May 2013 - Lizzie Harper

Natural history illustration, decoration, decorative,

Natural History Illustration for decoration: Cards and Gift Wrap

Posted on 31st May 201314th November 2018 in Showcase of themed natural history illustrations

Scientific illustration often results in beautiful imagery; and there’s a lot of joy to be gained from knowing that every hair on the stem of a plant or every vein in a dragonfly wing is in the correct place. A lot of the glory of nature is to be found in its details, and this […] Read more

reference, scientific illustration, chiroptera

Scientific illustration: Getting reference

Posted on 24th May 20133rd December 2018 in Illustration techniques

It is a trueism that “you are only as good as your reference.” As a practitioner of scientific illustration, I am always searching for good reference of both plants and animals. You never know what the next job will ask for, so need to be prepared for any request. Plants get sketched and details noted, […] Read more

deocration, natural history for decoration,

Natural History Illustration for decoration

Posted on 17th May 201314th November 2018 in Showcase of themed natural history illustrations

One of the treats of being a scientific illustrator is that you can use your skills in a less exacting manner when the opportunity arises. This can be useful for jobs which want to use natural history illustration for decoration, as a way of creating gifts or mementos, and as a means to decorate your […] Read more

River management, sketchbooks study, sxs, impatiens, invasives, step by step, Himalayan balsam,

Botanical illustration of a Himalayan Balsam Flower

Posted on 10th May 201314th November 2018 in Botanical Illustration step by step

Overview of Himalayan balsam One of the invasive plants I was asked to paint by Summersault Communications is the Himalayan balsam Impateins galndulifera, which is growing out of control along many of Britain’s water courses, out-competing native plants and clogging up drainage channels. Although a truly problematic invasive species here in the UK, it is also […] Read more

Japanese knotweed, Fallopia japonica, invasives, step by step

Japanese knotweed sketchbook study

Posted on 3rd May 20133rd December 2018 in Biological terminology: Definitions, Botanical Illustration step by step, Illustration techniques

Japanese Knotweed job I’ve been working on a series of three scientific illustrations of invasive plants this week, for Summersault Communications. This blog is about doing a Japanese knotweed sketchbook study. The article accompanying my illustrations will explain how to identify the plants and why they pose a threat. I am fortunate in that the […] Read more