Category: Botanical Illustration
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Understanding Flowers
The main function of a flower is attraction. The enticing form, color, smell and the promise of sweet nectar makes resistance difficult for any pollinator or person. A flower is the reproductive part or seed-bearing portion of a plant, consisting of stamens, pistils, ovary, petals and sepals. Want to learn how to draw a rose? … Continued
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Custom Prints at the Draw Botanical Studio
Here’s a behind the scenes at how we make our prints at Draw Botanical. We do all of our printing in-house with our own equipment. Canvas Prints are printed on acid-free canvas with archival inks. Then we make handmade frames so they hang almost like an old-fashioned botany poster. From the craftsman: “Hello, I’m John … Continued
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Questions answered about my new book: The Joy of Botanical Drawing released on April 7, 2020.
Why did you write the Joy of Botanical Drawing and how is it different from your other books? Do you show readers how to use colored pencils and watercolor pencils together? Is this book good for beginners or do you need to first read your previous books? The Joy of Botanical Drawing is my … Continued
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How to Draw a Realistic Three-Dimensional Rose
Have you always wanted to draw and paint a rose? I love to look at old botanical illustrations and chintz fabrics of cabbage roses. They are quite enchanting, in part, due to the use of dramatic light and shadow. Check out Pierre Joseph Redoute to see the most beautiful and famous botanical paintings of roses. … Continued
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Instagram for the Botanical Artist
I am a fan of Instagram. As a botanical illustrator, author, and instructor I look for ways to experience creativity and think in different ways about botanical art. I follow a lot of other botanical artists on Instagram that I admire, and I decided to ask some of them about how they use Instagram to … Continued
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Botanical Art Workshop in Greece 2018
Botanical Art Workshop Retreat on the Pelion Peninsula in Greece, June 2018 Lafkos is an old village dating back to the 15th century. There is exceptional plant diversity in this region that rivals anywhere else in the world, which makes it a paradise for botanical artists. We drew, ate, walked, collected plants, swam, ate some … Continued
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Botanical Illustration Workshop in Paradise
There are several reasons why a Botanical Illustration Workshop at the National Tropical Botanical Garden on Kauai, Hawaii is one of my favorite places to teach and draw plants. On March 15, 2018, we concluded our 9th year of this three-week intensive workshop, which grows more popular each year. We now have two full time … Continued
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Review of “Leonardo Da Vinci” by Walter Isaacson
Book recommendations to listen to while drawing. As some of you know or can imagine, being a botanical artist requires a lot of time spent at the drawing board. I often listen to audio books as I work, which helps me to relax and stay focused on my drawing. My mind is free to listen … Continued
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Teaching Botanical Illustration – How and Why I began
Nature is a perfectionist when it comes to the arrangement of form and color. Let nature guide you and you will always find the process of drawing educational and exciting. I studied art in college at the Rhode Island School of Design and became a professional textile designer. I never studied teaching, though many art … Continued
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Get Started with Botanical Drawing
I want to help you get started with botanical drawing. I will share with you the most common reasons that stop people from starting to draw, and I’ll give you tips on how to overcome these road blocks. Often people think that accomplished artists are born with a natural talent to draw. I am here … Continued
