gardening Archives - Page 2 of 2

Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus and meadow brown aniola jurtina butterfly natural history illustration by Lizzie Harper

Save our Butterflies: Gardening for butterflies (2 of 2)

Posted on 28th June 201911th August 2019 in Current projects and news

This is a Guest blog by DIY Garden. Illustrations by Lizzie Harper. How Butterflies help in the Garden Butterflies and moths are not only beautiful garden viditors, they are vital pollinators. Whereas bees get covered in pollen, butterflies take a smaller amount on their slender legs. They travel greater distances than bees, flitting around like nomads instead of […] Read more

comparison of flower and painting of the periwinkle

Step by Step Periwinkle flower botanical illustration

Posted on 17th May 201917th May 2019 in Botanical Illustration step by step

I’ve always loved periwinkle flowers, Vinca major. The blue is such a delicate shade, and I relish the juxtaposition between the dark, glossy leaves and the powdery blue petals. I thought I’d do a quick step by step on how to go about mixing the colours, and illustrating this flower, not least because blue flowers […] Read more

What’s the difference between Virginia creeper and False Virginia creeper?

Posted on 18th April 2019 in Botany: Telling species apart

Virginia creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia and False Virginia creeper Parthenocissus inserta are common and decorative. They are favourites with gardeners, who train them to grow up walls of houses and pubs where they give cover and autumn colour. They’re vigorous climbers, deciduous, perennial, and develop woody stems. They are also classed as an invasive plant species […] Read more

Step by Step: False Virginia Creeper

Posted on 22nd February 20195th April 2019 in Botanical Illustration step by step

Whenever I paint a plant, I tend to use the same approach. This blog is a step by step look at how I paint the False Virginia Creeper, Parthenoccissus inserta. Pencil Rough Once you’ve assembled your reference (preferably from life as it’s much easier than working from photos), draw up a pencil rough. This needs […] Read more

Telling Cotoneasters apart

Posted on 22nd February 2019 in Botany: Telling species apart

My recent botanical illustration work for a Field Studies Chart (as yet unpublished) on Invasive species included 5 species of Cotoneaster. Telling these plants apart can be a real headache, but I’m going to give it a go, and share my thoughts. I’m more than happy to be corrected in the comments section below! Cotoneasters are really […] Read more

Gardening: An Eco-Friendly Lawn by Gus Stewart

Posted on 21st September 20187th May 2019 in Scientific Illustrator out and about

This blog is guest-written by Gus Stewart, who generously wrote another blog on the importance of bees recently. In light of the hot, dry weather we had here in the UK at the start of the summer, here are his tips for the garden for the next time the weather burns hot. All illustrations by me, Lizzie. Maintaining […] Read more

Garden Illustrations for National Geographic books

Posted on 22nd January 20163rd March 2020 in Current projects and news

I was recently excited to get a commission in from National Geographic Books in the US. They needed a series of full-colour garden plans; showing plants, and possible planting schemes for wildlife gardens. They will be used in a book promoting wildlife gardening, “Birds, Bees, & Butterflies”. One plan would show a garden designed to encourage birds, […] 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

Pen and Ink Techniques – Colour

Posted on 26th April 201327th November 2018 in Illustration techniques

Last week’s blog explained the importance of pen and ink techniques to scientific illustration, and showed how to use line and stippling. This week explains how to use colour with pen and ink illustrations. Introducing colour to pen and ink Sometimes monochrome illustrations can feel gloomy, but the commissioner still needs accurate line illustrations. A good […] Read more

Save our Butterflies: Biology and threats (1 of 2)

Posted on 14th June 200014th June 2019 in Current projects and news

This is a Guest blog by DIY Garden. Illustrations by Lizzie Harper. Wildlife Butterflies and moths have been around for millions of years. They used to be a common sight in gardens and countryside, but numbers have declined since the 1940s along with our other native wildlife species such as bees and hedgehogs. It will come […] Read more