Botanical Sketchbooking: A Meditative Approach

Description

In this course, you will learn:

• Learn how to draw your first plant leaf by leaf, using Lapin's contour work process.
• Then learn how to make a green colour chart using some basic colour techniques.
• To improve your use of colour and perspective, learn about the value of sketching from direct observation.
• To add strength to your artwork, add colour and texture, create contrasts, and experiment with cold and warm tones.
• Draw a vivid flower using similar techniques, then complete the unit by sketching a cactus.
• Investigate compositional methods by sketching the same flower over time to see how the colours and forms change.
• To get a variety of viewpoints, draw your flower from several angles.
• Finally, see how to use Photoshop to build a pattern from your illustrations and how to apply it to textiles and other surfaces.

Syllabus:

1.  Introduction

   • Presentation

   • Influences

   • What Will We Do in This Course?
      

2.  Line, Material and Green

   • Line Techniques: The Geometry of Plants

   • Line Techniques: Drawing Leaf by Leaf

   • The Materials

   • Colour Techniques: Create Your Greens
      

3.  Observation and Meditation

   • Drawing from Observation: Line Work

   • Colour and Texture: Green

   • Colour and Texture: Bright Colours 1

   • Colour and Texture: Bright Colours 2

   • Colour and Texture: Bright Colours 3

   • Colour and Texture: Bright Colours 4

   • Colour and Texture: Bright Colours 5

   • Colour and Texture: Bright Colours 6

   • Colour and Texture: Bright Colours 7

   • Cactus Illustration 1

   • Cactus Illustration 2

   • Cactus Illustration 3
      

4.  Composition and Pattern

   • Decay Study 1

   • Decay Study 2

   • Botanical Composition 1

   • Botanical Composition 2

   • Creating a Pattern
      

5. Final Project

   • Botanical Sketchbooking: A Meditative Approach