Live Events
Join us for creative courses, workshops, retreats, festivals, and crafting sessions.
Draw Botanical Presents:
Botanical Sketchbook for All Seasons
Jan. 4, Apr. 12, July 12, & Oct. 4, 2026
Imagine your sketchbook as a personal time capsule and enjoy designing its pages with the spirit of your neighborhood’s budding spring greens, juicy summer berries, fiery autumn leaves, and quiet winter wonders as we grow through our life cycles. Turn an ordinary notebook into a living record of the natural world around you with this Botanical Sketchbooks for All Seasons Full-Year Bundle.
This four-part workshop series is your invitation to draw through the year, noticing more, stressing less, and letting your creativity shift with the seasons. No need for exotic plants or hours of studio time, just your sketchbook, colored pencils and/or watercolors, and the ever-changing world right outside your door.
Whether you’re new to nature journaling or a seasoned botanical artist craving more consistency, this bundle gives you a beautifully structured (yet wonderfully flexible) way to build a sketchbook practice that lasts. Start anywhere, follow one plant or dozens, and watch your pages bloom across all four seasons.
Draw Botanical Presents:
Geometry in the Garden at Spiral House Park
July 5, 2026
A one-day botanical art workshop exploring nature’s wonders growing in a vibrant, sculptural landscape
Where: Spiral House Park, Saugerties, NY
The only thing better than botanical drawing on a midsummer’s day is doing it with incredible instructor, Veronica (Vern) Fannin, at an inspiring spot unlike any other. Explore the breathtaking grounds of Spiral House Park, and admire its wondrous woodland trails, curated gardens, bedrock geology, and stunning sculptures shaped with sacred geometry. Come to the classroom for a botanical drawing demonstration (beginners welcome!) focused on drawing flowers and leaves. We’ll discuss ways that sacred geometry appears in plants and use traditional techniques of botanical illustration with colored pencil and watercolor to create realistic plant depictions.
Draw Botanical Presents:
BLOOM 2026 at the Ashokan Center
August 7-9, 2026
BLOOM: Botanical Learning Outdoors Observational Meetup
A Botanical Art & Nature Journaling Retreat Rooted in Curiosity, Creativity, and Community
Have you ever stopped to admire a fascinating flower? Paused to pick up a lovely leaf, perhaps? Or been distracted by a brilliant bird or bug? If the answer is yes, you don’t want to miss this unforgettable weekend at the historic Ashokan Center in New York’s Catskill Mountains.
Draw Botanical Presents:
Botanical Illustration Intensive Workshop on Kaua’i, Hawai’i
February 13 - March 7, 2027
Draw amidst the serene beauty and endless inspiration of the McBryde Garden at the National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG) on Kaua’i. This stunning location provides an ideal backdrop for our gathering of plant enthusiasts, eager to explore their artistic side.
Surrounded by a myriad of captivating plants, we’ll also have access to a team of knowledgeable botanists ready to enrich our experience with their expertise. It’s a rare chance to cultivate our skills, unwind, and enjoy ourselves in this picturesque environment. Which fascinating tropical plants will you draw?
UpTrek Presents:
Botanical Drawing Art Retreat in France
June 2 - 9, 2027
Join artists Wendy Hollender and Veronica Fannin for an inspiring botanical drawing retreat in the heart of the Loire Valley, France. Surrounded by rolling hills, blooming gardens, and endless skies, learn how to capture the natural world through botanical drawings, observing plant structures, working with light and texture, and bringing flowers, fruits, and vegetables to life on the page.
Complement your art classes with exciting trips to a vibrant local French market and the spectacular gardens of Château de Villandry, a grand country house celebrated for its extraordinary contemporary garden design.
Stay at a historic 19th-century French château with blooming gardens and both indoor and outdoor workshop spaces. Indulge in delicious meals prepared by a private chef under the supervision of the château's nutritionist, and savor authentic French flavors in a wine-tasting event with a top local Loire Valley sommelier. Connect with fellow creatives over shared meals, botanical drawing, and unforgettable memories.
GO WHERE CARS CAN’T FOLLOW YOU…
Experience the beauty of timeless Hydra, Greece. Immerse yourself in crystal blue sea and revel in tranquility. Spend time with some of your favorite folk musicians... listening in an intimate setting, and laughing, eating, and drinking together. Try a jam, songwriting lesson, instrument workshop, or sketching session. Join this bespoke music retreat led by Jude Roberts & Friends and be part of a unique adventure of a lifetime!
Hydra feels like a time capsule from the 1850s. The cobblestone streets and picturesque alleyways are a delightful maze that always leads you back to the main port. The incredible beaches and delicious restaurants will fill your days with sun, salt, and some of the most delectable food you've ever tasted. Steeped in history, music, and art, Hydra is the perfect place for your creative getaway. …Hope you like cats. ;)
Vern leads journaling and sketching sessions while you're in Greece, helping you document your experience without your device.