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Drawing Botanical Illustration: Experiments in Lithography
I have been interested in learning lithography techniques for a long time. I discovered a print studio and workshop near my home, and I decided to give it a try. Of course I would be drawing botanical illustration. All I knew about lithography was that it was based on drawing with an oil crayon on … Continued
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Timeless Botanical Drawing Technique from a 1760 Coloring Book
I recently taught a drawing workshop at the Midwest Women’s Herbal Conference. Naturally in this venue, the attendees were plant fans and enthusiastic to learn botanical drawing. At one point, someone asked me about creating an adult coloring book to go along with that popular trend. I replied that I thought Botanical Drawing was so … Continued
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Botanical Drawing Technique: Composition and Emily Dickinson’s Herbarium
This post references the article: “Emily Dickinson’s Herbarium: A Forgotten Treasure at the Intersection of Science and Poetry” by Maria Popova. Read the original article here. The recent digitization of Emily Dickinson’s herbarium pages by Harvard University feels like the Internet is being used for Good (which is refreshing). All of us now have access … Continued
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Drawing Botanical Illustrations for Commissions & Commercial Use
I have been offered numerous commissions for drawing botanical illustrations. Each year I seem to get more and more inquires to do these commissions. I am not sure the reason why more work comes my way. It may be because more people know my work, my visibility via the internet. I think there is also a growing interest … Continued
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Advantages of Taking a Botanical Illustration Course Online
Advantages of Taking a Botanical Illustration Course Online Botanical illustration has a long, rich history. It is a skill that may require years to perfect, and those who practice it are passionate about attaining a high degree of realism in their work. While botanical illustration is sometimes practiced in a professional or scientific context, most … Continued
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Creating Foraging & Feasting: A Field Guide & Wild Food Cookbook
A Botanical Artist gives a Behind the Scenes Look at the Making of Foraging & Feasting: A Field Guide and Wild Food Cookbook by Dina Falconi, Illustrated by Wendy Hollender From the moment I discovered Botanical Art back in 1998, I have been following the plants. Plants have guided me in my career and personal … Continued
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Evaluating Hotpressed Watercolor Papers for Botanical Drawing
Spirals are In! Paper Testing I’ve been taking my paper for granted for the past 15 years. Back then, I began a love affair with the materials I still use today to create my botanical art. I work with a combination of colored pencils (Faber Castell polychromos oil based pencils) and watercolor, either in the … Continued
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Recommended Reading
Here are some human interest stories recently published in the New York Times relevant to Botanical Art and Artists that work in Colored Pencil. I am happy to share them with you! The work of Maria Sibylla Merian is amazing to see. Check out this article: A Pioneering Woman of Science Re‑Emerges After 300 Years … Continued
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The Practice of Botanical Drawing: Ideas for Expanding a Lesson
Botanical Drawing Lessons are a guide to build on. Expand each lesson with new and different subjects! Watch this Video. Get advice from Wendy. Save Save