Drawing the Lotus | Nicole Crosswell

Drawing the Lotus | Nicole Crosswell

Join artist and scientific illustrator, Nicole Crosswell for Drawing the Lotus Workshop at the iconic Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt. Coot-tha.

Experience a unique 3-hour creative journey at the serene Lotus and Lilly Ponds, located near the library.

The workshop begins with a 30-minute observational stroll, where participants will explore the vibrant ecosystem of the ponds. Discover native water lilies and their enchanting scents, observe the life stages of the exotic lotus, and spot native fish, dragonflies, bees, and even one of Australia’s smallest frogs—the tiny Eastern Sedge-frog—hiding among the lily pads.

Following the walk, a 2.5-hour drawing session will take place under marquees set up near the pond’s edge, providing an immersive environment to draw in situ. Participants will learn foundational drawing techniques while also experimenting with expressive, energetic lines. Select specimens may be collected to work with up close. Materials used include graphite, ink, and watercolour.

All art materials are provided.

What to bring: A hat and water bottle. Participants are encouraged to arrive 5 minutes early for a smooth start.

This workshop offers a perfect blend of nature exploration and artistic expression.

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  • Date

    Friday, November 29

  • Participants

    Adults

  • Medium

    Drawing

  • Region / Venue

    Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha at the Lotus and Lilly Ponds

  • Bookings

    Bookings Link 

  • Tutor & Organisation

    Nicole Crosswell

All art materials are provided.

What to bring: A hat and water bottle. Participants are encouraged to arrive 5 minutes early for a smooth start.

This workshop offers a perfect blend of nature exploration and artistic expression.

About the Tutor

Nicole Crosswell is a practicing visual artist, arts facilitator, and the scientific illustrator for The Queensland Herbarium at Mt. Coot-tha Botanical Gardens. Her arts practice embodies the phrase ‘to draw’; from contemporary manipulation of physical thread and line through to traditional methods of drawing and mark making.

In both her professional and personal life is Nicole’s passion for the natural world and its dynamic evolution. Whether within the walls of the Herbarium, nature trailing with students through the Bunya Mountains or working in her studio garden, Nicole’s ethos is always to take the time, to observe closely and listen carefully to the surrounding environment.

 Nicole Crosswell’s arts practice is informed by Baba Dioum’s statement, “In the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught.” Her body of work encapsulates her love and understanding of the natural world and its intersection with the human condition.

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