Margaret Best
Botanical Artist and Teacher
Margaret Best loves teaching. She has a nurturing style that encourages confidence in beginners. She also has developed a finely-tuned skill of identifying where intermediate and advanced painters need to focus in order to progress to higher technical levels.
Margaret‘s educational and professional background as an art teacher makes her well qualified to offer botanical watercolour and colour pencil classes. She has conducted group workshops as well as private tuition at venues in the USA, Canada, the UK and Bermuda.
Margaret's 2011/2012 schedule of classes is filling up. She will be returning to California to teach classes at various locations including the Filoli in San Francisco. In addition, she has classes scheduled in Bermuda, a series of workshops at the new consevatory at the Calgary Zoo and Botanical Gardens, the 2012 Waterton Wild Flower Festival, and a special painting tour in a medieval village in Tuscany in association with QUENCH, a Toronto-based travel design group.
Please feel free to contact Margaret via the "Contact" page of this site for further details about classes and tuition. For details of the week-long Tuscany painting tour please contact QUENCH directly for details at... http://www.quenchtravel.com/destination_italy.asp
References:
"I must say you have been the most inspiring teacher in my whole education, and I truly wish I had experienced your teaching methods before or during my own teaching career."
Susan Bruce, Calgary.
"Recently I was lucky enough to take several of Margaret's classes in water colour and pencil. I was concerned that I would flounder in a class of more advanced artists, but thanks to Margaret's teaching skills, I was able to relax, learn and ulrtimately be pleased with my progress. Margaret posesses a rare combination of talents; not only is she a very accomplished artist, she is an exceptionally competent teacher. She truly enjoys passing on what she knows. Able to relate to students at every level, she quickly discerns where one needs help and comes up with concrete suggestions for overcoming difficulties. She creates a pleasant, encouraging and well-organized working environment and is always glad to give individual attention. I also enjoy, while we bend over our work, the way she so generously shares anecdotes drawn from art history, tips on techniques and stories about artists currently working in the field. Her passion for plants, her art and teaching are apparent at every turn and have brought her a loyal following. We can't wait for her next visit. "
Marg Hammond, Bermuda.
"Not only is Margaret a world-renowned botanical artist, she is an excellent instructor. Margaret Best - is simply the best! I feel so fortunate to have access to this quality of instruction. I enjoy every aspect of her workshops and would heartily recommend them to anyone. You will see the plant world completely differently after taking part is Margaret's courses. It is not about drawing and painting so much as it is about seeing."
Sara Gruetzner, Calgary.
"Not only does Margaret have her own amazing works of art and technical skill beyond anything I have ever experienced, she is also an inspiration. Her classes are always supportive, informative, challenging, and stimulating. Margaret holds nothing back and shares her skills and life experiences freely. By the end of each class Margaret has successfully instilled the desire and provided the tools to create, not only art, but to become our best selves. I aim to take as many classes from Margaret that I am able and would recommend to anybody that she offers an opportunity that should not be missed."
Nancy Berreth, Calgary.
"The classes at the Huntington were great. Margaret is able to tune in to how we go about creating botanical art and how we process information and execute techniques. A true teacher."
Tania Marien, Riverside, California
"I certainly enjoyed the workshop and found that I finally understood many things that have been on the edges for me, and I would definitely sign up for more courses with Margaret. It was a pleasure and an honour to be in this class. Many thanks for a valuable weekend."
Barbara Janelle, Santa Barbara
"Margaret is able to teach both novice and more experienced artists together with complete ease. Quite simply, students could not wish for a more knowledgeable and talented instructor than Margaret Best. She shares her skills in well planned classes and stimulates and encourages students to realize their full potential. Frequent demonstrations and examples of the technique in question are presented in a relaxed and informative manner."
Nina Kilpatrick, Calgary.
"That was a wonderful, wonderful workshop. Margaret creates a level playing ground where everyone could learn regardless of their skills. Thank you for helping to get me launched and I look forward to another workshop."
Diana Platt, Santa Barbara.
"In Margaret's classes we are clearly in the hands of not only an expert, which is a great feeling, but an expert with wonderful vision and enthusiasm. I feel reinvigorated and confident. I can`t wait for the next class."
Myra Sourkes, Toronto
"One teacher that we have enjoyed in Los Angeles is Margaret Best from Canada. She has given two workshops at the Huntington, both extremely well received, and will be returning to the area for a third workshop in January. Margaret is always well prepared and provides a wealth of information."
Tania Norris, Los Angeles