Artists with a passion for precision and a love of nature are invited to immerse themselves in a full day of focused creativity at Vergelegen Wine Estate this winter.
Taking place on Wednesday 8 July, the Masterclass: Contemporary Botanical Drawing – The Camellia Collection offers an advanced, hands-on experience designed for those with established drawing skills and a keen eye for detail.
Guided by renowned botanical artist Sally Arnold, M.A., Dip. Bot. Art (SBA Fellow), participants will explore how to plan, compose and execute a contemporary botanical artwork inspired by one of the world’s most celebrated camellia collections.
The programme is structured to help artists refine their technique, elevate their individual style, and reinterpret a classical subject.
Vergelegen in Somerset West is home to Africa’s only International Camellia Garden of Excellence, awarded by the International Camellia Society in 2010. One of just 39 such gardens worldwide, and only two in the Southern Hemisphere, the estate’s collection features more than 1,000 camellia shrubs, some dating back to the 1920s.
Flowering in autumn and winter, camellia blooms are elegant, rose-like flowers that appear in shades of white, pink, and deep red. Glossy, dark green leaves contrast beautifully with their soft petals.
Sally Arnold, who has studios in both Prince Albert and Luxembourg, is a highly regarded botanical artist known for her precise, contemporary interpretations of plant life that balance scientific accuracy with artistic expression.
A Fellow of the Society of Botanical Artists, she holds an M.A. and a Diploma in Botanical Art, and has a reputation for meticulous attention to detail and refined technique.
Her teaching is equally respected, guiding artists to develop both technical skill and a deeper, more observant connection with the natural world.
“My focus will be on drawing attention to the wonderful details within the camellia blossom, buds and leaves – and siting the ensuing compositions in a decidedly contemporary compositional layout,” says Arnold.
“Traditional botanical drawing styles and rules will be respected, but I would like participants to push the envelope in terms of how they highlight focal aspects of their chosen subject. Another important element will be the use of colour pencil layering-up, which can achieve richly luminous, powerful, three-dimensional shapes.”
The masterclass includes:
- A full-day advanced drawing masterclass with expert instruction.
- Drawing and tracing paper (participants to bring their own pencils and tools). The proposed drawing size will be a uniform A3, but participants wishing to work on a smaller format due to time constraints will be accommodated.
- Tea, coffee and a scone on arrival.
- A light lunch.
Cost: R1,750 per person
Date and time: Wednesday 8 July, 09:30-16:30
Location: Vergelegen Wine Estate, Lourensford Road, Somerset West
Vergelegen will also host its popular camellia walks, led by gardens manager Richard Arm, during winter when the camellias are at their peak. Camellia enthusiasts are encouraged to check the Vergelegen website
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