Join internationally acclaimed botanical artist John Pastoriza-Piñol for an immersive week-long masterclass at the Transylvania School of Botanic Art & Illustration, Romania.
Founded in 2018 by Rachel and James de Candole, the school is a family-run residential centre dedicated to the observation, illustration, and conservation of Transylvania’s flora. Nestled in the grounds of their home in the village of Copşa Mare, the school is surrounded by farmed grasslands, wood pastures, and vast stretches of oak, beech, and hornbeam forest.
The de Candole family are also founding subscribers to the rare and historic Transylvania Florilegium—a collection of botanical paintings of the region’s wildflowers, created for HM King Charles III.
Over the course of the week, John will guide participants through the process of observing and illustrating wild plants found in the meadows and pastures above Copşa Mare. Days will balance studio-based study in natural northern light with fieldwork in landscapes brimming with flowering plants.
Students will also develop their botanical knowledge, with an emphasis on learning to identify and record their chosen specimen plant during the course.
📧 For availability and prices, please contact James de Candole: james.decandole@outlook.com
Full details may be found on the school’s website www.transylvaniaschoolofbotanicart.com
Botanical Art classes are among the most popular activities held by the Friends. The classes are held at the GBG Meeting Room. Saturday classes are for advanced students and Sunday classes are for beginners to intermediate.
Term 1 Saturday Classes (Advanced to Semi- Professional) with John Pastoriza-Piñol
9.30 am to 4.00 pm
For bookings contact: Friends of Geelong Botanic Gardens
PO Box 235
Geelong, VIC 3220 (03) 5222 6053
info@friendsgbg.org.au
Title: Spring Roses: Old-Fashioned & David Austin Roses
Step into the beauty of late spring and early summer with this 8-week botanical art course, focusing on the elegance of old-fashioned roses and David Austin varieties. This class is designed for students at an intermediate to advanced level who are ready to push their technical and creative skills further.
Through structured weekly sessions, you will:
Each class includes live demonstrations, guided practice, and class feedback. Homework may be assigned to ensure consistent progress and allow all students to advance together.
By the end of the course, you will have expanded your technical skills, refined your compositional approach, and produced detailed, sophisticated botanical works inspired by the timeless beauty of spring roses.
Starting Date of Classes: Week beginning Monday 6 October 2025
Term Duration: 8 weeks (2 hour class each week)
Location: Online (Wednesdays 6pm -8pm)
For further information visit the friend’s website – click here
“Thank you for your tuition last weekend at Bowral. You opened my eyes to new techniques as well as if the correct pigments are chosen the number of layers of paint is limitless. I am working on my figs as we speak. It was a great workshop and I would like to do more. ”
Julie Taylor. Carrington Falls.
“Thanks for conducting the recent botanical art course at the Geelong Botanical Gardens. The time flew by. Not only are you an highly skilled artist, but your training and presentation skills are really world class (and I have seen trainers in many different arenas across the world). You bring the right energy to the sessions and your passion for botanical art is palpable and infectious and your ability to break the process down into small manageable steps that when re-assembled gave a final product gave beginners like me the confidence to do more.”
Duncan Kennedy, Geelong.
“I really loved being in your class, learned a great deal, and now have an even greater appreciation for your work and the art of using masking fluid!!Love your energy, sense of humour and playfulness- and the fact that you are a Walking Dead fan makes you, in my 21 yr old son’s vernacular, a “total bad-ass”.. But seriously, your patience, positive, encouraging approach, excellent demonstrations of technique, clear communication, flexibility, willingness to share your expertise, and ability to reach students on their own level all make you a truly excellent teacher in addition to being an incredible artist.”
Laura Sawczuk. San Francisco.