ABOUT THE WORKSHOP RETREAT
Join us September 24-27 for a creative intensive in Botanical Illustration for Field Guide Journals with Kay Betts. In this hands-on workshop, participants will explore the nature journal as a deeply personal tool for observation, reflection, and connection to the natural world. Blending time in the field with studio practice, the workshop invites students to develop a journal that serves as both a record of experience and a unique creative expression.
Through guided exercises and demonstrations, participants will learn a range of traditional observational and artistic techniques, including drawing, note-taking, mapping, and descriptive writing. Emphasis will be placed on slowing down, noticing detail, and translating what is seen, felt, and understood into a visual and written record. At the same time, participants will incorporate contemporary tools such as smartphone photography and apps to expand how information is gathered and documented.
Participants will experiment with a variety of approaches to building their journals, including charts and lists, hand-drawn graphs and maps, and layered entries that combine text and image. Observations may include plant life, weather patterns, topography, and other elements of the surrounding environment, encouraging both scientific curiosity and creative interpretation.
This workshop embraces flexibility and individuality—there is no single template or “right” way to keep a field journal. Open to all experience levels, it encourages curiosity, attentiveness, and a willingness to explore new ways of seeing and recording the world. By the end of the session, participants will have developed the foundations of a personalized journal practice and new strategies for engaging more deeply with their environment.
ABOUT KAY BETTS
Kay is an artist, educator, and lifelong gardener whose work brings together studio practice, botanical study, and reflective observation. Her passion for teaching began at Memphis College of Art and has continued to evolve through her work as both a visual arts instructor and a mentor in educational administration and consulting. Across these roles, she is known for her ability to guide individuals and groups in clarifying and articulating their creative voice.
Her long standing relationship with the natural world led her to the study of medicinal herbs, completing a year of training through BotanoLogos School of Herbal Studies. This exploration deepened into advanced coursework in botanical illustration at Cornell University, further shaping her approach to observation, drawing, and documentation.
Through these experiences, Kay has developed a deep appreciation for field journaling as both a creative and analytical practice. Inspired by guided plant walks and her own time spent observing natural environments, she encourages the use of journals as tools for inquiry, memory, and connection—for both novice and experienced naturalists alike.
Fees: $675 (covers workshop fees, materials, and meal plan) + $450-$600 for overnight accommodations in our Antinori Village. Follow this link for info on our accommodation options: hambidge.org/room-board
Check-in: is 1-5pm on the first day of your workshop. If this is an impossibility, please confirm any deviation in advance with staff at workshops@hambidge.org. A mandatory group orientation is held at 5pm on the date of your arrival. Departures are by 2pm on the final day of your workshop.