botany. Archives - Page 3 of 3

Japanese Knotweed: Botanical illustrations and diagrams

Posted on 14th January 201921st February 2019 in botanical terms, Current projects and news

My botanical illustrations and diagrams have recently been published in a book all about Japanese knotweed. It’s called “Japanese Knotweed: Unearthing the Truth” by Nicolas Seal , and is rather a fascinating tome. It was a fun job to work on, with a wide range of illustrations needing completing. The author saw a sketchbook study I’d done of […] Read more

Sedges: An introduction

Posted on 13th July 201814th January 2019 in Biological terminology: Definitions, botanical terms

I frequently get asked to illustrate plants which many see as a little dull, and one of these families is the sedges (Cyperaceae). Sedges, however, are far from dull but are elegant and beautiful plants. Perhaps all it takes to make people love them is a little information on their anatomy and diversity? Like grasses […] Read more

Grass: An introduction

Posted on 7th June 201814th January 2019 in botanical terms

Grasses (Poaceae) are one of my favourite botanical illustration subjects. I adore drawing and painting them. I have written a blog on my passion for this family of plants before. However, I wanted to take another look at the way grasses are put together. I also want to introduce beginners to basic grass anatomy and terminology. This […] Read more

Flower Anatomy workshop

Posted on 1st September 20179th January 2019 in Painting workshops

Why learn botany? I recently taught a workshop at the wonderful Walled Garden in Treberfydd on flower anatomy. I think it’s vital for botanical illustrations to be well-informed about their subject matter. To this end I think botanical illustrators need to learn some of the basics of how flowering plants are put together. One of the best […] Read more

Botanical Illustration: Step by step Sphagnum moss

Posted on 23rd December 201630th December 2018 in Botanical Illustration step by step

I’ve been working on botanical illustrations recently for the Field Studies Council; specifically on a big batch of Heathland plants. Amongst these are several Sphagnum moss species. (See my blog on moss illustrations for more.) The first step is to get your hands on the moss itself; drawing mosses is so unusual and new for me […] Read more

Botanical Illustrations of Mosses

Posted on 21st October 201619th December 2018 in Current projects and news

Sometimes a botanical illustration commission appears that calls for something totally new. In all my days of natural history illustration, I’d never been asked to do a whole lot of mosses before. The closest I’ve been was illustrating two mosses for the FSC Churchyard Plants leaflet Moss: Grimmia pulvinata and Tortula muralis The commission came from the Field Studies Council’s […] Read more

Botanical Illustration: Sketchbook studies

Posted on 31st July 201513th December 2018 in Illustration techniques

A sketchbook is a vital part of both the drawing and the learning process for me. Being asked to consider my relationship with them recently by Illustrator Magazine has made me pause. It’s not something I’ve thought about before, but it has made me realize just how vital these tools are to me. This blog […] Read more

An Exhibition of Botanical Illustrations

Posted on 8th May 201512th December 2018 in Current projects and news

With mine and Sarah Putt’s shared exhibition launching tomorrow, I thought today’s blog could be a check list of what’s involved when you put on a show. Almost all the work I’m showing is from “The Garden Forager” by Adele Nozedar. Sarah’s work includes oils of masked portraits and glowing flowers. Geraniums Botanical Plate by Lizzie Harper […] Read more

Botany Terms: The basics

Posted on 18th September 20143rd December 2018 in Biological terminology: Definitions

If you’re going to illustrate botany or natural history specimens, you need to know what you’re drawing. Biology provides words for almost every part of an animal or plant. Although sometimes these terms sound intimidating (many have latin roots so sound unfamiliar) they don’t need to put you off. Introduction to botany terms This blog […] Read more

Botanical terms for fruit types

Posted on 25th April 201430th November 2018 in botanical terms

Botanical and scientific illustration requires biological knowledge, and this is certainly true when it comes to painting botanical diagrams. I recently did some illustrations for Rodale’s 21st Century Herbal by Michael Balick. One of these was a diagram of fruit types. Sources of information on Fruit type This got me thinking about how little I knew […] Read more

Grass, botanical illustration, sciart, graminaceae, grasses

Glorious grasses

Posted on 21st June 201315th November 2018 in botanical terms

I have always loved grasses. Even as a child I marvelled at their different heights, shapes, and textures. I love the way fields of grass move and rustle in the wind, and I love the smell of new mown grass (it’s caused by green leaf volatiles (GLVs) and is actually a distress call from the […] Read more

Botanical illustration of hawthorn berries y Lizzie with her paintbox

Step by step Botanical illustration of Hawthorn berries

Posted on 1st January 201317th October 2018 in Botanical Illustration step by step

In this blog I’ve broken down the steps involved in painting the berries of the Hawthorn Craetegus monogyna. This approach works just as well for any red shiny berry, although you’ll need to take care with what hue of red you mix. The real secret to getting these berries looking properly shiny is to ensure you […] Read more