Programs > Certificate Programs

Certificate Programs

The Garden offers two certificate programs for adult learners:
Botanical Illustration (below ↓) and Native Plant Studies (below ↓).
A $75 fee enrolls you in a certificate program. Please see the certificate program descriptions and course lists below.

Certificate in Botanical Illustration

The Botanical Illustration program of study is designed to provide comprehensive courses in botanical illustration to those who wish to improve their skills in drawing and painting plants in a technically detailed manner. Studies leading to the certificate will enhance the experience of both the professional and the dedicated amateur botanical artist in portraying plants with scientific accuracy and artistic flare. For those in pursuit of professional work in botanical or scientific illustration, the certificate will be a valuable addition to their resumes.

Download a brochure [PDF] about the Botanical Illustration Certificate.

The curriculum combines basic scientific background, visual arts theory, and practical experience using various media. Classes are taught by Garden staff, UNC professors, and area professional artist/illustrators. Award of the certificate requires passing the Core Curriculum of nine classes, plus three electives, and completion of the Final Project. One class completed within the 12 months prior to registration will be accepted as credit toward a certificate. Students have 5 years to complete all certificate requirements. A $50 graduation fee is due 6 weeks prior to graduation.

Tools used in Botanical Illustration.

Botanical Illustration students maintain a portfolio of the completed works from each illustration course. Graduating certificate students will exhibit their work in a special exhibit at the Garden.

Certificate in Native Plant Studies

The Native Plant Studies Certificate program is designed to give enrollees a well-balanced curriculum combining basic scientific background presented in lectures with field experience. Certificate courses include botany, ecology, taxonomy, and seasonal studies of local flora, as well as other appropriate courses. Classes are taught by Garden staff, UNC professors, and other area professionals.

Award of the certificate requires passing the Core Curriculum of six classes plus five electives and completion of a final project. One class completed within the 12 months prior to registration will be accepted as credit toward a certificate. Courses have an attendance requirement and pass/fail test to indicate proficiency.

A Final Project may be started when half or more of the required classes have been completed. With the approval of the Manager of Public Programs, and under the direction of a qualified instructor or staff, the project will involve research, writing, fieldwork, and a final report. Depending upon the scope of the project, a final presentation may be required. Students have 5 years to complete all certificate requirements. A $50 graduation fee is due 6 weeks prior to graduation.

Download a brochure[PDF] about the Native Plant Studies Certificate.

Current Course Offerings

The following courses are being offered this Winter/Spring/Sunmmer (2008).

For descriptions of these classes, see the Classes and Workshops page.

NATIVE PLANT STUDIES
Conservation of Rare Plants: An Introduction
Dendrology
Grasses, Sedges, and Rushes: An Introduction
Introduction to Plant Families
Introduction to Plant Taxonomy
Principles of Ecology
Local Flora: Spring
Local Flora: Summer

BOTANICAL ILLUSTRATION
Drawing I
Drawing II
Watercolor II
Portfolio / Graduation Preparation
Color Pencil II
Capturing Plant Characteristics
Watercolor III
Mixed Media
Painting Flowers in Pastels: A Workshop
Composition

Last updated by Laura Cotterman on May 06, 2008 at 03:07:27 pm.

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What is Botanical Illustration?

Phlox watercolor by Dot Wilbur-Brooks

Since the 1980s there has been a worldwide resurgence of interest in original botanical illustrations and botanical art not only for private art collections, but also for use in modern home décor, fabric design, and select stationery lines. When classifying human renderings of plant images, three main genres may be identified: botanical illustration, botanical art, and floral art. The first two genres may be considered as existing along a continuum, as illustrators and artists by varying degrees are challenged with trying to integrate the utilitarian scientific function of the image (identification, education, information) with aesthetic and visual considerations. This constant interplay between art and science is often what most appeals to many students who register for the NCBG Certificate Program in Botanical Illustration.

Conventional scientific botanical illustrations are usually created to accompany descriptive text, where the primary function of the image is to provide information and to "educate" the viewer. Although aesthetics may be of secondary importance here, the illustrator still has some freedom to implement visual considerations. Although the uncolored line drawing (pen-and-ink or graphite) provides the most clarity and detail, and is still the best way to describe newly discovered species, botanical illustrations may also be done in color (watercolor or colored pencil). Botanical illustrations have traditionally been used to illustrate botanical taxonomy articles, where a botanist or horticulturist often dictates which parts of the plant will be illustrated. The illustrator usually has access to live plants, pressed herbarium specimens, and a microscope for viewing plant structures, such as branching stigmas, leaf pubescence, or capsule chambers. The plant is traditionally measured and drawn on a 1:1 scale and placed on a white background.

In botanical art, the artist has more freedom to make personal visual choices, to draw the viewer in and evoke an emotional response. Although more emphasis may be placed on aesthetic considerations, the image, however, remains scientifically and botanically correct. The image is still represented on a 1:1 scale and is placed on a white background, favoring true color representation for identification purposes. A botanist examining the image should be able to identify the plant and find no anatomical inaccuracies.

In the third genre, floral art, the resulting plant image is created primarily for visual impact and is based on the artist’s personal impression of the plant rather than on any scientific or informational considerations. This genre, therefore, falls beyond the scope of the core courses of the North Carolina Botanical Garden’s Certificate Program.