2024 Master Class in Botanical Illustration - CHILE

The workshop, organized by the Chilco Foundation, is open to Chileans and international students. The course will be taught by Isık Güner, one of the talented Turkish artists who painted many watercolors for the renowned book "Plants and Trees of the Forests of Chile."

We invite you to the 2024 residency at the Ko-Panqui Cultural Artistic Organization, located in the town of Curarrehue, Araucanía region, 38 km from Pucón.

The workshop will last for 4 full days, starting on Monday, November 25, and ending on Thursday, November 28, 2024. The location has all the necessary amenities to host this incredible experience, with accommodation and meals included. Its proximity to local forests will allow us to take walks and tours to learn about the native flora, which will serve as a reference for developing our project in the workshop.

• The course will be conducted in English.
• Basic knowledge of watercolor is required.
• Materials are not included.

LOCATION

The Ko-Panqui Cultural Artistic Organization was established in 2016 around the management and administration of Espacio Arte Ko-Panqui. Its work focuses on artistic residency projects for the research, experimentation, creation, and exhibition of multidisciplinary cultural goods, as well as for connecting with the social environment and promoting local expressions and imaginaries to serve the community.

Located in the Panqui Valley, in the commune of Curarrehue, its curatorial approach aims to essentially highlight local and regional multiculturalism, fostering cultural exchange links, and playing a fundamental role in favor of ecology and environmental protection.

CLASSES

Classes will demonstrate the different techniques of watercolour in botanical illustrations using subject matter collected by you in the forests, hills and meadows. We will explore this unique ecosystem with the company of a local botanist, learning about the plants and finding our wild specimens to practice and to prepare watercolour sketches. You will also be able to learn from Işık’s wealth of expertise working in the field and she will share many secrets and practical tips.

During these 5-day classes, you will learn drawing techniques and how to use watercolors in layers. Isık will demonstrate how her techniques and skills are used to depict these beautiful plants and achieve precise and representative paintings. This workshop is designed to further develop your skills in composition, drawing, color, perspective, and tone to produce high-quality botanical illustrations.

The classes are limited to 10 students and will be held in a cozy studio-classroom in a stunning setting, immersed in the forests of Araucanía. Each student will have their own workspace with personalized tutoring throughout the course, as well as group demonstrations.

DATES

Day 1 - 24th November – Arrival in Curarrehue / Welcome dinner

Day 2 - 25th November – Half-day exploring the area, collecting our specimens, returning to the studio for our first drawings

Day 3 - 26th November – Botanical illustration classes in the studio

Day 4 - 27th November – Botanical illustration classes in the studio

Day 5 - 28th December – Botanical illustration classes, reviewing our final works / Departure after lunch

COST

The cost of the workshop is $985,000 per person.  Please note all rooms are for 3 people with a shared bathroom.

Included:

• Transportation from the airport (or the town of Pucón) to the workshop location in Curarrehue, round trip.
• Accommodation, classroom, and all meals from Sunday, November 24 (dinner) to Thursday, November 28 (lunch).
• Three daily meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Not included:

• Insurances
• Transport from/to own home to Puerto Montt
• Materials not provided

To request more information, please contact to contacto@fundacionchilco.cl

PAYMENT

The payment structure is detailed below:

• A 50% payment is required to reserve your spot.
• The remaining 50% must be transferred by October 21 (before the workshop). Accepted payment method: bank transfer (details will be sent after approval). Credit card payments will incur an additional fee.

HOW TO APPLY?

Applications are now open!

For more information and to apply, please contact to contacto@fundacionchilco.cl

Recommended material list for the workshop

1. Drawing Pencil (2H, HB, 2B, 4B)
2. Divider
3. Eraser
4. Sharpener
5. Tracing Paper
6. Sketching paper (Smooth surface Cartridge paper or pad, 120-160 g/s, A3 or A4 size)
7. A range of Watercolour brushes (Number 4, 3 or 2, and some small number of brushes will be useful for fine details)
8. Palette 
9. Watercolour pigments (Winsor&Newton Artists’ Value is recommended but any pigment you prefer to use)
10. Watercolour Paper (Minimum 300 g/s, Hot Pressed, 50-100% Cotton watercolour paper is recommended, but don’t hesitate the one you like to use.
11. Backboard (if possible)