oil seed rape Archives - Lizzie Harper

Ladybug entomological illustration by Lizzie Harper

Equipment: How to Choose a Waterproof Pen and Ink for Watercolour

Posted on 23rd December 202023rd December 2020 in Illustration Equipment

Equipment: How to Choose a Waterproof Pen and Ink for Watercolour is a guest blog from KT of Goldspot pen shop. Ink and watercolour is a classic, intriguing combination that creates some really amazing effects when accomplished with the right tools. Black outlines define a beautiful watercolour painting that jumps off the page! Fig illustration […] Read more

Botanical Illustration of a Brassica Leaf

Posted on 8th November 2019 in Illustration techniques

An Introduction to Brassicaceae Actually, before I start this blog I need to clarify the title, “Botanical Illustration of a Brassica leaf”. The leaf I’m discussing is that of a Yellow Mustard plant, Brassica juncea, a species of Brassica. The colours of Brassica leaves are very similar across many members of the family. The […] Read more

Natural History Illustration: A Week of Work

Posted on 14th March 201430th November 2018 in Current projects and news

Natural science illustration work isn’t all botanical drawings and natural history illustration. My work load this fortnight shows what I mean. A job’s come in from Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxon Wildlife trust. It involves illustrating a map of their nature reserve at Hartslock. The second part is illustrating a large landscape of the countryside, and the […] 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

Oil seed rape and quacking ducks

Posted on 25th January 201324th October 2018 in Current projects and news

The snow has finally melted, and the river Wye was amazingly high yesterday, flooding lots of the river-side footpaths. Very dramatic. I’ve been getting on with the illustrations of ducklings for Waterlife Magazine this week, although waiting for feedback has slowed things down. I’ve finished the quacking ducks, and hope to have a couple more […] Read more