Timeless Trees
Trees grow themselves. So can artwork.
£125.00
Course details
5 weekly sessions on Tuesdays
15 September–13 October
7–9pm BST (UK time)
11am–1pm PDT
2–4pm EDT
8–10pm CEST
Meetings are online and live
All skill levels and backgrounds welcome
Description
Do you love to draw trees, but wish you knew more about them? Are you a keen naturalist and would you like to explore your creative side? Join me for this online series of creative sessions and travel back in time to observe trees across different timescales.
In every session, I draw on my background in botany to introduce an awe-inspiring aspect of tree biology. Each week, we explore trees within a different timeframe. We’ll encounter the seasonal rhythms of a calendar year, consider the century it takes for a seedling to become a stately giant, and dive into deep time to meet the very first trees that lived over 300 million years ago. We then spend time responding creatively on paper. The emphasis here is on letting yourself be led by what fascinates you, and having fun. There is ample time to share questions, thoughts—and of course your creative work.
This series is about being creatively inspired by botanical processes such as growth, migration and evolution. Rather than discuss trees as subject matter or symbols in art, we ask what we can learn from trees to apply to our own creative process. After all, trees can grow themselves, without planning or goals. Why can't your artwork? This is a chance to learn about the natural world together, try out new modes of making creative work and meet a group of likeminded naturalists and creatives from around the world.
Programme
Week 1 ● What is a tree? ● an introduction
You know what a tree is, right? The answer may surprise you.
Week 2 ● Changing colours ● 1 season in tree time
About leaves, how they age, and magnificent autumn colour shows.
Week 3 ● From seedling to centenarian ● 100 years in tree time
How does a seed transform into a tall veteran tree?
Week 4 ● Marching forests ● 20,000 years in tree time
Even though trees are sedentary, forests are far from static. They decline, regenerate, and even migrate.
Week 5 ● Deep time ● 400 million years in tree time
Plunge into deep time with me for a whirlwind road trip through the last 400 million years of photosynthetic life on Earth. Discover how evolution shaped our modern species of trees.
Delivery
Sessions are held live on Zoom and are interactive. Instruction is in English. Please make sure you have access to a webcam and microphone so you can contribute to the group conversation.
What you need to participate
To work with
There is no set materials list for these sessions. The emphasis is on the creative process and I encourage participants to explore and experiment with a wide range of media of their choice. Here are some suggestions for materials that might come in useful:
Paper suitable for mixed media
Marker pens (black) and/or coloured markers
Your choice of paints or inks and brushes
PVA glue and/or a glue stick
Scissors
Masking and/or clear tape
Paper collage materials (coloured papers, newspapers, magazines, etc.)
Collage materials foraged outside (leaves, flowers, seeds, etc.)
Any other materials you think you enjoy working with (spaghetti, crayons, kitchen sponges, bubble wrap—no judgement!)
To work on
A comfortable amount of desk space (or your kitchen table).
To connect
Access to a computer with wifi and Zoom.
A webcam and a microphone to participate in the conversation.
A (phone with a) camera to photograph your work.
Access to Google Drive so you can share your work.
Payment
Payment can be made by adding this course to your cart. Don't see your preferred payment method or currency? Please get in touch with me at boatingbotanist@gmail.com to discuss alternative options.
Questions?
Please don't hesitate to reach out.
5 weekly sessions on Tuesdays | 15 September– | 7–9pm BST |
|---|---|---|
Meetings are online and live | All skill levels and backgrounds welcome | Tiered pricing available |
Anyone curious about trees and the creative process. This course is for artists looking to be inspired by the natural world, nature lovers who want to get in touch with their creative side, or anyone interested in observing trees in a new way.
All scientific and artistic skill levels are welcome. No prior background in either field is required.
Each creative session includes:
A beginner-friendly introduction to one of five fascinating topics in tree biology
Visual inspiration drawn from the sciences and the arts
Time to work on a creative project in class
Being part of small community of like-minded creatives and naturalists from around the world
Yes! If you have internet access, you can join. Just make sure the timing is right for your time zone.
I'm committed to making events, workshops and courses available to as wide an audience as possible. The generous support of patrons allows me to continue offering free events and concessions.
here's what participants say
”I love how you used science as the inspiration for art. I am looking at every tree differently! Your guided prompts were the perfect amount of creative constraint to not get stumped (!) on what to draw. Loved it.”
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”The two hours fly by in an instant, super fun and engaging. The creative part was liberating and freeing. Kristel is a very passionate individual and it really shows in every part of the sessions. It was inspiring watching her talk about her passion and she was also very accepting and encouraging.”
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”The sessions are very informative and warm. A set time for creating something new to share with others is such a great way to stay creative during busy work week! I am very inspired by the process!”
”The topics you brought up were perfectly suited to capture the imagination of your audience. I also appreciated your emphasis on the process of creating, rather than the final product. I loved that in attending your sessions, I allowed myself the luxury of escaping from my normal life and taking the time to create something from nothing.”
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"A really wonderful workshop, I learned new things about trees, tried new ways of making art and met a lovely supportive group of people."
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"I really enjoyed these workshops and looked forward to them each week! They gave me a low-pressure but high-reward creative outlet that I’ve been searching for and it was fantastic to learn something new (both botanical and creative) each week."
© 2026 Kristel Schoonderwoerd
Boating Botanist is a sole proprietorship registered in the Netherlands
Netherlands Chamber of Commerce (KvK) number: 42037913