Supply list for all vellum classes
Paint colors that I use
Supply list for all vellum classes
Paint colors that I use
Painting Holidays
Painting Beautiful Fruits on Vellum in France
Clos Mirabel
September 28 - October 4, 2024
(Wednesday is a free day to explore the area on your own)
Limit: 12 students
Cost: €450 (class only - I will invoice you through PayPal)
To register for the class, please email me at denisewalserkolar@gmail.com. To book your hotel arrangements please email atelierclosmirabel@gmail.com.
Click for more information on Clos Mirabel.
Learn my approach to painting on vellum during this five-day workshop at the beautiful Clos Mirabel in the south of France. We will begin by doing some exercises on small bits of vellum to learn technique and to get a feel for painting on this surface. Then, we will explore the grounds of Clos Mirabel to choose painting subjects. Apples, pears, plums, figs, kiwis, and berries will be at their peak this time of the year. You might also choose to do a Hoefnagel-Inspired painting of the treasures you find in the gardens.
This class is designed for students new to vellum (learn how to successfully paint on vellum) as well as for more experienced vellum painters (learn new tricks and techniques and bring your work to the next level). The workshop combines demonstrations, discussion of materials and techniques, hands-on time for developing skills, and lots of individual attention and feedback. Handouts with step-by-step instructions will be provided.
Experienced vellum painters can use this as a studio class to work on anything they like.
3 places remaining
Painting on Vellum in Transylvania, Romania
Transylvania School of Botanic Art & Illustration
Copșa Mare, Romania
May 18-24, 2025
Limit: 6 students
Join me for five days of painting on vellum at the Transylvania School of Botanic Art & Illustration (https://www.podart.space/). This will be my second time teaching in Transylvania and I am so excited to return. The studio is beautiful with lots of natural light, there is no end to the subjects we can find in the surrounding hills (and even close by in the gardens), the food is wonderful, and botanical artists are always so lovely to spend the week with.
We will start our week by heading out to find our subjects, then we will spend the rest of the week in the studio painting.
This class is designed for students new to vellum (learn how to successfully paint on vellum) as well as for more experienced vellum painters (learn new tricks and techniques). The class will cover composition, lighting (highlights, shadows, lost edges, and reflected light), materials, and techniques for painting on vellum. There will be demonstrations, hands-on time for developing skills, and lots of individual attention and feedback. Students can choose a single botanical subject to draw and paint or take inspiration from Joris Hoefnagel’s Mira Calligraphiae Monumenta, and paint a collection of tiny natural treasures—flowers, nuts, insects, etc.
For more information and to register, please write to James de Candole at james.decandole@outlook.com
Painting on Vellum in Vienna, Austria
May 2025
More information coming soon...
Online Classes and Lectures
These are instruction-only online classes. You will not be working along, which allows you the opportunity to see everything and not miss a word. Classes are a combination of slide presentations,
pre-recorded videos, live demonstrations, and plenty of time for questions. Most classes are designed for artists at all levels. If they are not, or if there are special requirements, that will be noted in the class description.
Supply list for all classes
Zoom classes will be recorded and will be
available to students for 10 days after each session.
Highlights, Shadows, and Lost Edges
(online class)
Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Noon – 1:30pm Central time
Class is one and a half hours, but I will reserve an extra half hour at the end (1:30-2:00)
for questions and review if needed.
Limit: 20 students
Cost: $48 (you will be billed through PayPal)
Learn how to bring your work to the next level and add more interest and drama to
your paintings by creating effective highlights, shadows, and lost edges. In this demonstration-only (you will not be creating work during class) Zoom class, we will
look at many examples of effective highlights, talk about the difference in highlights depending on the texture of your subject, and learn how to achieve a more three dimensional look by effectively using shadows and lost edges. This class is 1.5 hours with a half hour at the end for questions/review.
Full payment holds your place in class.
To register, please email me at denisewalserkolar@gmail.com
Summer Flowers on Vellum
(online class)
Wednesdays, June 5, 12, 19, 2024
Noon – 2:00pm Central time
Class is two hours, but I will reserve an extra half hour at the end (2:00-2:30)
for questions and review if needed.
Limit: 15 students
Cost: $275 (you will be billed through PayPal)
Please join me as I paint the flowers blooming in my garden in June. We will talk about mixing color (how to paint white flowers will be included), layering color, creating texture, and achieving the translucency found in many flower petals. Drawing flowers, with an emphasis on foreshortening, will also be covered.
This is a demonstration-only Zoom class (you will not be creating work during class), but you will have the opportunity to email scans of your work for feedback between classes. This class is for artists with some experience painting on vellum.
Full payment holds your place in class.
To register, please email me at denisewalserkolar@gmail.com
Painting Summer Vegetables on Vellum
(online class)
Wednesdays, July 10, 17, 24, 2024
Noon – 2:00pm Central time
Class is two hours, but I will reserve an extra half hour at the end (2:00-2:30)
for questions and review if needed.
Limit: 15 students
Cost: $275 (you will be billed through PayPal)
Summer vegetables have amazing colors and textures – perfect subjects for painting on vellum. Join me for this three week class. We will discuss composition, then draw and paint beautiful vegetables from the Farmers Market (most likely tomatoes, peas, radishes, and lettuce). Color mixing and painting various textures will be emphasized.
This is a demonstration-only Zoom class (you will not be creating work during class), but you will have the opportunity to email scans of your work for feedback between classes. This class is for artists with some experience painting on vellum.
Full payment holds your place in class.
To register, please email me at denisewalserkolar@gmail.com
Painting My Herb Garden on Vellum
(online class)
Wednesdays, August 7, 14, 21, 2024
Noon – 2:00pm Central time
Class is two hours, but I will reserve an extra half hour at the end (2:00-2:30)
for questions and review if needed.
Limit: 15 students
Cost: $275 (you will be billed through PayPal)
Every spring, I buy lots of starter herb plants from the Farmers Market and plant them in big pots on my very sunny patio. I have been wanting to paint them for years, and this is the year I will do my painting. Join me as I paint Italian parsley, sage, rosemary, and basil in a small “collections” (think Hoefnagel Inspired) painting. We will talk about mixing all the various greens and about painting texture – from fuzzy sage to shiny parsley.
This is a demonstration-only Zoom class (you will not be creating work during class), but you will have the opportunity to email scans of your work for feedback between classes. This class is for artists with some experience painting on vellum.
Full payment holds your place in class.
To register, please email me at denisewalserkolar@gmail.com
Painting Holly on Vellum
(online class)
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Noon – 1:30pm Central time
Class is one and a half hours, but I will reserve an extra half hour at the end (1:30-2:00)
for questions and review if needed.
Limit: 20 students
Cost: $48 (you will be billed through PayPal)
Holly is such a beautiful holiday plant with its shiny leaves and berries. In this class, I will demonstrate how to draw and paint holly with emphasis on making the leaves and berries shine.
This is a demonstration-only Zoom class (you will not be creating work during class).
Full payment holds your place in class.
To register, please email me at denisewalserkolar@gmail.com
Coming June 1...
Painting on Vellum - The Basics
(online class)
Cost: $40 (you will be billed through PayPal)
This is a 2-hour pre-recorded class for those who have never painted on vellum, but are interested in learning more about it. This class will prepare you to take my other painting on vellum classes where vellum experience is suggested.
In this demonstration-only Zoom class (you will not be creating work during class), I will discuss what vellum is and how it is made. I will talk about supplies needed for painting on vellum, and you will learn my technique as I demonstrate painting a pear on vellum.
This is a pre-recorded class. I will send you the link and you will be able to watch the class as many times as you like. I do ask and appreciate that you don’t share the link with anyone. Thank you.
To register, please email me at denisewalserkolar@gmail.com