April 2013 - Lizzie Harper

Pen and Ink Techniques – Colour

Posted on 26th April 201327th November 2018 in Illustration techniques

Last week’s blog explained the importance of pen and ink techniques to scientific illustration, and showed how to use line and stippling. This week explains how to use colour with pen and ink illustrations. Introducing colour to pen and ink Sometimes monochrome illustrations can feel gloomy, but the commissioner still needs accurate line illustrations. A good […] Read more

Scientific Illustration: Pen and Ink Techniques

Posted on 18th April 201314th November 2018 in Illustration techniques

As a scientific illustrator, you need to be able to feel confident using pen and ink. Often pen and ink is the best medium for a diagram as it’s exact and clear. Other times, commissioners like the traditional look of pen and ink illustrations. This week and next week’s blogs are an overview of […] Read more

Edible Plants and Botanical Illustration

Posted on 8th April 201314th November 2018 in Scientific Illustrator out and about

The winter has crept into spring, and it’s only now that that the woodland plants I associate with the beginning of the new year are beginning to appear. It’s a time to get drawing, and eating edible plants. Many of the common British wild plants can be eaten raw, or cooked; and some are truly […] Read more

ateraceae butterbuts coltsfoot harpercollins

Botanical Illustration – Tips on painting Composite flowers

Posted on 6th April 201314th November 2018 in botanical terms

When doing a botanical illustration of a flower, a bit of basic botany helps enormously. This week, I’m going to discuss a really abundant plant type; the members of the daisy family (the latin term for these plants is Asteraceae, formerly known as the Compositae). The terminology of flower parts can be complex, so below is a […] Read more