I’m thrilled to share some wonderful news!

In September 2027, I’ll be traveling to Romania to teach at the Transylvania School of Botanical Art & Illustration!

The course will take place in such a wonderful setting, with access to the school’s herbarium, living plants, and outdoor meadow. We’ll have the opportunity to move between preserved specimens and living plants, observing them closely and discovering what makes each one unique.

My botanical sketchbook has always been a place for curiosity and discovery. Before creating a finished botanical illustration, I often begin by simply looking—studying how a leaf attaches to a stem, how the veins branch, how a flower is constructed, or how a plant changes as it grows. This course will invite students to do the same.

Through botanical sketch journaling, observation, and hands-on exploration, we’ll use the plants around us as our teachers. We’ll work from live specimens outdoors as well as herbarium material, making observational sketches and exploring different ways to record botanical details in a sketchbook. We’ll explore plant morphology, structure, gesture, texture, and the details that can also lead to more developed botanical artwork.

I’m particularly excited about the opportunity to teach in an environment where the herbarium and living landscape become part of the classroom. There is something special about studying a preserved specimen and then stepping outside to see living plants growing in the meadow. This combination reflects an important part of my own work as a botanical and scientific illustrator.

This five-day workshop will be limited to just five students, creating an intimate learning experience with plenty of time for individual attention, thoughtful guidance, and conversation. This is more than a workshop – it is a special botanical retreat shared with people who have a love of plants and the desire to capture their beauty through art. Students can look forward to lively conversation over good food and wine, focused studio time, and invigorating walks in the wood pasture, meadows and forest that surround the village. 

The workshop includes 30+ hours of tuition over 5 days with plenty of personalized guidance from me, with full board and accommodation in your own private room. The hosts grow their own vegetables and source organically raised meat and dairy products from a nearby farm, while Rachel, the owner, is a wonderful cook who prepares delicious meals for guests.

It sounds like the perfect setting for an inspiring week of drawing, learning, good food, wonderful company, and time immersed in nature. I’m already looking forward to it, and I hope you consider joining me!

For more details about the retreat and registration,  please contact James, the school owner, at james.decandole@outlook.com. For more info about the school, click the link.

Understanding the science of your subject improves your botanical art.  With a little knowledge of plant morphology, you can hone your observational skills and capture key characteristics essential for an accurate illustration. This two-part workshop will take you through illustrating a plant from the leaves to the flowers.

The Herbarium Collections manager at the Burke Museum at the University of Washington, David Giblin, will give you a one-hour lecture about plant morphology, and the botanical illustrator, Crystal Shin, will lead two hours of drawing sessions each session.

Registration and more details:  https://www.burkemuseum.org/calendar/art-workshop-using-basic-botany-inform-botanical-drawing

Botanical sketch journaling is not about creating museum-worthy masterpieces or achieving technical perfection—it is an act of deep observation, curiosity, and connection with nature. By translating what you see onto the page, you begin to notice the subtle architecture of a leaf, the delicate swirl of a seedpod, or the rich, shifting hues of autumn foliage in ways that a camera—or a passing glance—simply cannot capture.

This engaging 2.5-hour online workshop bridges the gap between scientific observation and artistic expression. Designed for all experience levels—from complete beginners to seasoned nature lovers—you’ll learn how to observe plants with an illustrator’s eye, recognizing key morphological characteristics and diagnostic features while building a rewarding and approachable sketch journaling practice.

Through live demonstrations featuring Pacific Northwest fall foliage and dried seedpods, you’ll learn techniques for sketching with confidence, capturing fine textures through clean linework, and using watercolor strategically to highlight important plant features. You’ll also discover how to pair drawings with descriptive notes to create elegant, informative journal pages.

All registrants will have access to the class recording for a limited time to re-watch too.

Registration and more details:

https://ncascades.org/signup/programs/seeing-nature-through-scientific-botanical-sketch-journaling-online

Texture is one of the key components and challenges when creating a realistic illustration of a plant subject. Every plant surface requires thought, planning, and practice in the techniques to achieve a convincing texture. Therefore, it is a challenge for an artist to render the right texture of the subject, and it is also a learning experience to explore which of those techniques work for a particular texture.

In this 5-week course, you will learn how to achieve realistic surface textures of fruits.

Fruits are an ideal subject on which to practice achieving texture, as they offer a variety of surfaces. It could be smooth and shiny, as found in tomatoes; smooth, but rather dull and dotted or streaky, as found in apples and pears, or waxy and silvery, as can be found in plums or grapes. Further examples are the thick, dimpled skin of an orange or lime, or the dried surfaces found in a seedpod of poppies, or the shell of a walnut.

Each week, we will focus on drawing a different fruit and will showcase its surface texture. We will practice the different colored pencil techniques, including how to layer colors and how to use different pencil strokes. We will also learn how to use drawing tools effectively, such as embossing tools, craft knives, graphite pencils, and erasers, through Crystal’s thorough instruction and demonstration.

If you are an absolute beginner or have intermediate experience with colored pencil drawings, you will gain knowledge around how to achieve realistic textures, while building more confidence with colors and botanical drawing skills. 

This course is offered online through Zoom. Each session is recorded and made available for students to review or make up course content. Recordings remain available throughout the course and 2 weeks after the last course date for viewing. Zoom registration is sent along with the event confirmation. 

Link for registration: https://www.wnps.org/events/workshop-botanical-drawing-achieving-texture-with-fruits-2026-1789522200

Tomatoes are one of our kitchen staple crops and fascinating subjects with their myriad colors ranging from green to red, blue, pink, and purple, sometimes in one tomato! Celebrating the lively and vibrant colors of tomatoes, Crystal will guide you in observing subtle underlying tones and share her careful layering techniques, resulting in smooth, luminous textures, glowing colors, and deep, rich saturation. She’ll also offer helpful tips on achieving convincing details such as scars, hair, and the deformity often found in heritage varieties.

This is an intermediate/advanced class through the New York Botanical Garden Botanical Illustration Certificate Program.

Link for registration: https://www.enrole.com/nybg/jsp/session.jsp?sessionId=271BIL418O&courseId=254BIL418&categoryId=10093

There is nothing more joyful than flowers in the spring! Enhance your drawing skills and learn how to capture the luminosity and delicacy of spring flowers with botanical artist Crystal Shin.

In this 5-week course, you will learn how to draw flowers, what to observe, and a variety of

colored pencils techniques through Crystal’s clear instruction, demonstrations, and thorough feedback and guidance on your work. Each session will have a different flower subject and will focus on different techniques. You will practice observation and drawing skills while learning to recognize the structures, shapes, textures, and colors of spring flowers.

If you are an absolute beginner or an intermediate student in colored pencil drawings, you will gain knowledge on how to render flower subjects, while building more confidence with colors and botanical drawing skills. It is encouraged to work in any style you prefer – realistic with great detail, or an expressive, loose sketch style. Art is truly a creative expression of who you are!

Classes will be recorded, and a link to the video will be provided in case you miss a class.
Registration:

https://www.wnps.org/events/workshop-botanical-drawing-spring-flowers-26



Location: Biology Greenhouse
Life Sciences Building
3747 W. Stevens Way NE
University of Washington Campus, Seattle

Step into the lush environment of the UW Biology Greenhouse and discover the art of botanical sketch journaling.

Surrounded by a diverse collection of plants, you will slow down, observe closely, and capture the fascinating shapes, patterns, and structures of plants in your sketchbook.

Botanical illustrator Crystal Shin will guide you through starting a sketch journal, showing you which botanical features to observe and how to translate them into clear, expressive sketches. With hands-on guidance and time to explore the greenhouse collections, you will practice drawing directly from living plants while developing stronger observational and sketching skills.

This class offers a unique opportunity to experience the UW Biology Greenhouse through drawing, helping you build a deeper connection with plants and a creative practice you can continue wherever you go.

Registration: https://www.burkemuseum.org/calendar/art-workshop-botanical-sketch-journaling

6:30-8:30 pm (Pacific Time)
January 13 to February 24, 2026

Format: Online, 7-week course

An accurate drawing is the foundation of botanical illustration in any medium. Beginners as well as experienced artists will emerge from this introductory course with improved observation and drawing skills to apply to any medium and subjects.

Working in black and white makes it easier to focus on seeing values and creating forms to render a realistic botanical drawing. We will explore concepts of light source, values, and perspective, while learning use of line to accurately portray plant subjects and techniques of shading for convincing 3 dimensionality.

Crystal will provide plenty of demonstrations and individual attention and guidance.

Link for registration:
https://www.wnps.org/events

Texture is one of the key components and challenges when creating a realistic illustration of a plant subject. Every plant surface requires thought, planning, and practice in the techniques to achieve a convincing texture. Therefore, it is a challenge for an artist to render the right texture of the subject, and it is also a learning experience to explore which of those techniques work for a particular texture.

In this 5-week course, you will learn how to achieve realistic surface textures of fruits.

Fruits are an ideal subject on which to practice achieving texture, as they offer a variety of surfaces. It could be smooth and shiny, as found in tomatoes; smooth, but rather dull and dotted or streaky, as found in apples and pears, or waxy and silvery, as can be found in plums or grapes. Further examples are the thick, dimpled skin of an orange or lime, or the dried surfaces found in a seedpod of poppies, or the shell of a walnut.

Each week, we will focus on drawing a different fruit and will showcase its surface texture. We will practice the different colored pencil techniques, including how to layer colors and how to use different pencil strokes. We will also learn how to use drawing tools effectively, such as embossing tools, craft knives, graphite pencils, and erasers, through Crystal’s thorough instruction and demonstration.

If you are an absolute beginner or have intermediate experience with colored pencil drawings, you will gain knowledge around how to achieve realistic textures, while building more confidence with colors and botanical drawing skills. 

This course is offered online through Zoom. Each session is recorded and made available for students to review or make up course content. Recordings remain available throughout the course, and 3 weeks after the last course date for viewing. Zoom registration is sent along with the event confirmation. 

Link for registration: https://www.wnps.org/events/realistictextureoffruits-2 

Tomatoes are one of our kitchen staple crops and fascinating subjects with their myriad colors ranging from green to red, blue, pink, and purple, sometimes in one tomato! Celebrating the lively and vibrant colors of tomatoes, Crystal will guide you in observing subtle underlying tones and share her careful layering techniques, resulting in smooth, luminous textures, glowing colors, and deep, rich saturation. She’ll also offer helpful tips on achieving convincing details such as scars, hair, and the deformity often found in heritage varieties.

This is an intermediate/advanced class. Botanical Drawing II at NYBG is required as a prerequisite to take this class.

Texture is one of the key components and challenges when creating a realistic illustration of a plant subject. Every plant surface requires thought, planning and practice in the techniques, to achieve a convincing texture. Therefore, it is a challenge for an artist to render the right texture of the subject, and it is also a learning experience to explore which of those techniques work for a certain texture.

In this 5-week course, you will learn how to achieve realistic surface textures of fruits.

Fruits are an ideal subject on which to practice achieving texture, as they offer a variety of surfaces. It could be smooth and shiny as found in tomatoes; smooth, but rather dull and dotted or streaky, as found in apples and pears, or waxy and silvery as can be found in plums or grapes. Further examples are the thick, dimpled skin of an orange or lime, or the dried surfaces found in a seedpod of poppies, or the shell of a walnut.

Each week we will focus on drawing a different fruit and will showcase their surface texture. We will practice the different colored pencil techniques, including how to layer colors and how to use different pencil strokes. We will also learn how to use drawing tools effectively, such as embossing tools, craft knives, graphite pencils and erasers, through Crystal’s thorough instruction and demonstration.

If you are an absolute beginner or have intermediate experience with colored pencil drawings, you will gain knowledge around how to achieve realistic textures, while building more confidence with colors and botanical drawing skills. 

This course is offered online through Zoom. Each session is recorded and provided for students to make up or review course content. Recordings remain available throughout the course, and 3 weeks after the last course date for viewing. Zoom registration is sent along with event confirmation. 

Link for registration: https://www.wnps.org/events/botanical-drawing-achieving-the-realistic-texture-of-fruits-in-colored-pencil-1726018200

Sunday, July 28, 2024

9am to 12 pm PT

Where: University of Washington Greenhouse & Medicinal Herb Garden

Format: In-person

1 day workshop



A quick field sketch can capture the essence of a plant and provide valuable information for a more in-depth botanical work. With a little knowledge of plant morphology, you can hone your observational skills and capture key characteristics essential for an accurate illustration.

This class introduces field-sketching techniques along with a brief overview of plant morphology. We will observe a diversity of plant forms at UW Biology Greenhouse, with an introduction to basic plant morphology and field-sketching techniques. And then head-out into the field, UW Medicinal Herb Garden, to practice these new skills with individual guidance from Crystal and Melissa.

Registration: The class is full. The registration is closed.

Have you ever wanted to draw beautiful alpine wildflowers? They are a true wonder of nature and learning to draw them can be a very satisfying experience. Wildflowers can be challenging to document in the field, but working from photos is a good alternative to removing them from their natural habitat.

For this class, we will draw from photographs used in a poster of the “Alpine Wildflowers of Washington by Burke Museum”, graciously provided by Photographer Donovan Tracy, or draw similar species from your own photographs. This is a great way to spend evenings, reviewing your species photographs. This class is a repeat however, it will include new flowers from the prior classes, so it is okay to repeat this course and receive new content.

You will learn how to accurately translate a photo into a drawing by observing form, highlights, and subtle changes of tone, shade, and color to create dimensionality. With the use of colored pencil techniques, you will learn and practice how to blend colors smoothly while learning to see the intricacies of beautiful alpine flowers.

For those who are in other states or countries, please feel free to draw the native plants to your region.

Register here: https://www.wnps.org/calendar/drawing-alpine-wildflowers-from-photographs-botanical-drawing-in-colored-pencil-with-crystal-shin-1718847000

*The class is full. The registration is closed now.

A unique approach to color observation and layering techniques will give

your colored pencil renderings the deep saturation, smooth surface, and vibrant, glowing undertones of watercolor. Develop new skills as you study and portray the elegant lines, rich colors, and nuanced textures of the tulip from flower to bulb. This online course will offer live demonstrations, videos, and individual feedback.

This is an intermediate/advanced class. Botanical Drawing II at NYBG is required as a prerequiste to take this class.

Have you ever wanted to draw butterflies? The intricate patterns on their wings and dazzling colors are some of the wonders that continually amaze us. As pollinators, they are significant to our plant world and ecosystem. Butterflies add beauty and interest to botanical art and make fascinating subjects on their own.

Please join Crystal for a virtual colored pencil workshop learning to draw butterflies.

Butterflies are suitable subjects to learn and practice various color pencil techniques, including layering, blending, incising, and building saturation with luminosity, while playing with the vivid colors and interesting textures found in butterflies.

Registration: You can register through Guild of Natural Scicence Illustrators Northwest chapter. You have to be a member of GNSI to register.

Sketch journaling is a great way to learn about plants and get connected with nature in the field. While observing and drawing organic shapes and lines of plants, you will discover yourself noticing more about the plants, identifying their botanical characteristics, and appreciating their beauty in a deeper and more creative way.

In this 3 week in-person course, Crystal will teach you how to start your sketch journal, what to observe, and how to draw, providing hands-on guidance with your sketches. You will learn how to sketch from life with fluid lines and shading techniques, and how to make your unique sketch journal that records your endeavor to understand plants further.

If the weather allows, we will sketch outdoors at Magnuson Park, practicing field sketching, and then draw inside to refine the drawings. You can also bring plant materials that you want to draw and study.

You will need a sketch journal, and your favorite drawing mediums such as graphite pencils, pens and/or colored pencils. The detailed material list will be provided when you register.

Link for registration:
https://www.wnps.org/events/sketching-in-the-garden-1715101200

In this 5-week course, you will learn how to draw flowers, what to observe, and a variety of colored pencil techniques through Crystal’s clear instruction, demonstrations, and thorough feedback and guidance on your work. Each session will have a different flower subject and focus on different techniques. You will practice observation and drawing skills while learning to understand the structures, shapes, textures, and colors of spring flowers.

*The course is organized through the Washington Native Plant Society, but you don't need to be a member to take a class. Each session is recorded. Recordings remain available throughout the course, and 2 weeks after the last course date for viewing.

Link for registration:
https://www.wnps.org/events/workshop-botanical-drawing-spring-flowers-1710984600



Autumn leaves offer amazing colors and interesting textures. Crystal will share her colored pencil techniques with a focus on achieving the smooth, deep saturation and luminosity often only found in watercolor. She will guide you to observe subtle colors within subjects and will demonstrate methods for building rich under-tones and effective shadow color mixes. She’ll also offer helpful tips on the details—such as the challenges of veins—resulting in a convincing and beautiful leaf. All levels welcome.

Join Crystal Shin, botanical illustrator for a unique class at the University of Washington biology building, Hitchcock Hall. This is an introductory class for drawing a scientific botanical illustration, using a microscope to view the details of a subject.

Crystal will introduce the nature of the work, and the process for creating a scientific botanical illustration, using herbarium specimens. While examining morphology and the minute details of the specimens through a microscope, you will practice close observation, and how to draw from the dried and pressed herbarium specimens, reconstructing them to their more natural appearance.

The goal is to clearly show the morphological aspects of the subject, capturing the characteristics of a species, while experimenting with line drawings and the accurate representation of botanical forms in black and white medium. Graphite pencils and/or pen and ink will be used in this class. We will borrow the herbarium specimens from the UW Herbarium at Burke Museum.

All ability levels are welcome. This will be a one-of-a-kind experience, drawing herbarium specimens through a microscope.