How to get started with botanical art

Observe nature around you

If you’re going to be drawing plants and fungi, you need to have something to reference. Take some time to observe the natural world around you when you walk in nature and look further into plants to appreciate their finer details.

Start a botanical sketchbook

Record the plants you see around you on a daily basis in a botanical sketch book. These don’t need to be hyper-detailed recreations, but quick sketches that capture some of the key features of the plants. It can help get you more familiar with anatomy of different species.

Learn a little about botany

On that note, it helps to familiarise yourself with plant anatomy. You don’t need to become an expert by any means, but it helps to be able to identify the various structures found in different plants. It helps to know your stamen from your stigma!

Try different drawing methods

It can help to try different styles of illustration to see which works best for you, and for capturing different kinds of plants. Watercolour, pen and ink and pencil are all used to capture the details of plants. Experiment with each to find which approach is most effective for you to capture the details of flowers, leaves or seeds.

Take your time!

Finally, it’s key to relax and enjoy creating botanical art. As Lucy says, don’t rush it! It helps to be patient and take your time to capture all the intricate elements of plants and fungi.