Botanical Drawings & Illustration (Absolute Beginners and Continuing Beginner Students)

About this course

The course introduces botanical art and scientific illustration through graphite, ink and watercolour. Learners explore the properties of each medium and apply them to simple line drawings, three-dimensional black-and-white studies and watercolour paintings. Alongside drawing and painting, the course develops basic botanical knowledge, including plant morphology and relevant terminology. Learners are shown how to observe botanical specimens, plan and compose illustrations, and work towards images that are both morphologically accurate and aesthetically considered.

What you'll learn

• Identify key features of plant morphology relevant to botanical illustration
• Use graphite, ink and watercolour according to their properties in botanical drawing
• Produce simple line drawings and three-dimensional black-and-white illustrations
• Plan and compose a botanical drawing or painting
• Create botanical illustrations with greater scientific accuracy and realistic detail

Is this course right for you?

The course is designed for absolute beginners as well as continuing beginner students of botanical art and illustration. It combines guided work in drawing and painting with an introduction to botanical terminology and plant structure. Learners from all ages are welcome, and continuing students from previous semesters can take part.

• Suitable for learners with no prior botanical illustration experience
• Continuing students from previous semesters are included
• All ages of beginner-level learners are welcome

Before you go

• Participants should bring a notebook that can also be used as a sketchbook, ideally A5 to A4 with smooth, heavy-duty paper.
• Drawing materials include Bristol Board or bleed-proof layout paper, artist-quality graphite pencils, a sharp pencil sharpener and a kneadable eraser. Learners can bring existing materials and discuss any additional purchases with the tutor.
• Continuing students choosing pen and ink will also need fine-liner pens in 0.05, 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5 tip sizes.
• A magnifier is recommended for viewing fine detail and reducing eye strain; the source suggests a minimum magnification of approximately x6 to x10.