step by step Archives - Lizzie Harper

Red Deer stag step by step

Posted on 14th June 2024 in Zoological step by step

It’s been a while since I did an animal step by step blog, so I thought I’d share a quick one on illustrating this Red deer stag Cervus elaphus. Reference I took a decent photo of a young Red deer stag a long time ago, and based the illustration on this. The advantage of using […] Read more

Geranium Variegated Leaf Step by Step

Posted on 16th November 202310th May 2024 in Botanical Illustration step by step, Patterns in nature

Geranium Variegated leaf step by step I love geraniums, and am especially fond of the variegated leaves some types have with their circles of cream, green, and red. I think a geranium like this one is my favourite house plants which shows leaf variegation. Ninety percent of all wild geraniums come from South Africa, and […] Read more

Great Burnet Step by Step

Posted on 25th August 2023 in Botanical Illustration step by step

Recently, I’ve illustrated the Great Burnet, Sanguisorba officinalis for an interpretation board, to be cited on Jubilee Pasture, in Bugthorpe, Yorkshire. This blog is a step by step explanation of the process. For step by steps of other botanical subjects, please click here, and visit my Youtube channel for real-time films of me illustrating plants […] Read more

Orchid Botanical Illustration Step by step

Posted on 5th May 202315th June 2023 in Botanical Illustration step by step, Current projects and news

Orchids have always been a bit of a mystery to me, so when I was confronted by the Early Marsh Orchid, Dactylorhiza incarnata ssp coccinea my heart did not leap. It’s one of 13 plants I’m illustrating for a wildflower identification guide to the Braunton Burrows sand dunes system which will be published by FSC Publications. […] Read more

Spotted Flycatcher step by step

Posted on 24th January 202317th February 2023 in Illustration techniques, Zoological step by step

Spotted Flycatchers Muscicapa striata are lovely birds, often overlooked because of their seemingly dull grey and brown plumage. They are one of the species I was recently commissioned to illustrate for a wildlife information board at Cusop churchyard; so I decided to do a step-by-step blog (and accompanying film) of the process. When I illustrate […] Read more

Step by step illustration of a Robin

Posted on 24th December 202124th December 2021 in Zoological step by step

Step by step blogs can be tricky to write – I often don’t know where to begin the explanation. In this blog, I’ll explain how I add colour to a pencil drawing of a Robin Erithacus rubecula. Completed Robin Step by step: Getting reference To get your drawing done, look for royalty free photos online, […] 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

Blueberry: step by step Pen and Ink illustration

Posted on 15th October 2021 in Botanical Illustration step by step

I recently completed a blueberry illustration for a packaging job, and thought it’d be the perfect opportunity to give a quick explanation of how I illustrate shiny dark fruit in pen and ink. Drawing blueberries Coming up with the initial drawing was tricky. it had to fit the layout of the product’s box, and the […] Read more

Step by step Downy Birch leaves

Posted on 9th July 20219th July 2021 in Botanical Illustration step by step

This blog shows how to ink up the Downy Birch leaves and catkins, Betula pubescens. It accompanies a Youtube film which you can watch, to fill in the details. Starting out Begin with a decent pencil illustration of your subject. No need for any shading or tonal detail, but an accurate line pencil drawing is required. […] Read more

Chequered Skipper Butterfly Illustration

Posted on 6th May 202111th January 2023 in Zoological step by step

Chequered skipper butterflies used to be comparatively common in England, but became extinct here over 40 years ago. There’s still a population in Scotland, but nothing in England. However, the good people at Butterfly Conservation and Back to the brink teamed up with other conservation partners and set about changing that. The result is the […] 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

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

Botanical Illustration of a Japanese Rose

Posted on 15th May 202015th May 2020 in Botanical Illustration step by step

In my last blog, Botanical illustration of Rose leaves, I discussed the processes involved in completing a botanical study of the leaves of the Japanese Rose, Rosa rugosa. This blog will focus on the flower. This sketchbook study was completed for FOR Sweden, and is one of a series of 12 invasive species illustrated. As […] Read more

Botanical Illustration of Rose Leaves

Posted on 1st May 202015th May 2020 in Botanical Illustration step by step

A recent job involved illustrating the Japanese Rose, Rosa rugosa. It’s not the first time this plant has been commissioned, and I’ve done blogs in the past on my approach to illustrating other roses and this very flower. It’s one of a series of invasive plants that were completed for FOR Sweden, and this week’s […] Read more

Pied Wagtail Illustration

Posted on 20th December 2019 in Zoological step by step

Pied Wagtail The Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii is a common garden and urban bird here in Wales. I love the way they trot about, wagging their elongate tail up and down and cocking their black-capped heads inquisitively to one side. We have a regular garden visitor who spends a lot of time scampering from […] Read more

Sycamore Tree step by step

Posted on 6th December 20196th December 2019 in Botanical Illustration step by step

Sycamore trees can have distinctive shapes, and be well loved by those who recognize them. This is why I was commissioned to illustrate a large Sycamore tree growing in the churchyard of All Saint’s Church in Slingsby, North Yorkshire. The tree that dominates the graveyard was to be the centrepiece of a new interpretation board. […] Read more

Desk with finished botanical illustration, sweet peas, and paint box

Step by Step Everlasting Sweet pea botanical illustration

Posted on 26th July 201924th January 2023 in Botanical Illustration step by step

Sweet peas are beautiful flowers, and a joy to paint. This blog is a step by step guide to painting the Two-flowered Everlasting Sweet Pea Lathyrus grandiflorus. About Sweet peas Members of the legume family; Sweet peas are classed alongside peas, gorse, beans and lupins. Lots of food crops are members of this family; alfalfa, […] 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

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

Step by Step Rowan berry

Posted on 10th February 201912th February 2019 in Botanical Illustration step by step

If you’re doing a botanical illustration of a cluster of fruit, the first thing to do is figure out how to tackle one lone berry. In this case, it’s the beautiful bright orange Rowan berry that’s under the spotlight. I have a Rowan, or Mountain ash tree in my garden. Not only do the clusters […] 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

Step by Step Barn Swallow

Posted on 14th January 2019 in Zoological step by step

Illustrating birds is always wonderful. When it’s for a friend, is a bird you love, and when you have specimens to work from, it’s even better. Pencil roughs As always, the first step in a natural history illustration is to source your reference material and draw up a pencil sketch. I do this directly onto […] Read more

Illustrating a Cross section of Hay Meadow

Posted on 31st July 201814th January 2019 in Current projects and news

I had a wonderful natural history illustration commission recently, for BBC Countryfile Magazine. Their article in the June 2018 issue, “The Secret Life of the Hay Meadow” by Phil Gates , needed an image of a cross-section through a busy and idealised hay meadow. They also needed a selection of grasses commonly found in hay meadows. I […] Read more

Field Vole step by step illustration

Posted on 28th June 201811th January 2019 in Zoological step by step

A recent natural history illustration commission was to paint a Short-tailed or Field vole (Microtus agrestis). This natural science illustration is for an information board to be erected in a nature reserve. Illustrating voles I’ve painted voles before, and I’ll be brutally honest and acknowledge that these illustrations have been far from my best. Voles […] Read more