The Process of Illustration
Lizzie works traditionally, by hand.
After researching the species she’s illustrating, she gathers reference (preferably specimens not images)
Working from a variety of sources, and being sure to emphasise species-specific traits, she draws up her illustration in pencil
Once the client approves this, she’ll complete the illustration in tonal pencil, pen and ink, pen and ink with watercolour wash, or full watercolour
Botanical Illustrations in Watercolour
Lizzie starts by plotting in her dark areas, then blends to lighter colours.
Finally, she picks out her darkest shadows with a deep mix of purple and blue
For more detailed information, check out her step by step blogs
Botanical Illustrations in Pen and Ink
Lizzie begins by drawing in pen and ink outlines
Next, she plots in the darkest areas with patches of solid ink
Finally, she blends these sharply distinct areas with endless stippled dots
If required, she’ll apply a top wash of watercolour
For more detailed information, check out her step by step blogs
Animal Illustrations in Watercolour
Working with specimens from her freezer whenever possible, Lizzie carefully colour matches paint to fur or feathers
Using lots of tiny strokes to add texture, she plots in her darkest shadows
With paler, diluted tints she blends these to lighter colours.
A top wash unifies the illustration and adds vibrancy
Lastly, she plots in the darkest shadows with a deep mix of blue and purple
For more detailed information, check out her step by step blogs
Animal Illustrations in Pen & Ink
First, Lizzie draws in the outlines
She next blocks in the darkest shadows with solid ink
Stippling, she tries to create an easy visual transition between dark areas and the white page
A top wash of colour can be added once the ink is dry
The process is very similar to her botanical pen and ink work
Watercolour Landscape Illustrations
Working from a client list, Lizzie collects species info and visual reference for all the plants and animals involved
Pencil roughs help position each species in the landscape
A more detailed pencil version is sent to the client, with annotations
Once approved, Lizzie “colours in” from distant landscape to foreground
She completes all the plants first
Finally, she will add the “jigsaw pieces” of the animals
For more on this process, check out the following blogs:
Illustrating a Coastal Hay Meadow
Illustrating a Water Meadow Landscape
To see Lizzie’s work as she completes it, follow her on Instagram
She often posts photos of her works in progress in her “Stories” and has links to her blogs, many of which are step by step explanations
Latest blog is all about illustrating autumn fruits for an identification chart...last spring:
https://lizzieharper.co.uk/2024/11/autumn-fruits/
This posed problems in terms of getting fresh materials, but the blog explained how to navigate around these challenges.
There`s a wide range of species illustrated, from pine cones to spindle berries, sweet chestnut to Plane trees.
it`s a commission I very much enjoyed. And I`m also really happy with the finished guide,
https://www.field-studies-council.org/shop/publications/autumn-fruits-and-seeds/, now available from the FSC shop.
#botanicalillustration #autumn #fall #fruits #botany #fieldstudiescouncil #botanicalart #sciart
This is the Blunt-fruited water-starwort Callitriche obtusangula.
It`s an unobtrusive water plant, but I think it`s emergent rosettes are really pretty.
Like a lot ot aquatic plants it has leaves with different shapes depending on how far submerged they are.
The trick with plans in water is to suggest the correct areas are submerged- without compromising detail.
Completed for an FSC chart of Waterside plants
#waterstarwort #callitriche #waterplants ##aquaticplants #botanicalillustration #sciart
Snippet on today`s work - doing a natural science illustration of the plum weevil, and the danage this beetle does to apples & stone fruit.
I like the damaged apple most, probably because I thought it would look rubbish but turned out OK.
A treat to illustrate a beetle - I mostly get commissioned to do plants.
#plum #plumweevil #insects #insectart #pest #farmer #orchard #insectpest #naturalhistoryilliustration #sciart #conoteachelus nenuphar #cropdamage
I`ve just set myself up on Bluesky as I`m moving away from Twitter. My handle there is lizzie-harper.bsky.social. Come and join the migration!
This is the Devils Horsewhip, Achyranthes aspera.
It`s a medicinal plant that grows in the Caribbean and which I recently completed for the British Overseas Territories Conservation Trust (Montserrat) in conjunction with Montserrat National Trust.
Each of the species illustrated also had a line drawing completed, which will be used in an educational setting.
#bluesky #botanialillustration #botanicalart #sciart #caribbeanflora #medicinalplants #montserrat
New blog out, this one is all about the Campion wildflower family, the Caryophyllaceae:
https://lizzieharper.co.uk/2024/11/wildflower-families-caryophyllaceae-the-campion-family/
Take a look to learn a bit about the basic botanical traits that unite these species, and to see some examples of Caryophyllaceae species like the Campions, Stitchworts, Chickweeds, and Carnations
#chickweed #carnation #Caryophyllaceae #campion #wildflowers #wildflowerfamilies #botany #botanicalillustration #botanicalart
This is Juniper Juniperus communis, a plant I illustrated recently for a commission.
I`m fond of Juniper, I like its` bi-coloured needles and the waxy bloom on the black berries, making them blueish.
I was walking in Yorkshire yesterday, through loads of low Juniper bushes and bracken.
Despite there not being a Juniper berry in sight, when I crushed the tips of the foliage between finger and thumb it smelled very aromatic, and of gin.
Hopefully the close up shows my way of showing the berries and that bloom, a mix of white gouache and blue watercolour. It`s not perfect, but I think it gives the approximate feel.
#Juniper #juniperuscommunis #botanicalillustration #botanicalart #gin
New blog out, it`s a step by step of me illustrating the Water violet, Hottonia palustris.
https://lizzieharper.co.uk/2024/10/water-violet-step-by-step/
The challenge with all aquatic plants is how to show the water level, and especially how to show an emerging stem. This blog explains how I approach the problem. It also shows how easy filamentous leaves are to paint - it`s just the drawing of them that`s a killer!
#botanicalillustration #waterviolet #hottonia #aquaticplants
Completed Knight Bishop apple.
Thanks to @pollyolearyartist I`ve figured out how to show red flush and streaks without it looking clunky. Who knew you could (and should!) stipple with watercolour!
Now I just have to wait til spring to illustrate the blossom from the same tree.
#apples #paintingfruit #afal #botanicalillustration #botanicalart
Sketchbooks
Most of Lizzie’s work is done direct to order
However, when she gets the chance she loves sketching for pleasure
Below are some pages from her sketchbooks
