Form and Texture in Graphite 1 (Ages 14+)

Thursdays, April 7 and 14

Part one of this two-part drawing series focusing on line, armature, and full-tonal graphite drawing delves deeply into depicting botanical subjects. Using fruits and vegetables, learn to understand how light affects individual shapes in nature including highlights, midtones, shadow areas, reflected highlights, and cast shadows. Using a formulaic light source in conjunction with a three-dimensional armature drawing, artists will consider concave and convex shapes of different surfaces, both in geometry and nature. Great for ages 14-adult, beginners, or those looking to refine their drawing and observation skills, armature drawing helps artists understand the terrain of their subjects.

Mindy Lighthipe is passionate about getting out into the natural world and discovering its beauty. Using a variety of techniques and media, Mindy employs watercolor, gouache, colored pencil, and pan pastels to create her bold imagery. Mindy graduated magna cum laude from Kean University with a BFA in studio arts and an MA in art education. She received her certification in botanical illustration from the New York Botanical Gardens. After graduating, she went on to teach more than twenty classes in their botanical art program and developed a 250-hour certificate in natural science illustration.

Mindy has been exhibiting her art since 1998 in juried and solo exhibitions. In 2009, she received a Silver Medal from the Royal Horticultural Society in London. In 2010, she had a solo exhibition at the Florida Museum of Natural History. Mindy currently teaches scientific illustration at the University of Florida.