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The Art of Erasing: When and How to Use Different Erasers in Your Artistic Toolkit
The Art of Erasing: When & How to Use Different Erasers in Your Artistic Toolkit Different Types of Erasers: 4 Essential Erasers for Botanical Artists Note: This is NOT an affiliated post. We mention specific products that our instructors like to use for the Draw Botanical Method, and we encourage you to use what you … Continued
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Begin with Basics: Botanical Art for Beginners
Botanical Art for Beginners: Intro to Botanical Drawing Starting Steps to Create Realistic Plant Illustrations Many people say things like, “I can’t draw to save my life,” and “I could never draw something like that!”, but the truth is… ANYONE can draw! (Yes, even YOU!) If you have the desire to learn, and you commit … Continued
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The Draw Botanical Dictionary: Learn the Language of Botanical Illustration
Learn the Language of Illustration: Botanical Terms and Definitions A Growing Glossary of Botany & Drawing Definitions Essential for Artists & Nature Lovers Your Go-To Guide for Garden Terminology & Creative Vocabulary Written with care, curiosity, and a deep love of the natural world by the Draw Botanical Team When you sit down with … Continued
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Understanding Flowers: A Botanist's Drawing Guide to Shapes, Symmetry, & Structure
Flower Anatomy for Artists A Botanist’s Drawing Guide to Shapes, Symmetry, & Structure If you’ve ever been fascinated by a flower, this post is for YOU! A flower is the reproductive part of a plant. Its primary purpose? To attract! How do these alluring seed-bearing wonders do it? Let’s examine the captivating forms, … Continued
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Why Botanical Art: The Importance of Illustration
The Importance of Illustration: Why We Continue Creating The aesthetic beauty of botanical illustration has fascinated and inspired people for centuries, but beyond its visual appeal, botanical drawings help identify and understand plants in a timeless manner. “Botanical illustration serves as a connection between art and science and, in fact, is firmly planted in each … Continued
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4 Tricks to Fool the Eye: Trompe L'oeil
Have you ever seen a drawing so realistic that it fools you into believing it’s a three-dimensional object? “Trompe L’oeil” is a French term meaning “Fool the Eye”. Learn (from Wendy!) how to incorporate these fun techniques on kraft paper and tell a story by choosing related or symbolic elements to draw. Lesson … Continued
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8 Tips to Determine When to Put the Pencils Down
How to Tell if your Botanical Drawing is Finished: 8 Tips for Art Evaluation When we look at our own work, our first thoughts are often critical, focusing on how we could make it better… So how do you know when your work is complete? Every artist should ask these questions while drawing … Continued
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Sharing Botanical Art: Diversity & Reciprocal Respect
Shared Histories. Shared Environments. Shared Arts. Encouraging Diversity & Reciprocal Respect in Scientific Botanical Illustration The History of Botanical Drawing & Decolonizing the Future of Botanical Art By Emet Lipson & the Draw Botanical Team “How we relate to one another is essential to environmentalism. If you’re not talking about human rights, economic equity, … Continued
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The Best Botanical Illustration Book for Your Creative Style
The Best Botanical Illustration Book for Your Creative Style Compare Instructional Art Books & Find Your Perfect Fit Choosing a botanical illustration book can feel a bit like looking around a lush garden, paralyzed with so many beautiful options, each equally enticing in their own ways. But which option is best for you? Whether you’re … Continued
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How to Draw a Rose
How to Draw a Rose Tutorial A Botanical Illustration Guide using Watercolor & Colored Pencil By the Draw Botanical Instructor Team Roses have been drawn, painted, admired, and studied for centuries, and it’s easy to see why. Their layered petals, luminous color, and sculptural form make them endlessly fascinating subjects for botanical artists. Learning … Continued