Page 26 - Landscape-Issue153

FEATURE

BOTANICAL WORKSHOPS

AT VERGELEGEN

The botanical bounty of Vergelegen provided rich subject matter for a series of four
botanical-inspired workshops at the 325-year-old wine estate in Somerset West,

Cape Town.

nalogue photographer and alternative printer Claudia
Schneider from Lady & Co., a women-led business in
ASomerset West, led both a linocut workshop and a
cyanotype printing workshop, in which she taught a creative
photographic technique using sunlight to produce striking
blue-toned prints.
Rose specialist Marie-Noëlle Favard guided a tour through
Vergelegen’s renowned rose garden and shared advice on rose
care, drawing on years of experience to offer handy tips on
topics such as pruning and soil health.
Master botanical artist Sally Arnold led an introduction
to botanical pencil drawing, where participants focused on
drawing leaves gathered from the Vergelegen gardens. The Claudia Schneider, Cyanotype by Claudia Schneider
estate’s heritage trees include the oldest oak in Africa, and five
giant camphor trees, proclaimed national monuments in 1942. analogue photographer and
alternative printer
Schneider says: “Vergelegen has always held a quiet magic
for me. It’s a place layered with history, not just in its architecture
and gardens, but in my own story too. I remember visiting with
my grandfather – it was a special place for him, and those
memories have stayed with me.
“They live on in photographs: quiet portraits, glimpses of
light through trees, the gentle gravity of time. I still visit often,
and each time I feel that same sense of reverence. Certain spots
– the camphor forest, the stillness in the gardens – feel like old
friends, always waiting.”
Schneider views workshops as a chance to slow down and
reconnect “with process, with materials and with ourselves.”
While the technical aspect is important, she is most passionate
about nurturing a way of seeing that is reflective, patient and Botanical artist Sally Arnold Erythrina leaf by Sally Arnold
rooted in curiosity.
“I also see it as part of a larger mission: to keep historical and
alternative printing processes alive. There’s something deeply
grounding in these tactile, hands-on methods – the quiet
rituals of coating paper, waiting for light, washing prints - all of
it invites presence. I want participants to feel part of this living
tradition, to create with intention, and to experience the joy of
making something soulful and lasting.”
The work of botanical fine artist and sculptress Sally
Arnold, M.A., Dip SBA, has been exhibited in South Africa and Rose expert Marie-Noëlle Roses at Vergelegen
European galleries, most recently at the Valentiny Foundation Favard
in Remerschen, Luxembourg.
“As an artist, I feel a profound responsibility to act as a Arnold says she aims to help each participant see more subtle colours within
steward of the natural world, capturing its quiet power and the overall colour, as well as light and shade, negative and positive spaces.
fragile beauty,” she says. “We discuss the composition and presentation of a drawing, which includes
When holding a botanical workshop, Arnold first ensures adding a personal signature. We finish by holding a small exhibition of the work,
that participants, who are usually beginners, feel comfortable as I feel that group members enjoy assisting each other and, in doing so, begin
and relaxed. to see their own drawings differently. I also want them to feel satisfied with what
“My aim is to teach careful observation of the subject matter, they can take away from the workshop.”
either a fruit, vegetable or a leaf, the emphasis being on simple Favard says her workshop was attended by rose enthusiasts who were
shapes for beginners. As art critic John Ruskin said, good eager to get more in-depth information on the principles of winter rose care,
drawing is 90% observation and 10% drawing. including pruning methods for different rose types, transplanting roses and soil
“I then discuss pencil colours to most closely match those rejuvenation.
of the subject matter. Great emphasis is placed on sharpening For more information about workshops at Vergelegen visit https://
good quality pencils, and how to lay down the colour layers, vergelegen.co.za/events/
beginning with light, ending with dark layers. Technical
expertise comes about later through learning many helpful Text and photos supplied by Judy Bryant of Meropa Communications, on behalf of
hacks.” Vergelegen Wine estate. n

24 Landscape SA • Issue 153 2025 Check us out www.salandscape.co.za