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.
SATURDAY CLASSES – In-Person $465 members or $495 non-members Time: 9.30 am to 4.00 pm
Advanced to Semi-Professional
For bookings contact: Friends of Geelong Botanic Gardens
PO Box 235
Geelong, VIC 3220 (03) 5222 6053
info@friendsgbg.org.au
Title: Hydrangeas
Celebrate summer with a botanical art workshop devoted to the lush, sculptural beauty of hydrangeas. In this online class, students will explore the subtle colour shifts, clustered petals, and delicate structure that make hydrangeas such a rewarding botanical subject.
Through guided demonstrations, colour-mixing exercises, and step-by-step rendering techniques, you’ll learn how to:
Perfect for summer, this project combines gentle complexity with beautiful results — ideal for building your botanical technique while enjoying one of the season’s most iconic blooms.
Starting Date of Classes: Week beginning Monday 2 February 2026
· 4 February
· 11 February
· 18 February
· 25 February
· 4 March
· 11 March
· 18 March
· 25 March
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.