September 2013 - Lizzie Harper

Nasturtium, sketchbook study, Garden forager, Tropaeolum, watercolour,

Step by step Nasturtium illustration

Posted on 27th September 201326th November 2018 in Botanical Illustration step by step

I need to paint a nasturtium! We recently got the wonderful news that The Cultivated Forager (follow up to Adele Nozedar’s best-selling The Hedgerow Handbook) will be published, probably in late 2015. Working on a list of illustrations This means that I have to get painting; 49 garden plants to illustrate in the sketchbook studies style, which is […] Read more

public, demo, demonstration, residence, skills, demonstrate skills, skill share, on show, conferences, exhibitions,

Benefits of Demonstrating Illustration

Posted on 20th September 201322nd November 2018 in Scientific Illustrator out and about

As a natural history illustrator, I sometimes get asked to publicly demonstrate (draw and paint). These can be at exhibitions of my work, or at events such as the recent New Naturalist Collector’s Club Symposium. Initially, demonstrating at these events would fill me with fear and trepidation. I have now learned to view them as brilliant […] Read more

autumn, fall, harvest, wild flowers, wildflowers, watercolour, botanical illustration,

Autumn fruit and flowers

Posted on 13th September 201322nd November 2018 in Showcase of themed natural history illustrations

I thought this week it might be a good idea to cut down on text, and just pop up some of my illustrations of wildflowers you may still be able to find as autumn comes. All of these species are pretty widespread and common (except for the Somerset Redstreak apple and autumn crocus). Try scouring […] Read more

pencil, graphite, line, tonal, natural history, natural science illustration, botanical illustration,

Natural History Illustration: Pencil

Posted on 6th September 20132nd December 2019 in Illustration techniques

Pencil doesn’t seem to be a very fashionable medium for scientific illustration, or indeed for illustration as a whole. I think this is rather a pity as highly rendered pencil illustrations can be not only stunning but also a true joy to work on. Materials I always use mechanical pencils, preferring pentel P205 0.5mm HB or H […] Read more