Blogs - Page 13 of 16 - Lizzie Harper

Here are the blogs I’ve written over the years. Subjects range from step by step painting tutorials, to botanical anatomy, to current projects.

They appear in the order they’ve been written. However, if you scroll down the page you’ll find they have also been organised into categories to make browsing a little more focused.

There are even some guest blogs in amongst. I hope you enjoy them, and do please feel free to leave a comment.

golden plover, Pluvialis apricaria, Pluvialis, Swaledale, North Yorkshire, Yorkshire dales, Yorkshire, scabious, quaking grass, briza, cotton grass, grass, tormentil, pontilla, eriphorum,

Illustrating a Golden Plover in Swaledale

Posted on 11th January 201427th November 2018 in Zoological step by step

Animals in their habitats Many scientific illustrations and botanical and natural history illustrations I do are cut-to-white. However, I often illustrate subjects (like this plover) in their natural habitat. This can be a challenge, but also highly enjoyable. You can put in specific details (such as someone’s home, or a tree they really like). It […] Read more

invasives, published, hogween, himalyan balsam, japanese knotweed,

Natural History Illustration in context: Published work

Posted on 3rd January 201426th November 2018 in Current projects and news

Where my illustrations are published Most of the natural history illustrations I do are for use in published form. They appear in books or magazines. They’re published on interpretation or visitor boards at zoos, nature reserves or aquariums. They’ve been used on packaging of such diverse things as CDs and mugs. It’s always a treat […] Read more

Diagrams, pen and ink, top wash, colour wash, gardening, japan, bonsai garden,

Bonsai Diagrams for Dorling Kindersely/Penguin

Posted on 27th December 201326th November 2018 in Current projects and news

Bonsai Project I’m currently doing a series of botanical illustrations for a book on Bonsai trees by Peter Warren for Dorling Kindersely/Penguin Books. We’re concentrating on coloured diagrams of the trees. There may also be some step-by-step illustrations, and there’s talk of Japanese style “icons” too. A note on copyright Unusually for me, I’ve allowed DK/Penguin […] Read more

sketchbbok, sketchbook study, botanical illustration.

Natural History Illustration: Current projects

Posted on 20th December 201326th November 2018 in Current projects and news

The last few weeks have been busy with botanical illustration projects, scientific illustrations, and diagrams. There has also been the inevitable swirl of Christmas cards, school carol concerts, buying wrapping paper, and figuring out which relatives we’ll descend on, and when. Invented animal: Projects you worry about The most peculiar commission was for an invented […] Read more

tutorial, art tutorial, entomological illustration, flower art, watercolour lesson, watercolor, natural history illustration, scientific illustration, sciart, botanical illustration, step by step, sxs, illustrating,

Illustrating a Heath Fritillary Butterfly

Posted on 13th December 20133rd December 2018 in Zoological step by step

Illustrating a butterfly out of season: Challenges and solutions Illustrating a butterfly out of season is always a challenge as it’s hard to get good reference. This is true for the butterfly and the plants to be included in the image. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this private commission to illustrate two Heath fritillary butterflies […] Read more

leaf, leaf attachment, flowers, botany, botanical terms, leaves, veins, venation,

Botanical Illustration: Late flowering plants

Posted on 6th December 201326th November 2018 in Showcase of themed natural history illustrations

Winter closes in, and many of the plants I need to illustrate for The Cultivated Forager (follow up to The Hedgerow Handbook, also by Adele Nozedar) are no longer much use as they are bearing neither flowers nor berries. Flowers which are still in bloom However, I was surprised to notice various plants which are most definitely in flower, […] Read more

Grey heron Ardea cinerea natural history illustration by Lizzie Harper

Illustrating Birds on the River Wye

Posted on 29th November 201326th November 2018 in Showcase of themed natural history illustrations

Bird illustrations Over the years I’ve done bird paintings, natural history illustrations, ornithological illustrations, scientific illustrations; call them what you will, but I’ve painted loads of British bird species. It’s always a joy to see the birds I’ve depicted in the flesh (in the feather), and this often happens by the river Wye. I go […] Read more

Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus natural history illustration by Lizzie Harper

Botanical Illustrations, a Sparrowhawk, and some Butterflies

Posted on 22nd November 201326th November 2018 in Current projects and news

Botanical illustrations Commission by Rodale I’ve just finished a whole set of botanical illustrations for “Rodale’s 21st century Herbal” by Michael Balick; a mix of full watercolours like this cross section of an Echinacea; pen and ink with colour wash, like this sheet of seeds and fruit; step-by-step gardening illustrations like this layering of marjoram, and a bundle […] Read more

tutorial, art tutorial, botanical illustration, flower art, watercolour lesson, watercolor, natural history illustration, scientific illustration, sciart, botanical illustration, step by step, sxs, quince,

Step by step Sketchbook study of a quince

Posted on 15th November 201327th November 2018 in Botanical Illustration step by step

My botanical illustrations being done for The Cultivated Forager (follow up to The Hedgerow Handbook, also by Adele Nozedar) are, inevitably, going to take a back seat over the colder months of the winter. However, this sprig of quince was still looking fresh, and the fruit in perfect condition. Drawing up a quince As before, this […] Read more

hand, hands, diagram, explanatory illustration, step by step, sxs, drawing hands, illustrating hands,

Gardening illustrations: Drawing hands

Posted on 8th November 201325th November 2018 in Illustration techniques

As scientific and botanical illustrators; it’s unlikely that you’ll choose to draw hands doing the steps involved in various gardening techniques unless you’re getting paid for it. Why draw hands? However, there are benefits to taking on this sort of work. It can be quick, the pay’s not too bad, and I know a great […] Read more

leaf, leaf attachment, botany, botanical terms, leaves, veins, venation,

Leaf Shape: Margins, Venation and Position

Posted on 1st November 201325th November 2018 in botanical terms

In last week’s blog I discussed simple vs compound leaves and basic leaf shape. This week I tackle margins, different venation patterns, and key ways that leaves are attached to the stem. The terms discussed are in bold text. The examples are all illustrations I’ve done over the years. If you find any mistakes feel free […] Read more

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

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

butterfly, insect, lepidoptera, butterflies,

Natural History Illustration: Butterflies gallery

Posted on 30th August 201321st November 2018 in Showcase of themed natural history illustrations

Before they disappear for another year, I thought it might be worth putting up a collection of my illustrations of some of the more common British butterfly species. These have mostly been commissioned privately, or by the Wildlife Trusts. For a really good guide to the commoner British butterfly species, you should get The Butterflies of Britian […] Read more

Lichen, bryophytes, fungi, botany, botanical terms, lichens,

Introduction to Lichens

Posted on 23rd August 201321st November 2018 in Scientific Illustrator out and about

Botanical illustration involves illustrating what are traditionally known as the “lower plants” as well as the green leafy ones. Lichens fall into this category (along with the very different mosses, and liverworts) although in fact they’re much closer relatives of fungi. Lichen courses Having been on a lichen course with Ray Woods, through RWT and written it […] Read more

life cycle, cycles, adult, larva, natural history illustration, natural science illustration,

Scientific Illustration: Life Cycles

Posted on 16th August 201321st November 2018 in Showcase of themed natural history illustrations

Often, commissions come in calling for a natural history illustration of entire life cycles of an animal. Although these are challenging, they’re one of my favourite jobs as it’s vital to include all the stages asked for and to make the image work well in terms of composition; a perfect blend of zoological knowledge and […] Read more

Sxs, step by step, art tutorial, watercolour techniques, online class, tutorial, botanical, botanical art, flower painting, sketchbook, sketchbook style, sketchbook study, honeysuckle,

Botanical Illustration of honeysuckle

Posted on 9th August 201321st November 2018 in Botanical Illustration step by step

As mentioned in earlier blogs (Step by step illustration of a rose, Step by step painting a sweet pea), I’m currently working on a series of common cultivated plants which are also edible. Honeysuckle is on the list. Honeysuckle I love honeysuckle (wild and cultivated), I love the way the pinks and reds flush on the […] Read more

Hawkmoth, lepidoptera, Achenrontia, deaths head, deathshead,

Scientific Illustration of a Death’s Head Hawkmoth

Posted on 3rd August 201321st November 2018 in Zoological step by step

I received a private commission to do a scientific illustration of the Death’s head hawkmoth, Acherontia atropos for someone who is passionate about moths. Normally the first step is to get a specimen to work from, but alas in this case there were none at the local museum, and the deadline was tight. Gathering reference I collated […] Read more

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