2022 Botanical Illustration Workshop - Fiordo Comau, CHILE

The course is organized by Fundación Chilco together with Alerce 3000, and open to Chileans and international students. The course will be taught by Işık Güner, one of the talented Turkish artists that painted many watercolours of the renowned book Plants of the Woods of Chile, and the group will be accompanied 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 techniques of watercolour in botanical illustrations using subject matter collected by you in the forests, hills and meadows in an unspoiled part of Patagonia.

We will explore this unique ecosystem with the company of a local botanist, learning about the plants and finding our wild specimens to practice and to prepare watercolour sketches. You will also be able to learn from Işık’s wealth of expertise working in the field and she will share many secrets and practical tips.

During this 5-day classes, you will be learning measured drawing techniques and how to use watercolour in layers. Işık will demonstrate how her techniques and skills are used to describe these beautiful plants to achieve accurate and representative paintings. This workshop is designed to develop further your abilities in composition, drawing, colour, perspective and tone in order to produce high standard botanical illustrations.

Classes are limited to 8 students and will take place in a cosy wooden classroom-studio in a stunning setting submerged in Patagonian rainforest. Each student will have their own working space with one-to-one tuition throughout the course as well as group demonstrations.

DATES

Day 1 - 27th November – Arrival to Puerto Montt, transfer to Pillán, meeting for dinner

Day 2 - 28th November – Half day exploring the land, collecting our specimens, back to studio for our first drawings

Day 3 - 29th November – Botanical illustration Classes in the studio

Day 4 - 30th November – Half day exploring the land, collecting our specimens, back to studio for our drawings.

Day 5 - 1st December – Botanical illustration Classes in the studio

Day 6 - 2nd December – Botanical Illustration Classes, Reviewing our final Works

Day 7 - 3rd December – Departure after breakfast

ACCOMODATION

Pillán accommodation is surrounded by Chilean temperate rainforest, surrounded by snowcapped Andean peaks and tidal fiords. These forests are home to pumas, guiñas, and a rich biodiversity of plants including the alerce (Fitzroya cupressoides) and tepa (Laureliopsis philippiana), climbers like estrellita (Asteranthera ovata) and botellita (Mitraria coccinea), and beautiful ferns, such as ampe (Lophosoria quadripinnata), costilla de vaca (Blechnum chilense) and the translucent helecho película (Hymenoglossum cruentum).

Our hosts, Fundacion Chilco and Alerce 3000, have a team of people who work at Pillán and Vodudahue all year round. Beginning 1999 this was owned by the American conservationist Douglas Tompkins. The high level of craftmanship and engineering of some of the houses, and the plant nursery are still standing and thriving. This place sits next to Caleta Leptepu, at the southern end of the Comau fjord, and part of the Carretera Austral.   

You shall stay in a peaceful accommodation, with plenty of good food, fresh air and wildlife.   

This will be a relaxing five days, with periods of concentrated study mixed with lots of fresh air, walks, and good food and Chilean wine.

HOW TO REACH TO VENUE?

The transfer of all students from the Puerto Montt airport to the venue is contemplated (but each attendee must buy their own tickets to Puerto Montt arriving on the morning of 27^th of November)

COURSE COST

The cost of the workshop range between $950.000 CLP - $1.390.000 depending on the accommodation that is selected. Please note that there 2 different houses and only 3 private rooms that will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. The other rooms are shared (maximum 2 people) and are divided between 2 houses fully equipped for the stay. Please, to request more information you can write to contacto@fundacionchilco.cl

Included:

• Transport from/to Puerto Montt to Pillán
• 3 meals per day (Chilean wine at dinner included)
• 1 barbeque in the last dinner
• Accommodation at beautiful comfy houses at Pillán
• Activities described in the itinerary

Not included

• Insurances
• Transport from/to own home to Puerto Montt
• Materials not provided

PAYMENT

The payment structure is as detailed:

• 30% payment is required to book a place.
• 30% extra before Oct 31^st
• 40% remaining before Nov 20^th before the course

Payment method accepted: bank transfer (details will be sent after approval)

WHAT WILL YOU NEED?

This is a practical course so you must bring your basic drawing and watercolour painting materials. A details list is found (detailed list of recommended material in the appendix).

Please also consider that the workshop will be mainly in English.

HOW TO APPLY?

Applications are now open; places will be assigned according to order of arrival, after a selection process by the organizers of the course. To apply, you must complete our online application form. The workshop will be held between November 28^th and December 3^rd, 2022.

Recommended material list for the workshop

1. Drawing Pencil (2H, HB, 2B, 4B)
2. Divider
3. Eraser
4. Sharpener
5. Tracing Paper
6. Sketching paper (Smooth surface Cartridge paper or pad, 120-160 g/s, A3 or A4 size)
7. A range of Watercolour brushes (Number 4, 3 or 2, and some small number of brushes will be useful for fine details)
8. Palette 
9. Watercolour pigments (Winsor&Newton Artists’ Value is recommended but any pigment you prefer to use)
10. Watercolour Paper (Minimum 300 g/s, Hot Pressed, 50-100% Cotton watercolour paper is recommended, but don’t hesitate the one you like to use.
11. Backboard (if possible)