Skip to main content

Upcoming Classes & Workshops At Bonnet House

By Bonnet House Blog No Comments

It may still be the middle of winter, but Bonnet House is burgeoning with new classes and workshops! This February and March, Bonnet House is excited to announce a variety of interesting courses for those interested in art, wildlife, nature and so much more. From exploring the basics of calligraphy to learning how to paint stunning orchids, our workshops will leave you with a new skill or interest that you can be proud of for years to come.

Beginning on February 15th, Bonnet House will be hosting a five-week calligraphy workshop. In addition to learning about the art of calligraphy itself, participants will be taught the history of pen lettering and the importance of the hand-copying of great works of antiquity, especially the Bible, in the scriptoria of the great monastic houses of the Middle Ages. To learn more and register for this workshop, click here.

From February 25th – 26th, Bonnet House will also be presenting an orchid painting watercolor workshop. This two-day course will take place in our gorgeous gardens and will be taught by the very talented Karen Eskesen. This informative and fun workshop will be sure to help you improve upon your watercolor abilities and expand your artistic repertoire. To view the supply list for this course, and to register, click here.

Bonnet House is also pleased to offer a six-week acrylic painting workshop starting on Thursday, March 7th. Guests will be able to join Fine Artist Bonnie Opie in the historic Bonnet House gardens as she goes over the basic principles of acrylic painting. This workshop will give participants the opportunity to take inspiration from our vast gardens while learning a new artistic medium. To learn more about this six-week course and to register, click here.

Bonnet House is passionate about providing meaningful artistic experiences for interested individuals across the world. We hope that you can join us for one or more of our fantastic workshops and events. To learn more about our upcoming events, classes, and workshops, visit our events calendar.

Calligraphy Workshop – Intermediate

By No Comments

Intermediate Copperplate Calligraphy with Monica Rachel Gordon

This workshop will build upon the foundations of  basic “Copperplate” script calligraphy. In this hands-on 5-week course, we will advance our skills by putting what we learned in Beginning Copperplate to use by polishing up our letters, creating elegant compositions, addressing envelopes and much more.

Monica will explain how to add impressive flair to your calligraphy, and we will explore variations of capital letters and different styles of Copperplate. Additionally, we will learn the basics of flourishing and how and when to use it properly. If you have working knowledge of Copperplate calligraphy, this fun and in-depth course will take your writing to the next level!

Five Week Workshop
Tuesdays, February 27 – March 26
11:00 am – 2:00 pm

Members $220 / Non-members $240 (All sales are final and non-refundable)
Materials included

Calligraphy Workshop – Basics

By No Comments

Introduction to Copperplate Calligraphy with Monica Rachel Gordon

This beginner workshop will introduce you to the traditional and widely popular “Copperplate” script calligraphy, which is an elegant and formal cursive style of pointed pen calligraphy that originated in the 18th century and evolved from English Roundhand.

Monica will give you a strong foundation of the basic techniques from A to Z. We will be using a pen with a flexible steel nib dipped in ink to achieve the delicate hairlines and thick shades that create this beautiful and classic script. Whether you are an absolute beginner or an experienced calligrapher looking to learn a new style, all levels are welcome!


Five Week Workshop
Tuesdays, January 23 – February 20, 2024
11:00 am – 2:00 pm

$220 members / $240 non-members (All sales are final and non-refundable)
Materials included.

2013/2014 Programs & Events

By Bonnet House Blog, Classes & Workshops, Events, Exhibitions, News No Comments

The Bonnet House Museum & Gardens 2013/2014 season is highlighted with a variety of exciting programs and events. We will be offering art classes in the Bonnet House gardens with Karen Eskesen and Nia Nakis, calligraphy and zentangle workshops with Tony Patucci and Shawn Hayden as well as our annual Concerts Under the Stars series from January through April and the 7th Annual Orchid, Garden & Gourmet Food Festival the first weekend in December.

Orchid Care Classes, Individual classes, September 28 (Diagnosing Pests & Diseases), January 11 (Orchid Basics), February 8 (Repotting & Mounting) and February 22 (Diagnosing Pests & Diseases), 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Join Bonnet House Orchid Curators, Sandy Jones and Tom Wells in the historic Bonnet House Island Theater.  To register call the Bonnet House Education Department at 954-703-2606. Cost: Bonnet House Members $30, non-members $35.

Birding Classes, Individual Classes, November 2, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. (Ascend to Better Birding), February 2, 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. (Bird Behavior for Easy ID), March 1, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. (Birds are Creatures of Habitat).

Join birder extraordinaire, Paddy Cunningham on the historic Bonnet House estate. To register call the Bonnet House Education Department at 954-703-2606. Cost: Bonnet House Members $20, non-members $25.

orchidOrchid, Garden & Gourmet Food Festival, December 7 & 8, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Featuring the 7th Annual Orchid and Exotic Plant Sale. Orchids, Exotics, Tropicals, Herbs, Fruit Trees, Garden Art, Gourmet Food Trucks, Libations, Gardening Lectures, Cooking Demos, Orchid Displays, Silent Auction, Live Music, Farmer’s Market and Much More!!

To purchase tickets visit www.bonnethouse.org or call 954-703-2614. Cost: Bonnet House Members $10, non-members $12.

Watercolor in the Gardens, Six-week sessions: January 8 – February 12 or February 26 – April 2, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. or 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Join fine artist and watercolorist, Karen Eskesen in the historic Bonnet House gardens.  Workshop includes traditional techniques of realism in watercolor and line drawing and time to paint in the gardens.  To register call the Bonnet House Education Department at 954-703-2606. Cost: Bonnet House Members $120, non-members $150.

Acrylic in the Gardens, Six-week sessions: January 9 – February 13 or February 26–April 2, 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. or 1 p.m.–4 p.m. Join Fine Artist Nia Nakis in the historic Bonnet House gardens. Workshop includes basic principles of acrylic painting and time to paint in the gardens. To register call the Bonnet House Education Department at 954-703-2606. Cost: Bonnet House Members $120, non-members $150.

Calligraphy with Tony Pastucci, Five-week sessions: January 14 – February 11 or February 25 – March 25, 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Join artist, Tony Pastucci on the historic Bonnet House estate.  Workshop includes basic principles of calligraphy.  To register call the Bonnet House Education Department at 954-703-2606. Cost: Bonnet House Members $100, non-members $125.

Zentangle with Shawn Ann Hayden, Three-week sessions: January 14 – 28, February 11 – 25 or March 4 – 18, 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Join Certified Zentangle specialist, Shawn Ann Hayden in the historic Bonnet House Island Theater.  Workshop includes basic principles of Zentangle, a way of creating beautiful images from repetitive patterns.  To register call the Bonnet House Education Department at 954-703-2606. Cost: Bonnet House Members $105, non-members $120.

New ImageConcerts Under the Stars, January 23, February 13, March 13 & April 10, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
The finest young talent in South Florida will be performing at Bonnet House’s Young Artist Music Series this winter. Concerts under the stars on the beautiful Bonnet House estate include wine, dessert and coffee in the ticket price. The evening’s activities take place in and around the house with the concert taking place on the veranda lawn beneath the moon and stars. To purchase tickets visit www.bonnethouse.org or call 954-703-2614. Cost: Bonnet House Members $35 and up, non-members $40 and.  Series tickets are also available.

Entirely Entertaining, February 24, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. An elegant luncheon with uniquely individualized table designs presented by our Bonnet House Alliance. To register or for more information call 954-772-7429.

Impressions: A Juried Art Exhibit, March 6, 6 p.m. Lavish Opening Reception
Impressions is an annual juried art competition with fine food, fine wines and fine friends amid the Old Florida charm of Bonnet House. To submit your artwork, register or for more information visit www.bonnethouse.org or call 954-703-2614.

Learn the art of Calligraphy, Watercolor, Acrylics and Zentangle at Bonnet House

By Bonnet House Blog, Classes & Workshops, Uncategorized No Comments

Learn the art of calligraphy, watercolor, acrylics and zentangle on the historic Bonnet House Estate this season. Two six-week, one four-week and two three-week workshops will be offered beginning in January. All classes are taught outdoors throughout the beautiful grounds.

Art class schedule is as follows:

Watercolor workshop with Karen Eskesen ($114 members, $126 non-members)

Session I: Wednesdays, January 9 – February 13 from 9:30am – 12:30pm and 1:00pm – 4:00pm.

Session II: Wednesdays, February 27 – April 3 from 9:30am – 12:30pm and 1:00pm – 4:00pm with Karen Eskesen.

Acrylic workshop with Nia Nakis ($114 members, $126 non-members)

Session I – Thursdays, January 10 – February 14, 9:30am-12:30pm.

Session II – Thursdays, March 7 – April 11, 9:30am – 12:30pm.

Zentangle workshop with Shawn Ann Hayden ($105 members, $120 non-members)

Session I – Tuesdays, January 15 – 29, 10:00am – 12:00pm.

Session II – Tuesdays, March 5 – 19, 10:00am – 12:00pm.

Calligraphy workshop with Tony Pastucci ($64 members, $80 non-members)

Tuesdays, February 5 – February 26, 9:30am – 11:00am.

Class space is limited to 15 students and each workshop requires pre-registration. To register visit us at https://bonnethouse.org/adult-workshops/ or contact Linda Schaller at (954) 703-2606 or [email protected].

About Bonnet House: The mission of Bonnet House Museum & Gardens is to preserve, interpret and share the unique and eclectic historical legacy – artistic, architectural and environmental – of the Bartlett and Birch families.  We inspire in our diverse audiences an appreciation for creative expression, historic preservation and environmental conservation, while enhancing the educational, cultural and economic growth of the community

Learn the Art of Calligraphy, Watercolor and Acrylics on the Bonnet House Estate

By Bonnet House Blog, Uncategorized No Comments

Learn the art of painting and calligraphy at Bonnet House Museum & Gardens this season. Two six-week and one four-week workshop will be offered beginning in January.  The watercolor workshop begins January 11 and runs every Wednesday through February 15 from 9:30am – 12:30pm with Karen Eskesen. Nia Nakis will be teaching the outdoor acrylic workshop on Thursdays from January 12 through February 16, 9:30am-12:30pm. The calligraphy workshop with Tony Pastucci begins Tuesday, February 7 and runs through February 28 from 9:30am – 11:00am.

“The main house emulates a sense of charm and the surrounding grounds are home to a variety of tropical plants and wildlife native toFlorida” states Bonnet House Fine Artist and watercolorist, Karen Eskesen who returns once again to teach her very popular outdoor painting class.

Class space is limited to 15 students and the cost for each workshop is as follows: Watercolor, $114 for members and $126 for non-members; Acrylic, $114 for members and $126 for non-members; Calligraphy, $64 for members and $80 for non-members.  For registration or more information, please contact Linda Schaller at (954) 703-2606 or [email protected].