sketchbook Archives - Lizzie Harper

Natural History Illustration and Life Long Learning: The Field Studies Council

Posted on 19th October 2022 in Current projects and news, Scientific Illustrator out and about

Natural History Illustration and Life-long learning: Field Studies Council Courses is my blog all about how much I love the FSC courses I attend. And no, they’ve not paid me to wax lyrical, honest! I draw and paint a wide range of different species for publishers, charities, packaging, ad companies, and design agencies. I am […] Read more

Trees: Elder

Posted on 18th March 2022 in Trees

Trees: Elder is another blog inspired by my illustrations for “The Tree Forager” by Adele Nozedar, published by Watkins. The book has inspired me to think about some of my favourite trees. The Elder Sambucus nigra is the sixth in this series, along side the Sycamore, Ash, Hawthorn, Rowan and the Oak. The Elder Sambucus nigra […] Read more

Heath Star Moss Sketchbook study

Posted on 7th January 2022 in botanical terms, Current projects and news

Heath star moss is one of three invasive species I’ve just illustrated for FOR in Sweden. In this case, the moss is an unwelcome invasive in Iceland, where it outcompetes other mosses and affects the delicate balance of existing ecosystems. Sketchbook pages FOR have commissioned several sets of invasive species over the years, and favour […] Read more

Habit sketch of Cow parsley: step by step

Posted on 26th November 202126th November 2021 in Botanical Illustration step by step

Habit sketches are an important aspect of doing botanical illustrations. They need to show an entire plant, and suggest how it grows within its environment. This one of the Cow parsley, Anthriscus sylvatica, was recently done for FOR in Sweden. It accompanied a large sheet of sketches of the same plant. To learn more about […] Read more

Cow Parsley: All about an Umbellifer

Posted on 12th November 2021 in Botany: Telling species apart, Current projects and news

Cow parsley Anthriscus sylvestris was on the list of plants I recently illustrated for FOR Sweden. These plants are invasive in Scandinavia, and particularly troublesome in Iceland. Sketchbook studies All the botanical illustrations I do for FOR are in a sketchbook format. I love working this way; it gives me the opportunity to include tons […] Read more

Trees: Hawthorn

Posted on 25th June 202125th June 2021 in Trees

Trees: Hawthorn is another blog inspired by my illustrations for “The Tree Forager” by Adele Nozedar, recently published by Watkins. It’s inspired me to have a look at a few of my favourite trees. The Hawthorn is another in this series, along side the Sycamore and the Oak. Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna is one of the commonest […] Read more

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

Comparing Periwinkle Species

Posted on 27th November 202027th November 2020 in Botany: Telling species apart

Periwinkle species feature on the list of a recent job of invasive plants I’ve completed for FOR Sweden. I’m very fond of these plants; that warm, mauve blue coupled with the glossy green leaves makes for a pretty garden plant. It was a pleasure to spend time comparing the Lesser periwinkle, Vinca minor (a problematic […] Read more

Garden Lupin Sketchbook study

Posted on 14th August 20204th August 2020 in Botanical Illustration step by step, Botany: Telling species apart, Current projects and news, Illustration techniques

The Garden Lupin, Lupinus polyphyllus, is one of the invasive plants I was recently asked to illustrate for FOR Sweden. This blog talks you through the steps involved in creating a finished botanical illustration of this flower. There seems to be an enormous amount of confusion over the English name of this plant: Blue bonnet […] Read more

Unexpected Thrills: Adventures of an Illustrator

Posted on 31st July 2020 in Uncategorised

Unexpected Thrills: Adventures of an Illustrator is a blog about some of the more unexpected events that have happened to me in the line of duty. Let’s take just three; The Lilac Debacle, Fear of the Buffalo, and Finding a Scab. The Lilac Debacle This exploit has a moral which, put simply, is Do Not […] Read more

Sketchbook illustrations of Invasive Plants

Posted on 3rd July 2020 in Current projects and news

I’ve recently completed work on a series of sketchbook illustrations of invasive plants. The client is FOR Sweden, and the botanical illustrations will be used on a big poster at a horticulture conference. Project overview There are eleven plants in total, and each species needed certain aspects illustrating. In all cases I need to supply […] Read more

Step by Step winter jasmine sketchbook study

Posted on 15th January 201922nd February 2019 in Botanical Illustration step by step

Winter jasmine, Jasminum nudiflorum, is one of the only flowers in bloom in Hay on Wye in January. I decided to do a sketchbook study of it, along with some notes on composition. Thinking about composition When you have a plant with a distinctive straggly shape, like the Winter jasmine, you want to consider how […] Read more

Cowslip botanical illustration: Sketchbook study

Posted on 7th September 201814th January 2019 in Illustration techniques

Late this spring, I completed a private commission to illustrate the Cowslip, Primula veris, as if doing a sketchbook study. Sketckbook study sheet of the Cowslip These are almost my favourite sort of commission as I can spend time really getting to know the plant, examing it from different angles, dissecting out its structures, checking out […] Read more

Botanical illustration: The Exploding Cucumber

Posted on 27th November 201514th December 2018 in Current projects and news

As a freelance natural history illustrator, I love the random nature of my commissions, and a recent request for some botanical sketchbook-style illustrations of the exploding cucumber Cyclanthera explodens was no exception. The request comes from a client working in the world of botanical cocktail research, so I was intrigued before I’d lifted a pencil. The exploding cucumber: An extraordinary […] 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

Illustrating at the National Botanic Garden of Wales

Posted on 26th June 201513th December 2018 in Scientific Illustrator out and about

My botanical illustrations have just appeared in The Garden Forager by Adele Nozedar, so we were honoured to be invited to the National Botanic Gardens of Wales to celebrate its launch. We also took part in a foraging weekend. Setting up in the Botanic Garden’s Glasshouse The event was based in the glorious glasshouse, and I have rarely been prouder […] Read more

Illustrating Invasive Plant Species

Posted on 4th June 201513th December 2018 in Showcase of themed natural history illustrations

Natural history illustrators have to do natural science and botanical illustrations of both beneficial and of problematic invasive species. Many times, the reason a plant or animal is causing problems within an ecosystem is because it doesn’t belong in that system. It hasn’t evolved in equilibrium with the other species there, and thus out-competes them. […] 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

Botanical Illustration: Rose step by step

Posted on 3rd July 201430th November 2018 in Botanical Illustration step by step

I love the series of 50 natural history illustrations (done in a sketchbook style) needed for the follow up to The Hedgerow Handbook by Adele Nozedar. This rose is one of the plants on the list. The book is “The Cultivated Forager”, and will tell you what and how to eat common garden plants. Preparing to paint This week […] Read more

Composition and sketchbook studies

Posted on 21st March 201427th November 2018 in Illustration techniques

Winter, and my natural history illustration work continues. There’s no problem sorting out composition and sketchbook studies if they’re of conifers, like this Douglas fir. Sketchbook studies: Composition Instead of examining the techniques involved in mixing colour, I thought it might be an idea to discuss composition. This is how a botanical subject sits […] 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

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

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

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Botanical Illustration: Sketchbook study of Broom

Posted on 7th June 201314th November 2018 in Botanical Illustration step by step

As a natural history illustrator, I never know what species of plant or animal I’ll be called on to paint next. A good way to try and stay ahead of the game is to complete (copious) sketchbooks for lots of species. Each plant has a sketchbook study and written notes on colour, shape, and plant habit recorded. […] Read more