Category: Botanical Illustration
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Kraft Paper: My Favorite Things
When I study and draw from nature, I feel a presence of something that never fails to take my breath away. I “undress” the plant to study the mystery within, exploring flowers and plants on a micro level, almost as if I were an insect. White or Cream paper used to be my … Continued
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Don't be afraid to be "wrong"
We’re allowed to make mistakes When we are first learning how to be human, we’re allowed to make mistakes. (No one expects a 2 year old’s finger painting to be magnificent enough to deserve an exhibition!) We know that beginners won’t be perfect from the start, so we hold low expectations for their … Continued
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Texture: The Key to Realistic Botanical Art
Infuse your form with texture Transform a basic sphere into a ripe orange, a geometric cylinder into a weathered branch, a cup shape into a delicately petaled tulip, and watch your art come to life. We’re going to explore some premium tips for how to infuse your form with texture. The following tips … Continued
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The Magic of Light
Creating a detailed, three-dimensional plant painting feels like magic to me. I stumbled through the process of uncovering the lesser-known “secrets” behind these botanical drawings. But light source shouldn’t be a mystery to solve! It’s just a visualization exercise that becomes easier and easier with practice. Your first goal is simple: make your form … Continued
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Creating Compositions: Holiday Cards
Using the art skills learned throughout our course, The Practice of Botanical Drawing, create a finished composition suitable for printing on holiday or harvest greeting cards to send to your friends and family. To create a finished seasonal drawing, focus on complex compositions and seasonal color combinations. A complex composition of a … Continued
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How YOU CAN Monetize Your Botanical Art
If you love botanical art (like I do!) and want to make money doing what you love, then this is the post for YOU! Keep reading for tips on commercial products, product photography, and how to sell and ship your own products. Create Original Botanical Artwork Nature is full of wild inspiration! Start … Continued
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Practicing Apples
Looking to practice creating beautiful patterns while maintaining 3D form? Apples are as satisfying to draw as they are to eat! You will learn techniques combining colored pencil and watercolor to render a realistic fruit (that will make a delightful snack when you’re done!). Work on a single fruit, and/or lay out a more … Continued
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The Art of Scientific Botanical Illustration
Botanical illustration, botanical art, flower painting, and plant portraiture may seem interchangeable, but there are actually some distinct differences between the terms. What are the distinguishing details? And where is our work focused at Draw Botanical? Botanical Illustration Because its primary purpose was scientific documentation and plant identification, botanical illustrations focus most on … Continued
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Student Success Stories
For more than 5 years, Draw Botanical has fostered a community of 200+ artists (of all skill levels) sharing a love of creating botanical art. We don’t just teach botanical drawing. We encourage slowing down, exploring plants on a micro level (almost as if you were an insect!), and prioritizing your JOY! Especially in … Continued
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Practicing Peaches
I love to pick my subject fresh from the tree because it gives me the chance to connect with the plant and its habitat. Experiencing the intimate parts of the plant help me to plan interesting and informative compositions that can tell a “story” about a particular plant. Let’s try this now with a peach! … Continued