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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 Fun Fact: Mushrooms are fascinating fungi, not plants, that are more closely related to animals than vegetables. If you go foraging for mushrooms, please remember – SAFETY FIRST! Here’s what you need to know before, during, and after foraging. Consult field guides to identify … Continued
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What You Need to Know Before, During, & After Foraging
Foraging (also referred to as wildcrafting) is searching for wild plants or food in nature. Humans, like many animals, have been foraging since the beginning of their existence. The art of wildcrafting helps us to honor and celebrate food, nature, and each other. It is a great time to explore mushrooms! Not … Continued
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Celebrating 100 Zoom Workshops
We’re over-the-moon excited to announce a major milestone: our 100th Zoom workshop! Thank you for hopping aboard this wild ride of creativity, growth, and botanical wonders. We couldn’t have done it without our incredible community of passionate learners like you! To celebrate our 100th Zoom drawing workshop, we’re offering a SPECIAL BONUS! Participants (who purchase … Continued
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Elevate Your Botanical Illustrations: 4 Essential Tips for Composition
If you’re delving into botanical illustration, honing composition skills is key. (Our FREE Composition Quick Guide is a great place to start.) Whether you’re a casual artist or an experienced illustrator, refining your compositions can elevate your work to new heights. In this guide, we’ll explore four essential tips to enhance your botanical illustrations: … Continued
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Composition Quick Guide
Pleasing compositions rarely happen by accident. We arrange the components until we are satisfied. How do you know you’ve found your final arrangement? It may feel like a gut instinct, like you’re not sure exactly why, but something about it just looks “right.” Here is a free composition quick guide to help you create … Continued
