Botanic

DULCE NASCIMENTO’S

14^th BOTANICAL ILLUSTRATION AMAZON TRIP

May 18^TH to 27^TH, 2012

To become familiar with the Amazon environment, observe its vegetation closely, understand its ecology better and for anyone who wants to learn to draw or paint flora species in watercolor:  this is the trip programmed with Dulce Nascimento, a Botanical Illustrator and a graduate of the School of Fine Arts of Rio de Janeiro, orienting and teaching the techniques of collecting plants and how to adapt oneself to field work.  Dulce improved her technique at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, as a scholar of the Margaret Mee Foundation and has gone on several botanical expeditions in the Amazon.

Objectives:  Furnish the students with fundamental information on the drawing of elements of nature. 

                 Develop and stimulate observation of the forms, colors and textures

                 of nature and artistic skills of the students.

                 Teach basic technical norms applied in Botanical Illustration.

Since 2006 we have upgraded our accommodations and are now doing our trip in a boat that has been built by Gilberto Castro.  We will still enjoy the advantages of a small group (maximum of 18 passengers), but with a whole new level of comfort. The “OTTER” is 88 feet long and 24.6 feet wide, has four decks, nine passenger cabins, 8 double cabins with large twin beds, one with a large double bed, individual air conditioning units in each cabin, all with private bathrooms with hot water showers. On the first deck we have the command, five passenger cabins, crew quarters, a kitchen and service areas. On the second deck we have 4 passenger cabins, a 350 square foot enclosed dining room, a small open veranda, and service areas.  On the third deck we have 2 covered verandas, one in the front and one in the back, one sun deck area with a Jacuzzi tub and showers, a bar, a toilet and a nice 250 square foot enclosed living room. The fourth deck is a 360° panoramic sun deck. 

Flights: There are several flights from various companies, both from Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, the main points of entry into Brazil, leaving in the morning, arriving in Manaus in the early afternoon between 1:00 P.M. and 2:00 P.M.  Return flights should be bought for the planes leaving Manaus in the early afternoon after 1.00 P.M., as the boat returns around 11.30 A.M. on Wednesday. There are also direct daily flights coming from Miami on TAM Airlines (www.tam.com.br)

If you are coming from abroad, a valid Passport will be required, as well as a visa for certain countries (such as the U.S.A, Canada, Australia, etc.)