Month: June 2023
-
The Magnolia Family
The Magnolia Family Magnoliaceae 25+ years ago, I was new to botanical illustration and studying at the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) when I discovered the beautiful and unusual flowers of the Tulip Tree that took my breath away. Tulip Tree and Magnolia seed pods are also fascinating! (If you’ve ever seen Dick Raugh’s large … Continued
-
Here to Help!
Do you ever look at your page and think, “hmm… something’s not quite right, but I don’t know what…”? You are far from alone, friend. And we are here to help! If you’re reading this, thank you for being a member of our Draw Botanical family. If you subscribe to one our online courses, … Continued
-
The Nightshade Family
The Nightshade Family Solanaceae I knew that tomatoes, tomatillos, peppers, potatoes, and eggplants were all related (because apparently eating them causes inflammation), and I was so excited to draw those all together that I dug a little deeper to find out which other plants were members of the nightshade family. Did you know that Tobacco … Continued
-
The Onion Family
The Onion Family Alliaceae, sub family of Liliaceae After foraging for ramps near a rail trail in High Falls in May 2021, I read a NYTimes article aptly titled Know Your Onions (+ Shallots + Leeks + Ramps) by Melissa Clark. This inspired me to start a large composition of the Allium family, starting with … Continued
-
The Rose Family
The Rose Family Rosaceae Before I became a botanical illustrator, I was a home furnishing textile designer in New York City, mesmerized by vintage cabbage rose floral fabrics and using them for inspiration in my designs. My dream was to be able to draw and paint florals as detailed as a Redoute print or antique … Continued
-
Mushrooms of New York 1 (April thru August 2023)
Mushrooms of New York (April thru August 2023) Fungi Kingdom I had a great time exploring mushrooms this year! Not so much for eating, but to start to learn about them and to draw them. Spoiler Alert: Mushrooms are FASCINATING. I discovered that developing Amanitas remind me of Russian nesting dolls. … Continued
-
The Tulip Family
The Tulip Family Tulipa, sub family of Liliacea Tulips have always reminded me of my mom because she was so proud of the tulips growing in her garden each year. I almost titled my first book How to Draw a Tulip (instead of Botanical Drawing: A Beginner’s Guide) because I … Continued
-
The Mustard Family
The Mustard Family Brassicaceae Fun Fact: All of the plants in this composition are edible! Taste testing is definitely part of the fun. The colors in this family really delight me. Plants in the Mustard Family share these traits: Flowers 4 petals and 4 sepals 6 stamens (4 tall and 2 short) … Continued
-
The Coffee Family
The Coffee Family Rubiaceae After I completed the Citrus Family, I knew that the following year when I returned to NTBG, my next venture had to be the Coffee Family. The Botanical Garden is right next door to the largest coffee growers in the US! Not a day goes by that I don’t start with … Continued
-
The Citrus Family
The Citrus Family Rutaceae While at the National Tropical Botanical Garden in Hawaii for our annual workshop, the wide array of citrus fruits next attracted me. I really enjoyed tasting each of them in the process! I sketched them all out and got the basics and colors down, but I added most of … Continued
