Botanical Illustration Foundational Certificate Program Self-Tracking Form
The Botanical Illustration Foundational Certificate Program is designed to provide students with
everything they need to be a successful botanical illustrator. Courses cover technical content as well
as explore specific media.
Required Courses
The following 15 courses are required if you wish to receive a Foundational Certificate in Botanical
Art and Illustration. Classes should be taken in the order determined by their prerequisites. Courses
consist of exercises, critiques, demonstrations and homework assignments.
All requirements should be completed within five years in order to receive your certificate.
Please note: To receive credit for any course, attendance is required at the first class and at 80
percent of the course.
Required Course Instructor Date Completed
Botanical Illustration in Pencil I
Prerequisite: None
Botany for the Botanical Illustrator
Prerequisite: None
Composition for Botanical Illustration
Prerequisite: None
Color Mixing in Watercolor
Prerequisite: None
Color Layering for Colored Pencil
Prerequisite: None, Pencil I recommended
Light on Form
Prerequisite: Botanical Illustration in Pencil I
Perfecting Perspective
Prerequisite: Botanical Illustration in Pencil I
Botanical Illustration in Pen and Ink I
Prerequisites: Botanical Illustration in Pencil I, Light
on Form
Botanical Illustration in Colored Pencil I
Prerequisites: Botanical Illustration in Pencil I, Light
on Form, Color Layering for Colored Pencil
Botanical Illustration in Colored Pencil II
Prerequisites: Botanical Illustration in Pencil I, Light
on Form, Color Layering for Colored Pencil, Botanical
Illustration in Colored Pencil I, Botany for the
Botanical Illustrator, Composition for Botanical
Illustration, Perfecting Perspective
Botanical Illustration in Watercolor I
Prerequisites: Botanical Illustration in Pencil I, Light
on Form, Color Mixing in Watercolor
Botanical Illustration in Pencil II
Prerequisites: Botanical Illustration in Pencil I, Light
on Form, Botany for the Botanical Illustrator,
Composition for Botanical Illustration, Perfecting
Perspective
Botanical Illustration in Pen and Ink II
Prerequisites: Botanical Illustration in Pencil I,
Botanical Illustration in Pen and Ink I, Perfecting
Perspective, Botany for the Botanical Illustrator,
Composition for Botanical Illustration
Botanical Illustration in Watercolor II
Prerequisites: Botanical Illustration in Pencil I, Color
Mixing in Watercolor, Botanical Illustration in
Watercolor I, Light on Form, Botany for the Botanical
Illustrator, Composition for Botanical Illustration,
Perfecting Perspective
Portfolio Preparation
Prerequisites: All required courses + minimum 100
elective credit hours
Elective Courses
Elective courses are designed to increase the student’s knowledge, curiosity, ability and experience
in botanical art. In addition to the 15 required core courses, students must select no fewer than 100
elective hours; it is strongly recommended that students take relevant elective courses
simultaneously with the required curriculum. Not all courses offered by School of Botanical Art &
Illustration qualify as electives for the Certificate Program. Please read course descriptions carefully
to determine if it is an elective.
Elective Course Title/Medium Instructor Date Completed
Science and Art Lectures
Selected lectures at Denver Botanic Gardens qualify for elective credits. Attendance at one lecture
gives one elective credit hour; students can receive a maximum of 15 credit hours from these
lectures. Pre-registration is required for credit.
Lecture Title/Topic Speaker/Artist Date Completed
INQUIRIES AND CONSULTATION:
Call 720-865-3670 or sbai@botanicgardens.org
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