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Jewelry-Making Workshop | Birds, Bugs, and Flowers
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New! Be inspired by nature as you transform floral china dishes, vintage tin, and beads into beautiful, wearable jewelry. In this hands-on class, learn to cut china into delicate micro-mosaic pendants and skillfully shape floral tin into colorful, whimsical pins and earrings. Learn professional techniques and design secrets to create stunning, one-of-a-kind pieces inspired by the beauty of the Garden and the creatures that call it home. All skill levels welcome.
8 Tuesdays, July 7 – August 25, 2026, 1 – 3 p.m. Bonnie Arkin, artist and designer Classroom 5, Learning Center |
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Not Available
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Natural Dyes | Paint, Dye, and Stitch
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New! Create your own unique textiles using natural dye. In this hands-on workshop series, you will learn the process of preparing textiles for natural dyeing and use a variety of direct applications of dye to cotton, silk, and thread. In later classes, try your hand at a variety of embroidery stitches to embellish your fabric samples even more. All skill levels welcome. All supplies included.
5 Wednesdays, July 8 – August 12, 2026, 1 – 4 p.m. (no class July 29) Millicent Kennedy, textile and natural dye artist Classroom 6, Learning Center |
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Not Available
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Pique assiette, or “broken plate,” mosaics incorporate a blending of color, form, and texture. This folk art can be found in many cultures and is popular today to remake a favorite piece of china or broken heirloom into something beautiful. Learn how to expertly cut dishes and incorporate glass, mirror, tile and jewelry into your mosaics. Whether you want to work on garden art, a mirror, vase, guitar, or a table, the inspiration is endless in this creative class. All skill levels welcome. A supply list is given in the first class, but you can start collecting dishes now.
8 Thursdays, July 9 – August 27, 2026, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Bonnie Arkin, artist and designer Classroom 5, Learning Center |
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Not Available
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From Garden to Vase | Summer Flowers
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Walk the Garden and learn about plants that work well in cut arrangements. Then, inspired by our walk, create a beautiful flower display to take home and enjoy. Learn and practice basic floral design techniques. Bring garden shears or scissors, apron, and garden gloves if desired.
Thursday, July 9, 2026, 6 – 8 p.m. Tim Pollak, manager of plant production, Chicago Botanic Garden Classroom 6, Learning Center |
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Not Available
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Pique assiette, or “broken plate,” mosaics incorporate a blending of color, form, and texture. This folk art can be found in many cultures and is popular today to remake a favorite piece of china or broken heirloom into something beautiful. Learn how to expertly cut dishes and incorporate glass, mirror, tile and jewelry into your mosaics. Whether you want to work on garden art, a mirror, vase, guitar, or a table, the inspiration is endless in this creative class. All skill levels welcome. A supply list is given in the first class, but you can start collecting dishes now.
8 Thursdays, July 9 – August 27, 2026, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Bonnie Arkin, artist and designer Classroom 5, Learning Center |
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7/9/2026 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
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Watercolor is an ideal medium to achieve a naturalistic style in botanical art. You will learn basic color mixing and do paint-handling exercises, progressing to rendering textures and form in color, and using paint-layering techniques. A supply list will be sent. Prerequisites: Botanical Drawing 1 and Color Mixing ART requirement
6 Thursdays, July 9 – August 13, 2026, 6 – 9 p.m. TBD Classroom 4, Learning Center |
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Not Available
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Threaded Pine Needle Basketry Workshop
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New! Explore the world of coiled pine needle basketry in this hands-on workshop. Learn about cultures, in the United States and abroad, that practice this technique, while being guided through the process yourself. You will learn the basics of sustainable collection, cleaning, and preparation of pine needles and then embark on the process of coiled basketry using raffia as the binding thread. Form a base, build walls, and finish with a secure closure. All skill levels welcome. Lunch is on your own. All supplies included. Additional pine needle bundles will be available to take home.
Friday, July 10, 2026, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Abeni Pierson, fiber arts educator, Where the Pines Grow Classroom 4, Learning Center |
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7/10/2026 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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En Plein Air Painting in the Garden
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Painting in the Garden, students will gain inspiration and learn to translate the beauty surrounding them from their own perspective. This course will provide class demonstrations and personalized instruction while students individually compose and complete a painting during each class session. Working directly from nature, students will learn and build upon their knowledge in drawing, composition, color, and value. For en plein air painting, the principles of color and light are approached differently, so as an artist you will learn how to effectively use them to make paintings come alive. Students from beginner to advanced are welcome and all media are accepted. A supply list will be sent. The School’s CEUs=16 hours ART elective
4 Saturdays, July 11 – August 1, 2026, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Thomas Trausch, artist, TWSA master status Design Studio, Regenstein Center |
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7/11/2026 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
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New! Learn the craft of making brooms from natural plant fibers while exploring the rich cultural history behind this everyday tool. Begin with an introduction to the primary plant used in traditional broom-making (sorghum), including the differences in type and use, and why broomcorn became the preferred fiber for broom-making. Then, flex your crafting muscle by combing the seeds off the sorghum hurl to prepare the material. Familiarize yourself with the weaving technique by creating two pine needle mini brooms. You will then move on to working with sorghum to form a traditional hand broom to take home. All skill levels welcome. Lunch is on your own. All supplies included.
Saturday, July 11, 2026, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Abeni Pierson, fiber arts educator, Where the Pines Grow Classroom 4, Learning Center |
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7/11/2026 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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Embroidery | Capturing Summer in Stitch
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Spend an afternoon stitching directly from your observations of the garden. Use basic embroidery techniques to capture elements of summer through interpretation. You will work from plants, light, color, and organic forms, using stitch as a way of drawing and mark-making on fabric. The focus is on texture, rhythm, and atmosphere rather than realistic imagery or technical perfection. All skill levels welcome. All supplies included.
Saturday, July 11, 2026, 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. Justin Leblanc, fashion designer, artist, and teacher Classroom 6, Learning Center |
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7/11/2026 12:30 PM - 3:30 PM
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Plein Air Pen and Watercolor Workshop
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New! Have you always wanted to enhance your experience of the Chicago Botanic Garden with drawing and painting? Enjoy the beauty of the Garden as you use watercolor and ink pen to sketch on-site. You will find that you observe the details of nature more keenly while expressing it on paper. All levels welcome. Dress for the weather; class will move indoors if needed.
Sunday, July 12, 2026, 9:30 a.m. – noon Judith Joseph, artist & instructor Fruit & Vegetable Garden Classroom |
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7/12/2026 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
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Gourd Beading and Carving Workshop
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New! Transform a gourd into a beautiful work of art in this hands-on workshop. Start with an overview of gourds from around the world, exploring growing techniques as well as traditional sound-making and storage uses. After thoroughly cleaning the gourd, an essential step that builds a tactile connection to the material, explore engraving techniques to personalize your gourd. Then, select one of two ways to further embellish your art. Make a gourd shaker, finished with a woven a netting structure with beads that makes gentle, calming sounds, or a beaded gourd, enhanced by a design of wired beads. Leave with a unique piece that blends artistry, tradition, and natural materials. All skill levels welcome. Lunch is on your own. All supplies, including carving tools, gloves, goggles, and face masks are included. Additional gourds to take home will be available for purchase.
Sunday, July 12, 2026, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Abeni Pierson, fiber arts educator, Where the Pines Grow Classroom 4, Learning Center |
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7/12/2026 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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Botanical Art | Waterlilies
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Waterlilies and lotuses provide a spectacular show in the summer. Gain inspiration from the rainbow of colors against the calm water as you draw outside in the Heritage Garden and then dedicate time to your art in the studio. Explore methods for effectively capturing water and perspective in your drawings. Whether you prefer watercolor, colored pencil, or pastel, you are encouraged to select the medium of your choice. You will complete a finished piece or create a comprehensive sketchbook of the waterlilies and other aquatic plants. A supply list will be sent, but you choose the media materials. Dress for the weather. Prerequisite: Botanical Drawing 1 or comparable experience. The School's CEUs=15 hours ART elective
5 Tuesdays , July 14 – August 11, 2026, 9 a.m. – noon Claudia Lane, freelance artist Design Studio, Regenstein Center |
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7/14/2026 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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Plein Air Pen and Watercolor Workshop
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New! Have you always wanted to enhance your experience of the Chicago Botanic Garden with drawing and painting? Enjoy the beauty of the Garden as you use watercolor and ink pen to sketch on-site. You will find that you observe the details of nature more keenly while expressing it on paper. All levels welcome. Dress for the weather; class will move indoors if needed.
Saturday, July 18, 2026, 9:30 a.m. – noon Judith Joseph, artist & instructor Fruit & Vegetable Garden Classroom |
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7/18/2026 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
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Tin Grasshopper Pin Workshop
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Create fun and whimsical grasshopper pins recycled from colorful tin. Choose from the large assortment of possibilities and learn how to expertly cut and dome your pieces. Let your imagination soar as you create original treasures to take home. All skill levels welcome. All supplies included.
Saturday, July 18, 2026, 10 a.m. – Noon Bonnie Arkin, artist and designer Classroom 5, Learning Center |
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7/18/2026 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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Crepe Paper Shirley Poppies
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New! Do you wish you could admire poppies year-round? Learn to craft your own paper Shirley poppies using hand-dyed crepe paper. These magnificent blooms are a heritage strain of poppies developed in the 1880s and are guaranteed to brighten up your home. Practice new crepe paper skills including confetti pollen, fringing, and making a sculptured center. Leave with materials to make an additional beautiful poppy at home using the skills learned during this workshop. All supplies included.
Sunday, July 19, 2026, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Kate Donley, botanical artist Classroom 5, Learning Center |
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Not Available
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Macramé Plant Holder Workshop
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Create your own colorful macramé plant hanger perfect for adding texture, style, and height to your indoor garden. Get introduced to square and spiral knots, then choose to follow a pattern or create your own adventure. All supplies included. Plants are not provided. All skill levels welcome.
Monday, July 20, 2026, 1 – 3 p.m. Leigh Hardy, artist and designer, Indigo & Violet Studio Classroom 5, Learning Center |
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7/20/2026 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
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New! Learn the basics of painting on silk with fiber-reactive dyes. Try your hand at transferring a design onto silk pocket squares and using a water-based resist to create an outline. Finish off your one-of-a-kind work by adding dye for a bright, vivid color. This technique creates a stained-glass effect and leaves a lasting impression. All supplies included.
Tuesday, July 21, 2026, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Catherine Wilson, artist and freelance fashion print designer Classroom 6, Learning Center |
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Not Available
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Deconstructing Color in Nature
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Take a deep dive into the complex and fascinating colors of nature. Using easily found bits of rocks, plants, and flowers, discover how to tease apart the colors of each object. A color theory review will help you understand how to re-create nature’s true colors. In this water-based painting class, you will create complex color studies and swatches that unlock color secrets. A supply list will be sent.
Monday and Wednesday, July 27 and July 29, 2026, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Nina Weiss, fine artist and educator Classroom 5, Learning Center |
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7/27/2026 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
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Create a hive and five buzzing bees, all hanging from a twiggy mobile adorned with flowers. Needle felt the pieces of this sweet mobile, then assemble and hang in your home or nursery and watch the slightest breeze cause the bees to “buzz.” Honor our pollinators with this fun class, perfect for even the novice crafter. All supplies, locally sourced and hand dyed, included.
Tuesday, July 28, 2026, 1 – 4 p.m. Natasha Lehrer Lewis, Esther's Place Fiber Arts Studio Classroom 1, Learning Center |
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7/28/2026 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
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New! Celebrate native blooms and create a duo of three-dimensional flowers and leaves mounted on a wood base. Using wet felting, you will create the pieces and use a fabric stiffener to shape. After the pieces have dried, you will assemble the stunning wildflowers at home, following a demonstration during class and using video link provided for easy assembly. All supplies, locally sourced and hand dyed, included.
Tuesday, July 28, 2026, 6 – 8 p.m. Natasha Lehrer Lewis, Esther's Place Fiber Arts Studio Classroom 1, Learning Center |
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7/28/2026 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
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Capturing the Colors of Summer
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Bring color into your landscape painting this summer. Discover how painters think about composition and color in nature. A brief review of color and light will help you represent the landscape. You will create small paintings in the medium of your choice, such as gouache, acrylic, and oil. Color drawing materials including pastel and colored pencils also welcome. A supply list will be sent.
2 Mondays and 2 Wednesdays, August 3 – August 12, 2026, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Nina Weiss, fine artist and educator Classroom 5, Learning Center |
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8/3/2026 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
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Botanical Art | Butterflies & Blooms
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Immerse yourself in the Garden’s Butterflies & Blooms exhibition surrounded by colorful species from around Illinois and the world. Capture the cycle of life, drawing butterflies and the plants that support them by observing them in this specially designed butterfly habitat. You will have time in the exhibition each morning before it opens to the public. Afterward, you will move indoors to create a completed artwork in the medium of your choice. A supply list will be sent. Prerequisite: Botanical Drawing 1, Colored Pencil Drawing, or comparable drawing course. The School’s CEUs=12 hours ART elective
4 Wednesdays , August 5 – August 26, 2026, 8 – 11 a.m. Claudia Lane, freelance artist Classroom 4, Learning Center |
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8/5/2026 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
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Watercolor | Transforming the Ordinary to Extraordinary
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New! Painting directly from life allows you to see the nuances of nature’s colors and edges that you cannot capture from a photograph, deepening your observational skills and artistic voice. Learn how to observe colors, lighting, and edges while immersed in various gardens. Step-by-step demonstrations guide you through the process of what to include and what to eliminate in your artwork. Dress for the weather. A supply list will be sent. The School’s CEUs=16 hours ART elective
4 Saturdays, August 8 – August 29, 2026, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Thomas Trausch, artist, TWSA master status Design Studio, Regenstein Center |
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8/8/2026 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
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New! Create your own stained-glass jewelry in this hands-on workshop. You will get a behind-the-scenes look at the stained-glass making process and try your hand at key techniques like cutting glass, grinding, applying copper foil, and using soldering wire. After a short demo, choose glass pieces to use for your jewelry, which will be finished with earring hooks, necklace chain and clasps, or a key ring. All supplies included. Additional embellishments to enhance your jewelry will be for sale during class.
Saturday, August 8, 2026, Noon – 3 p.m. Molly Brodzeller, stained glass artist Classroom 5, Learning Center |
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8/8/2026 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
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Create bold, one-of-a-kind textiles using sunlight and dye. In this hands-on workshop, you will learn sun painting, a simple and experimental process that uses reactive dyes and natural light to create floral and organic prints on fabric. Work with plants and stencils to design your own textiles while learning an accessible dyeing technique that you can use for future projects. The emphasis is on experimentation, play, and personal expression. All skill levels welcome. All supplies included.
Sunday, August 9, 2026, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Justin Leblanc, fashion designer, artist, and teacher Classroom 5, Learning Center |
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Not Available
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Create a bright bird friend using wool and needle felting techniques. Learn the basics of sculpting three-dimensional shapes from fibers in this relaxing, fun class. Select from a variety of birds; chickadee, partridge, or cardinal. All levels welcome. All materials, locally sourced and hand-dyed, are included.
Tuesday, August 11, 2026, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Natasha Lehrer Lewis, Esther's Place Fiber Arts Studio Classroom 1, Learning Center |
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8/11/2026 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
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Felted Succulents and Cacti
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Create three tiny cacti using needle felting techniques with beautiful, hand-dyed wool. Assemble them in terra cotta pots with moss, rocks, and other botanicals to embellish. During class, enjoy stories of a knitter, shepherd, and small business owner. All levels welcome. All materials, locally sourced and hand-dyed, are included.
Tuesday, August 11, 2026, 3 – 6 p.m. Natasha Lehrer Lewis, Esther's Place Fiber Arts Studio Classroom 1, Learning Center |
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8/11/2026 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
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Leaf Printing | Exploring Pattern and Color
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Experience the joy of creating your own unique papers created by eco-dyeing with plants and flowers. Explore printmaking methods that use leaves to create a simple print plate and direct mono-prints. Finally, apply both printing methods to freshly made paper. You will leave with a stack of papers that can be used in mixed media works, papercrafts, and other projects. Most printing supplies are included. All skill levels welcome. A supply list will be sent.
Saturday, August 15, 2026, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sarah Rehmer, visual artist, Rehmer Studio Classroom 4, Learning Center |
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8/15/2026 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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Natural Ink Making Workshop
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New! Discover the world of natural ink and create beautiful pigments to take home. You will learn a variety of ink-making techniques that can be used for painting and drawing projects. Inks will be made using walnut husks, indigo, ash pigment, and cochineal. All skill levels welcome. All supplies included.
Sunday, August 16, 2026, 1 – 5 p.m. Millicent Kennedy, textile and natural dye artist Classroom 4, Learning Center |
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8/16/2026 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
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Fused Glass Skinny Suncatchers
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New! Capture the beauty of summer with your own unique glass suncatcher. These rod-style suncatchers add dimension and charm to any home. Perfectly match your creations to your own aesthetic to make lasting art that you will cherish for years to come. Your glass designs will be kiln-fired and returned to you approximately two weeks after the class. All supplies included.
Tuesday, August 18, 2026, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Jayne Herring, glass fusion instructor Classroom 6, Learning Center |
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Not Available
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Owl Pellet Dissection and Resin Jewelry Workshop
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New! Dissect owl pellets to find tiny bones and fashion them into a unique resin jewelry piece or bookmark, capturing the magic of nature forever. Get ready for a wild fusion of science and art, where you will unravel mysteries and craft exquisite accessories. Unleash your inner scientist and artist in this one-of-a-kind adventure. All supplies included. Class registration will close on August 16. Cancellations after August 16 are not eligible for a refund.
Friday, August 21, 2026, 1 – 3:30 p.m. Insect Asylum, non-profit vintage taxidermy and insect museum Classroom 5, Learning Center |
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8/21/2026 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM
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For centuries the oak tree, with its sturdy trunk and sprawling branches, has represented strength, longevity, and endurance. Create a collage depicting an oak tree from a wonderful assortment of beads, mosaic tiles, glass, china, buttons, floral tin, and vintage jewelry parts. You could even create your own family tree. All skill levels welcome. All supplies included. Bring your sentimental family china or pieces to personalize your creation.
Saturday, August 22, 2026, 10 a.m. – Noon Bonnie Arkin, artist and designer Classroom 5, Learning Center |
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8/22/2026 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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Succulent Plant and Paint Workshop
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New! Paint and plant in this summer crafting workshop. Learn helpful plant care tips to keep your succulents surviving for years to come while enjoying a meditative painting experience. Customize your planters using paint pens and create open-air succulent planters featuring rocks, soil, succulents, moss, and pet figurines. Leave with new plants and all you need to know about succulent plant care. All supplies included.
Sunday, August 23, 2026, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Leigh Hardy, artist and designer, Indigo & Violet Studio Classroom 1, Learning Center |
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8/23/2026 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
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Botany for Botanical Artists
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Bring realism to your botanical artwork with a focus on identifying the morphological features of plants. Emphasizing specific plant parts in illustrations is critical to the identification of plant species in both scientific flora and identification manuals. Through a combination of lectures and lab/studio time, you will identify key characteristics in each plant specimen and then transfer them to botanical illustrations. A supply list will be sent. ART requirement
6 Thursdays, September 10 – October 15, 2026, 6 – 8:30 p.m. Emily Woodworth, assistant grower, Chicago Botanic Garden Classroom 5, Learning Center |
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9/10/2026 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
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Botanical Drawing 1 | Online
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Strong drawing is the cornerstone of botanical art. You will work in pencil, covering the fundamentals of proportion, line, tone, dimensionality, and expression. Subject matter includes live specimens, flowers, seeds, and fruit. This class will be taught online via Zoom. All registrations must be submitted online two days before your class starts. Registered students will receive login instructions one day in advance. A supply list will be sent. ART requirement
8 Saturdays, September 19 – November 7, 2026, 9 a.m. – noon Marlene Hill Donnelly, scientific illustrator, The Field Museum Online Course |
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9/19/2026 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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Examine pen-and-ink drawing with the study of natural botanical forms and shapes. You will acquire valuable techniques including stipple, cross-hatching, contour-line, and combinations. Use black-and-white elements to create value, tone, and texture such as leaf venation, stem texture, and shading. Learn to create positive and negative tones to establish depth and dimension. This class will be taught online via Zoom. All registrations must be submitted online two days before your class starts. Registered students will receive login instructions one day in advance. A supply list will be sent. Prerequisite: Botanical Drawing 1 ART requirement, traditional track
6 Tuesdays, September 29 – November 3, 2026, 6 – 9 p.m. Claudia Lane, freelance artist Online Course |
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9/29/2026 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
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Create your own glass pendant in this hands-on beginner workshop. Guided by skilled instructors, you will choose a design (leaf, heart, twisty, pickle, or medallion) and two of 28 colors, then shape molten glass into a unique keepsake. All materials, safety gear, and instruction are included. Participants must be age 10+ (with parental supervision). The class involves working with open flames over 2,000°F, requires standing for up to 30 minutes, and basic finger dexterity. This is a fast-paced, single-attempt experience - embrace imperfections and have fun.
Arrive 25 minutes early to allow time for entry, parking, and walking to the site. A waiver will be provided onsite.
Saturday, July 11, 2026, 12:30 p.m. to 3:30pm Ikonic Glass Festival Field |
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Select Date/Time
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Create your own glass pendant in this hands-on beginner workshop. Guided by skilled instructors, you will choose a design (leaf, heart, twisty, pickle, or medallion) and two of 28 colors, then shape molten glass into a unique keepsake. All materials, safety gear, and instruction are included. Participants must be age 10+ (with parental supervision). The class involves working with open flames over 2,000°F, requires standing for up to 30 minutes, and basic finger dexterity. This is a fast-paced, single-attempt experience - embrace imperfections and have fun.
Arrive 25 minutes early to allow time for entry, parking, and walking to the site. A waiver will be provided onsite.
Sunday, July 12, 2026, 12:30 p.m. to 3:30pm Ikonic Glass Festival Field |
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Select Date/Time
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