October 2013 - Lizzie Harper

leaf, leaves, leaf shape, compound leaves, simple leaves, botany, botany terms,

Botanical Illustration: Compound and Simple leaves

Posted on 25th October 201324th November 2018 in Biological terminology: Definitions

I’ve recently completed some botanical illustrations and diagrams of leaves. They’re for for The 21st Century Herbal by Michael Balick. Several illustrations demonstrating different botanical terms for leaf shape were required. Reasons why botanical terminology helps I think knowing what variety exists in nature helps you to understand what you’re drawing. So I thought I’d share some botanical terminology […] Read more

bat, bats, microchiroptera, Bechteins, echolocation, nocturnal, small mammals,

Scientific Illustration of Bechstein’s bat

Posted on 18th October 201324th November 2018 in Zoological step by step

Problems with illustrating bats One of the more difficult animals I’m asked to do natural history illustrations of is bats. This is because getting reference of them in flight can be tricky. It involves being nice to lots of extremely talented photographers. Also, getting the different details on their body is vital. Here’s the approved […] Read more

Llandrindod, art workshop, flowers, workshop, art equipment,

Botanical Illustration Workshop in Llandrindod

Posted on 11th October 201323rd November 2018 in Painting workshops

Teaching a workshop Scientific illustration, natural history illustration, botanical illustration; call it what you will, but it’s a solitary job. So when the opportunity to lead a workshop arises; I not only enjoy the teaching, but also the company of fellow artists. Last week I was asked to lead a flower painting workshop by the […] Read more

Sxs, step by step, demo, tutorial, art tutorial, online tutorial, entomological illustration, process, fritillary, butterfly, natural history illustration, scientific illustration,

Illustration of Silver Washed Fritillary Butterfly

Posted on 3rd October 201326th November 2018 in Zoological step by step

I’ve been working on natural history watercolour illustrations for Buckinghamshire, Bedforshire & Oxon Wildlife Trust this month, and one of the species they wanted me to paint was the beautiful Silver washed fritillary butterfly, Argynnis paphia. This butterfly is instantly distinct from the other fritillaries because of the striking markings on its underwings; greens, golds, and some […] Read more