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Botanical Art Retreat & Nature Journaling

A group of people are examining a native pepperberry tree at Tin Dragon Cottages
Is this Pepperberry tree a male or female?

September 2024: During a recent art retreat, Dr Tanya Scharaschkin demonstrated how botanical science could be used to improve skills in nature journaling. Despite the wild (unprecedented) weather the four-day retreat was busy and rewarding for the guests who came from Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and Western Tasmania.

From Maggie (Google review):  Our tutor Dr Tanya was a great personality, an expert in her field. It was a superb Retreat!

Put your feet up – the retreat is fully catered!

Our Tin Dragon team of Christine, Graham and James were also kept busy catering for our guests. The participants really appreciated not having to worry about cooking and cleaning–well, that’s what a retreat should be!

Christine and James standing at the head of the stainless steel servery.
Guests are serving food onto their plates.
A white meal plate with salmon, scallops, asparagus and baked kale arranged on a pumpkin sauce and potato mash.
Panna cotta with fresh strawberries and sweet pickled pinapple on a cream sauce with shredded coconut and mint.
James cooking on an outside wood-fires BBQ
Chef James
Twelve guests seated a long table with their main course meal in front of them.
Chef Sarah has plates arranged on the servery, ready to plate the main course.
Chef Sarah
Guests seated in the lounge area of the barn, enjoying a wine and selection of Tasmanian cold meats, cheeses, biscuits and dips.
First night mixer

Participants travelled from Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Western Tasmania to sample our unseasonal rain and wind gusts. Despite this, we stayed cosy in the Barn!

From Maggie’s Google review: Spent 4 nights in a 2 bedroom cottage for an all inclusive Art and Botany retreat. I couldn’t fault the whole experience. Accommodation was warm, all you needed if you were catering for yourselves. Christine, Graham and James couldn’t do enough for you. The area was picturesque complete with alpacas. We had superb meals.

Some of the botanical journaling activities

Eight people sitting at a timber table with plant specimens in front of them
What is a leaf? Everyone is lined up on one side of the table so they can see Tanya explaining leaf structures on a white board.
A man is drawing a flower, which is arranged in front of him.
Drawing flowers acurately
Dr Tanya Scharaschkin is holding a large sketch book, while talking to the retreat participants.
Explaining basic plant structure
Several retreat participants are seated at a timber table. They have sketch books, disecting equipment, magnifying glasses and plant specimens in front of them.
Leave no flower intact…
A sketch books, disecting equipment, magnifying glasses and plant specimens on a timber table.

The comfortable seating at the other end of the room has a large screen. This is where Tanya gave two evening talks about scientific plant names and plant groups.

Dr Tanya Scharaschkin sitting on a chair talking to the nature journaling participants.

Looking at plants and animals and discussing evolution and ecology

When the wind died down and the rain stopped, participants were keen to get outside. So, this was the start of the nature journaling process. However, it was too wet to be drawing outside, too! So, participants collected specimens to bring back to the workshop for closer examination.

Female flower of the native Tasmanian pepperberry
Female flowers of the native pepperberry (Tasmannia lanceolata)
Male flower of the native Tasmanian pepperberry
Male flowers of the native pepperberry (Tasmannia lanceolata)
Tasmanian native Sassafras flower
Atherosperma moschatum (common name: Sassafras)
A small group of men and women examining a native Tasmanian Pepperberry shrub.
Working out if it is a male or female native pepperberry (Tasmannia lanceolata) tree.
Three women collecting plant specimens for their nature journaling projects.
Collecting specimens

Nature journaling inspiration

Here are examples of observations, including drawings and notes, recorded by participants. Many participants had no prior drawing experience. So for most, this was their first experience of nature journaling.

pencil sketches of native Tasmanian shrubs and seed pods.
Using shading to create a 3-D illusion
Watercolour sketch of a flower and leaves from a shrub.
First use of water colours
Basic pencil sketch of Tasmanian native pepperberry berries and leaves.
Ideas for starting a nature journaling project
Notes and drawingins of flowers and leaves in a nature journal.
Lots of notes and quick sketches in the journal

A water colour painting depicting the Settlers Hut at Tin Dragon Cottages.

From Tanya: I didn’t get to do much drawing while running the recent botany-art retreat, other than this one. There was a bit of time at the end of one day when it wasn’t raining and I could sit outside to sketch the cabin I stayed in.

Feedback from Madeline: Thank you, Graham and James for the most amazing time at Tin Dragon for the Art retreat with Tanya. From Vicki and myself. It was awesome – you guys (and the pup), the hospitality and amenity was incredible – what a slice of paradise (weather notwithstanding! But same same in Tassie at the time!!). Wanting to come back there as soon as – anything else happening please let us know. Tanya was great and all expectations met – I’ve let her know and shall relegate to family heirlooms the daffodil it took me 3 days to draw!! Oh my poor daughter!! My only beef was not being able to get into that kitchen and help with or do some cooking – I’m a bit of a tragic in that regard. Hope the weather hasn’t been too foul for you and hope to see you soon. I’ll try to be more au fait with booking arrangements next time. Warm regards to you all, Madeline

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