Vodudahue Reserve is an extraordinarily special place for botanical painting, owing to its natural beauty, biodiversity and remoteness.
This workshop, hosted by Fundación Alerce 3000 and organised by Fundación Chilco and Fundación Reñihué, is open to both Chilean and international students. The course will be taught by Işık Güner, one of the talented Turkish botanical artists who painted many of the watercolours for the acclaimed book Plants from the Woods and Forests of Chile. Participants will be accompanied throughout by experts in the botanical field.
Classes
This workshop is a wonderful opportunity to work with a wealth of Chilean plant diversity using wild specimens found in the Patagonian rainforest of Pillán Reserve, surrounded by snowcapped peaks and tidal fiords. Our workshop is located at the heart of Parque Nacional Pumalín DT where you will have the unique opportunity to explore plants from the wild and these will form the bases of each session with Işık.
Classes will demonstrate the different watercolour techniques used in botanical illustration, using plant material collected by participants in the forests, hills and meadows of an unspoiled corner of Patagonia. We will explore this unique ecosystem in the company of a local botanist, learning about the plants and gathering wild specimens from which to prepare watercolour sketches. Participants will also benefit from Işık's extensive experience of working in the field — she will share many practical tips and insights throughout.
Over the course of these five days you will learn measured drawing techniques and how to build up watercolour in layers. Işık will demonstrate how her techniques and skills are applied to describe these beautiful plants and achieve accurate, representative paintings. The workshop is designed to further develop your abilities in composition, drawing, colour, perspective and tone, with the aim of producing high-quality botanical illustrations.
The class is limited to 10 students and takes place in a welcoming wooden studio-classroom in a stunning setting, surrounded by Patagonian rainforest. Each student has their own workspace with one-to-one tuition throughout the course, alongside group demonstrations.
The Team
María José Arce — Art Director, Fundación Chilco. Architect and artist specialising in children's, botanical and nature illustration. Communications coordinator and teaching support for the workshop.
Josefina Hepp — Executive Director, Fundación Chilco. Agronomist and writer with a focus on biodiversity conservation and science communication. General and logistics coordinator of the workshop.
Belén Gallardo — Director and General Coordinator, Fundación Reñihué. PhD in Ecology, science communicator and weaver. Co-creator of the Botanical Field Illustration course series. Teaching and field support for the workshop.
Programme
27 November: Arrival in Puerto Montt; transfer to Vodudahue; welcome dinner
28 November: Half-day exploring the reserve and collecting specimens; return to the studio for first drawings
29 November: Botanical illustration classes in the studio
30 November: Half-day exploring the reserve and collecting specimens; return to the studio for drawings
1 December: Botanical illustration classes in the studio
2 December: Botanical illustration classes; review of final works
3 December: Departure after breakfast
Course Cost
The workshop fee ranges from CLP $950,000 to CLP $1,390,000 depending on the accommodation selected. There are three different houses (Mountain, River and School), with only three private rooms available, allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. The remaining rooms are shared (maximum two people) across the three fully equipped houses.
For further information please write to: contacto@fundacionchilco.cl
Included:
Return transport between Hornopirén and Pillán
3 meals per day (Chilean wine included at dinner)
1 barbecue on the final evening
Accommodation in the comfortable houses at Pillán
All activities listed in the programme
Not included:
Insurance
Transport to/from your home to Hornopirén
Art materials
Payment
A 50% deposit is required to secure your place
The remaining 50% must be transferred by 21 November (before the workshop)
Accepted payment method: bank transfer (details provided upon approval)
How to Apply
Applications are open! Places are allocated in order of receipt, following a selection process by the course organisers. To apply, please complete the online application form. Applications close on 31 October.
Accommodation
Vodudahue is surrounded by Chilean temperate rainforest, snow-capped Andean peaks and tidal fjords. These forests are home to pumas, güiñas and a rich diversity of plant life, including the alerce (Fitzroya cupressoides) and tepa (Laureliopsis philippiana), climbers such as estrellita (Asteranthera ovata) and botellita (Mitraria coccinea), and beautiful ferns including ampe (Lophosoria quadripinnata), costilla de vaca (Blechnum chilense) and the translucent helecho película (Hymenoglossum cruentum).
The venue is managed year-round by teams from Fundación Chilco and Fundación Alerce 3000. From 1999, Vodudahue was owned by the American conservationist Douglas Tompkins, and the exceptional craftsmanship and engineering of many of the buildings — as well as the plant nursery — remain very much in evidence. Vodudahue sits beside Caleta Leptepu at the southern end of the Comau Fjord, along the Carretera Austral.
You will stay in peaceful, comfortable accommodation with excellent food, fresh air and abundant wildlife. The days combine periods of concentrated study with walks, fresh air, good food and Chilean wine.
Getting There
Transfer from Hornopirén to Pillán is included in the workshop fee. Each participant must arrange their own travel to Hornopirén, arriving on the morning of Sunday 27 November.
What to Bring
This is a practical course — please bring your basic drawing and watercolour materials. A full list of recommended materials is provided below. Please note that the workshop will be conducted primarily in English.
Recommended Materials
Drawing pencils (2H, HB, 2B, 4B)
Propelling pencil (with 0.35 point 2H, HB lead)
Divider
Eraser and Putty rubber
Sharpener
Ruler (if possible)
Tracing paper
Sketching paper (smooth cartridge paper or pad, 120–160 gsm, A4 or A3)
Watercolour sable brushes (sizes 4, 3 and 2; a selection of finer brushes for detail work, Winsor & Newton Series 7 recommended, though any preferred brand is suitable)
Palette
Watercolour pigments (Winsor & Newton Artist's Value recommended, though any preferred brand is suitable. Suggested colours: Indigo, Payne’s Gray, French Ultramarine, Winsor Blue (green shade), Perylene Maroon, Winsor Red, Winsor purple, Permanent Rose, Cadmium Lemon, Green Gold, Sepia)
Watercolour papers (minimum 300 gsm, hot pressed, 100% cotton recommended, A3 or A4, *Cold press papers are not suitable for this course)
Drawing board (if possible)
