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4 Tips for Drawing Twists, Rolls, & Folds
To capture 3D forms on a 2D surface, we use light and shadows to create the illusion of depth. This can be tricky, but never fear! We are here to help. Learn how to draw elegant twists, flowing rolls, and delicate folds with confidence! Explore the graceful movement of strappy botanical leaves (like those … Continued
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10 Questions Every Artist Should Ask While Drawing
Whether you’re just getting started with botanical drawing or you’re a seasoned illustrator, make sure you are set for success and ask yourself these 10 questions to produce realistic botanical illustrations. Beginner Artists, Don’t Miss! Everything you need to know to get started on your botanical art journey is as easy as 1-2-3! … Continued
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Recommended Recordings: Instructors’ Favorite Zoom Workshops
Recommended Recordings – Instructors’ Favorite Zoom Workshops Everyone can benefit from learning botanical illustration, so we teach in a way that is inclusive and fun for everybody, including our team of instructors! We love to share our passion for plants and knowledge of colored pencil and watercolor techniques with you. We have taught … Continued
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The Basics of Color Theory: A Guide for Botanical Artists
Learn more about the fascinating world of color theory! Scroll through this post for some free tips to help you achieve realistic colors in your botanical illustrations. Before we begin, we need to have a shared basic vocabulary for describing color. Visualizing a color using these definitions can make it easier to … Continued
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Cultivating Connection: The Art of Giving Back Through Botanical Illustration
How art and nature intertwine to inspire, heal, and nurture both artist and environment Nature as a Muse and Partner The natural world offers us abundant gifts—fresh air, vibrant beauty, nourishing food, boundless inspiration, and more. How can we, as botanical artists, give back? This question guides not only our creative practices but … Continued
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Our Favorite Paper for Botanical Art
Legion Paper Saves the Day! When Wendy needed new hot pressed watercolor paper to replace Fabriano Artistico, she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to find anything that worked quite as well for her. Nonetheless, her determined search led her to Legion Paper, where she was met with nothing but passion and generosity. She called … Continued
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Practice Patience
Breathe Think for a moment about the timeline of nature. Imagine any natural process – seed growth, blooming flowers, decomposition. Do they happen quickly? Imagine a colorful autumn leaf floating down from its branch and settling in with its siblings on the ground. I like to imagine that this leaf is not in … Continued
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Practice Promises Progress
If you learned to ride a bike, you most likely didn’t learn it all at once. You probably struggled to maintain balance and survived a few falls along the way, but after getting back on your bike again and again, you were ultimately able to ride! You may not have *perfected* bike riding; you … Continued
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Apples: Realistic Botanical Drawings in 8 Steps
Apples are as satisfying to draw as they are to eat! Curl up with your hot mug of apple cider, and create an apple portrait to warm your heart year-round! Learn techniques combining colored pencil and watercolor to render a realistic fruit (that will make a delightful snack when you’re done!). Practice creating beautiful … Continued
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Mushrooms of New York 2 (July thru October 2023)
Mushrooms of New York (July thru October 2023) Fungi Kingdom While my original plan was to complete one fungi kingdom painting, nature had other plans. Halfway through the summer, I ran out of space on my page, but there were still so many magnificent mushrooms growing all around me! I was delighted to … Continued
