Introduction to Botanical Drawing
James S. Sisti
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www.hikeanddraw.nyc
❖ Introduction
❖ Botanical vs. Classical Drawing
❖ Getting Started
❖ Identifying Plants
❖ Scope of Work
❖ Ethical Research Guidelines
❖ Botanical Drawing Kit
❖ Techniques & Mediums
❖ Long-form Exercise
❖ Staying Inspired
Today’s Agenda
• To accurately demonstrate the morphology of a plant species
• Botanical illustration is always a true and lifelike representation of a plant
• Plant morphology – “represents a study of the development, form, and structure of plants, and, by implication, an attempt to interpret these on the basis of similarity of plan and origin”
• The union of science and art
Definition of plant morphology – Wikimedia
Botanical Drawing
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Classical Drawing• To craft an interpretation of life – an
object, experience, emotion, etc.
• Classical drawing is not bound by scientific accuracy, but instead held to the standard of artistic traditions and particular movements throughout time
• Still life – a collection of art objects where “…the artist does not literally imitate nature, but instead uses (their) awareness of the visual properties of nature to fashion (their) materials into a representation."
Definition of still life – Michael Vandy
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❖ Gather (or find) at least three specimens of the same species - always follow ethical guidelines
❖ Use the plant ID system
❖ Record data points
❖ While drawing, prioritize unique specimen attributes to help differentiate from similar species
Getting Started
• Start with…
‣ Noting the plant’s location (GPS) and the date the plant was observed
‣ Describe the nature of the habitat (weather)
‣ Observe the growth stage of the plant
• Then consider…
‣ Leaves (simple or compound?) – Note shape, margins, texture, leaf arrangement on stem, and whether or not there is a stalk.
‣ Flowers (petals or no petals?) – Note color, time of season (peak season?), shape and petal arrangement
‣ Sex – Note the presence of seed pods, fruits, and reproductive structures
• Verify observations…
‣ Consult an expert at a Botanical Garden or local nature center
‣ Online via PlantNet or the USDA plant database
• Share findings with…
‣ Family and friends
‣ A local nature club
‣ Online community pages or social media
Botanical Drawing Plant Identification System
©2020 Hike and Draw, LLC
• Comparing the structural form of multiple specimens (same species)
• Observing Vegetative (somatic) and reproductive structures
• Observing specimen structures from smallest to largest (cells, upward)
• Examining patterns of development over the course of a specimen’s lifecycle
Image: “Rosa centifolia foliacea,” 1824 by Pierre-Joseph Redouté. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
Scope of Work
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• Know the laws of the land and get a permit or permission when required
• “Leave no trace”
• “Leave it better than you found it”
• Never disturb a member of an endangered or protected species
• Do not take more specimens than your studies require
• Keep all living specimens happy and healthy
• Return all specimens to their proper place
• Never collect for commercial gain
Ethical Research Guidelines
Prepare a suitable field kit that is accessible. Only bring what you know you are going to use.
• Scrap paper for warming up
• Quality hot-press (smooth) paper
• Mechanical or B Pencil
• Embossing tool (toothpick will do)
• Color pencils (or watercolor paint)
• Compact lens (or microscope)
• A pair of drafting compasses
• Measuring tape
Botanical Drawing Kit
❖ Time to draw! Start planning your drawing in pencil before moving on to the line work
❖ Accurately record data
❖ TIP – use an embossing tool before shading in order to “highlight” a leaf’s veins
❖ Emphasize the important parts of the plant
❖ Blend colors accurately on scrap paper before adding color to your drawing
Techniques & Mediums
Field study with measurements Annotated study of botanical aspects & variations
Specimen Name: Date/Time:
Weather: Location/GPS Coordinates:
Measurements of other attributes
Color notes for study of specimen
Additional notes
Botanical Drawing Example❖ This drawing depicts
the Northern Red Oak (Quercus Rubra)
❖ Color notes create a reference for variations in color palette ie: the fruit presents in several color variations.
❖ Baseline data helps pinpoint where the plant is located
• Family: Aquifoliaceae (beech, chestnut, chinquapin, oak)
• Plant Type: Tree
• Foliage type: Simple leaf, alternating arrangement, pinnately veined, broadleaf evergreen
• Tree height: Average 15-30 feet (4.5 - 12 meters)
• Native Habitat: Deciduous – Massachusetts to Florida, west to Texas and Missouri
• Trunk width: 50 cm (20 in)
• Flower Color: Greenish-white, both male and female
• Fruit: Red drupe (stone fruit)
• Sun/light exposure: Full sun to part shade
• Water requirements: Well drained, sandy soils, but will tolerate those which are somewhat poorly drained
• Bark: Light gray, roughened by small warty lumps.
• Seasonal Interest: Evergreen, vibrant red berries in autumn
• Link: https://plants.usdahttps://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_ilop.pdfa.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_quru.pdf
American Holly (Ilex opaca)
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Specimen Name: American Holly (Ilex opaca) Pinnately-veined leaves with alternating arrangement
Photo credit: W.D. Brush. Provided by National Agricultural Library (left) USDA-NRCS (right)
Specimen Name: American Holly (Ilex opaca) bark, twig, and profile
Photo credit: W.D. Brush (left), Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation (middle), W.R. Mattoon (right)
Specimen Name: American Holly (Ilex opaca) dioecious flowers Male/staminate (left) and Female/pistillate (right)
Photo credit: By Cressler, Alan (left), Brundage, Stephanie (right)
Specimen Name: American Holly (Ilex opaca) Seeds
Photo credit: By Steve Hurst
• Make hiking or nature meditation a part of your weekly or daily routine
• Read up and become knowledgable on your favorite nature subject
• Teach someone what you’ve learned
• Start a nature journal
• Join an online community or group
Staying Inspired
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Discounts, downloadable resources and more!
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Join the Hike and Draw Facebook Community
• 11/27/20 – Hike and Draw Community LiveDraw Social @ 6:30 - 8:00 PM EDT
• 11/28/20 – Nature Journaling @ 12:00 - 1:30 PM EDT
• 12/10/20 – Nature Drawing Intro @ 6:30 - 8:00 PM EDT
• 12/21/20 – Botanical Drawing Intro @ 6:30 - 8:00 PM EDT
• HOLIDAY TIME :)
• Visit www.hikeanddraw.nyc for all workshop updates.
Workshop Schedule – November/December
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J A M E S @ H I K E A N D D R A W . N Y C
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