California Botanic Gardens Sunflowers — Van Gogh-esque Expressive Painting | October 17, 2026 10 am-noon

Description

Sunflowers have inspired artists for centuries and Van Gogh showed us just how alive they can be on canvas. In this class, we’ll explore that same expressive approach: loose, confident brushwork and rich, vibrant color, with a real sense of movement and energy.

We’ll look at how Van Gogh used color and texture to bring his sunflowers to life, then use that as a jumping-off point rather than a rulebook. You’ll be encouraged to paint with energy and instinct, letting your own hand and eye guide the piece rather than aiming for an exact likeness. Every painting will end up as individual as the person who painted it.

This class is a great fit for anyone who wants to loosen up their brushwork, work with bold color, and paint with more freedom and expression than precision.