Drawing and Painting Botanicals for Artists

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PAINTINGBotanicals

In botanical painting, we use knowledge gained from drawing and add in the complexities of working with fluid color.

Prior to photography, botanical painting was the only way to document the world’s varied plant life. Specimens were depicted accurately for identification purposes, and the colors used were an important part of that identification.

Most botanical paintings are created in watercolor—the medium that was used most often long ago and is still most popular today. Delicate washes accurately mimic the transparency of petals, tiny brushes can create the minute detail in a flower, and colors are matched to the specimen for accuracy.

MEDIUMS AND SUPPLIES

Botanical artists, focused on portraying detail, usually choose ...