil
Ink (technical pen, quill,
brush, scratchboard)
Colored pencil (oil and/or
wax-based)
Watercolor
Gouache
Watercolor pencil
Transparent acrylics
Egg tempera
Silverpoint
A mixture of the above
Oils, pastels or digital media are not accepted as part of the portfolio.
Completion of a supervised independent study (a minimum of six weeks or 240 hours).
Previous independent explorations have included:
Research on a rare species, an invasive species, noxious weed, fossil,
pollination biology or other that included an essay and a minimum of four
illustrations (containing dissections).
Draft children’s book, complete with educational text and original illustrations.
An internship as an illustrator at a museum, botanic garden, science center or
other relevant institution that provides on-the-job experience as a
scientific/botanical illustrator.
Collections research with accompanying original illustrations.
Type of Study:
Location:
Supervisor:
Hours/Dates:
Details of Project:
INQUIRIES AND CONSULTATION:
Call 720-865-3670 or sbai@botanicgardens.org
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