Description
The LANGUAGE of FLOWERS
Sherry Holliday Hastings
July 13, 20, and 27, 2026
10am to 2pm
Discover the beauty of nature through art in this hands-on class that’s focused on drawing and painting flowers. You will learn to observe floral forms closely, capturing their shapes and structure with clarity. With step-by-step guidance, we will explore techniques in sketching flowers in perspective, learn some brush techniques for petals and leaves, and talk about composition. From there, you will be encouraged to loosen up and work more intuitively, blending structured learning with creative play. This balance creates a relaxed, enjoyable experience while helping you build confidence and trust in your own artistic voice.
Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your skills, this class offers a unique somewhat abstracted, very relaxed and supportive environment to develop your artistic style. By the end, you will have a collection of botanical studies and finished floral artworks, along with the skills to continue creating on your own.
Artist Bio Sherry Holliday Hastings has a BFA in Graphic Design and Art History from Oregon State University. She studied Art History in Florence and Siena, Italy, then spent 15 years in advertising on big accounts like MINICooper, Asics Shoes, Newcastle Beer, and Columbia Sportswear in the San Francisco Bay Area. She’s now a freelance graphic designer and fine artist. For the last few years she has focused on her painting career by showing work at local art festivals and galleries in the Portland area.
Sherry uses different types of symbolism to tell a story in her paintings. Floriography (the language of flowers), is her way of communicating. She is an expressive, realist painter who focuses on the sometimes loud still life. Check out her work at www.hollidayfineart.com and on Instagram: @sherry.holliday.art.pdx
SUPPLY LIST I like to shop at the Artist and Craftsman Supply store. It’s got the best prices in town for art supplies.
PAINTS: For this class we are going to use acrylics.
•Ultramarine Blue
•Cadmium Yellow Medium
•Cadmium Red Medium
•Alizarin Crimson
•Titanium White
•Burnt Umber
•Get sassy and pick out a couple of fluorescent colors!
BRUSHES for acrylics Suggested: Angled Bright #6, Filbert #6, your smallest (bamboo) paintbrush for making fine lines.
SURFACE: Sketch pad for drawing, and canvas or canvas pad, any size
MISC: Water container, paint palette, pencil, rag
