# Lara Call Gastinger
*Botanical artist and illustrator*

Lara Call Gastinger is a botanical artist and illustrator based in Central Virginia. She is best known for her perpetual journals, her work exploring a range of subjects such as native plants, intricate venations, and the beauty of the natural world, often inspired by broken seed pods, twisted roots, and insect damage to leaves. Working in a highly detailed style, Lara’s artworks showcase her vision rooted in deep observation, curiosity, and respect for the natural processes of change and decay.

Having obtained a Master's Degree in Plant Ecology from Virginia Tech, and a Bachelor of Arts in Biology with a minor in Architecture from the University of Virginia, Lara has been creating and teaching botanical art for over two decades. Her teaching approach has at its core the belief that you do not need to be an artist to connect with nature, just curious and open to wonder. She has taught students and nature lovers at various institutions, such as the University of Virginia, the Oak Spring Garden Foundation, and the New York Botanical Gardens.

Lara is also the creator of a vibrant Patreon community, an online teaching platform where she offers technique videos, Friday Flora lessons, and a supportive space for artists of all levels to develop their botanical art skills. She has worked with students across the US and internationally, having led workshops both in person and online in places like France and Romania. She is also a member of the American Society of Botanical Artists, the McGuffey Art Center, and the Virginia Native Plant Society.

As a nature lover who enjoys hiking the Appalachian Trail with her family, she understands how easy it is to overlook the small, quiet wonders of our environment. Her goal, whether in a class, online, or on a retreat, is to create a space where you can look a bit deeper, pause a bit longer, and truly enjoy the process of observing and documenting nature.

Learn more about Lara Call Gastinger and her work by visiting her [website](https://www.laracallgastinger.com/) or her [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/laragastinger), or by checking out her [Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/laragastinger) if you’d like to get a feel for her teaching style and explore some lessons.

**Connect:** [Website](https://www.laracallgastinger.com/) · [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/laragastinger)

## Retreats led by Lara Call Gastinger

### Botanical Watercolor Retreat with Artist Lara Call Gastinger in Scotland
June 18 - 25, 2027 · Buchlyvie, Scotland, UK · $4,500
Instructors: Lara Call Gastinger
[Details](https://uptrek.com/ai/content/retreat/botanical-watercolor-retreat-artist-lara-call-gastinger-scotland) · [Book on uptrek.com →](https://uptrek.com/retreat/botanical-watercolor-retreat-artist-lara-call-gastinger-scotland#book)

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**Last updated:** 2026-05-19