leaf Archives - Lizzie Harper

Botanical Illustration of a Sycamore Leaf

Posted on 11th December 202011th December 2020 in Botanical Illustration step by step, Illustration techniques

This blog follows on from my earlier step by step post on drawing a Sycamore leaf, which also has an accompanying youtube film. Apologies for the grey background on some of the photos. The final piece (at the end of a blog) shows a truer version of the colours. Setting up When you’re about to […] Read more

How to Draw: Sycamore Leaf

Posted on 25th September 20202nd February 2021 in Botanical Illustration step by step, Illustration techniques

Drawing is at the heart of being a botanical illustrator. You need to be able to record what you see accurately. Recently, someone who subscribes to my Youtube Channel asked me to do a film on the subject “How to Draw”. This blog is to go alongside the film. Choose a subject I chose to […] Read more

Leaf painting workshop

Posted on 9th December 201630th December 2018 in Illustration techniques

I recently taught a day-long session on how to do botanical illustrations of leaves, focusing on mixing greens and leaf form. The workshop was at The Walled Garden in Treberfydd. We set ourselves up in an airy glass house, and had ready access to the enormous variety of beautiful plants Alison grows and sells at the […] Read more

Botanical Illustration: Step by step painting of leaves

Posted on 18th November 201619th December 2018 in Botanical Illustration step by step, Illustration techniques

I recently taught a workshop of botanical illustration of leaves. I broke down the process of painting a leaf into incremental steps. these were shown on a demonstration painting of a blackberry leaf. Demonstration illustration showing different steps involved in painting a blackberry leaf. There’s also a breakdown of the colours used to mix the greens […] Read more

Step by step Elder

Posted on 4th December 201518th December 2018 in Botanical Illustration step by step

There’s a really wonderful job I’m working on right now; about 20 botanical illustrations of different edible plants for a fold out chart, to be produced by the Field Studies Council. Other blogs on this job include the step by step of painting a dog rose, and the step by step painting of a wild strawberry […] Read more

Botanical Illustration: Step by step Hazel

Posted on 16th October 201514th December 2018 in Botanical Illustration step by step

I’ve recently started painting up some botanical illustrations for FSC Publications, including the Hazel Corylus avellena. I worked for FSC before, on the Caring For Gods Acre illustrations). One that I knew would take some time, but was seasonally appropriate, was the Hazel Corylus avellana. I drew the leaves and nuts from reference gleaned from a local hedge, and […] 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

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

Japanese knotweed, Fallopia japonica, invasives, step by step

Japanese knotweed sketchbook study

Posted on 3rd May 20133rd December 2018 in Biological terminology: Definitions, Botanical Illustration step by step, Illustration techniques

Japanese Knotweed job I’ve been working on a series of three scientific illustrations of invasive plants this week, for Summersault Communications. This blog is about doing a Japanese knotweed sketchbook study. The article accompanying my illustrations will explain how to identify the plants and why they pose a threat. I am fortunate in that the […] Read more

Botanical Illustration: Tips on mixing greens

Posted on 9th March 201325th October 2018 in Illustration techniques

This week I’ve been mixing greens and painting ivy leaves, as have many members of the Botanical Art for Beginners group. Comparing the dark greens of an ivy leaf with those of a yellow butterwort leaf got me thinking. A crash course in mixing greens could be handy. Watercolour paints First, I think it needs […] Read more

Botanical Illustration: Tips on leaf shapes

Posted on 3rd March 201324th October 2018 in Biological terminology: Definitions

Although you can always draw the leaf shapes that you see, and get lovely results; sometimes a bit of background botany can prove invaluable when undertaking a scientific illustration of a plant. Leaf shape: Monocot or Dicot? One of the main aspects to consider is the leaf of the plant. The first thing to […] Read more

Botanical illustration tips on painting leaves

Posted on 22nd February 201324th October 2018 in Biological terminology: Definitions

I’ve been doing botanical illustrations this week, and think perhaps some ideas on how to undertake a scientific illustration of leaves might be useful. Most of these examples are from my botanical sketchbooks (always keep sketchbooks!); although the final pieces are completed works for clients. Getting Reference before you start It goes without saying that […] Read more