Transform Your Botanical Art with Texture Ever wonder how to make your botanical drawings leap off the page? The secret lies in texture. By infusing your forms with texture, you can transform a basic sphere into a ripe orange, a geometric cylinder into a weathered branch, and a cup shape into a delicately petaled tulip – almost like magic! Let’s dive into some premium tips for adding texture and bringing your botanical illustrations to life.   Citrus Plant Family Portrait by Wendy Hollender (Prints available here)   Building on the Basics Before diving into texture techniques, ensure ..read more

Leaves (Hydrangea & Soloman’s Seal) by Wendy Hollender   When you create a botanical illustration showcasing a plant’s important parts, you are likely to face the challenge of drawing realistic green leaves. Though there are many different kinds of leaves, this tutorial focuses on how to draw a leaf with net veining (ex. rose, hibiscus, oak, hydrangea).    If you want to draw a variety of leaf textures (fuzzy, matte, shiny, etc.) and learn how to mix beautiful natural greens, this Zoom workshop is for you! Click here to explore why you won’t want to miss this live workshop ..read more

  Approach drawing a rose as a lifelong pursuit toward capturing a rose’s elegance; it is something that we practice over and over again. Don’t forget to take your time to smell the roses! Enjoy their sweet aroma, one of the most delightful benefits to drawing them.     Roses on Kraft Paper Zoom Workshop – Starts Sunday, June 23! If you want the real-time play-by-play so you can see our whole process (not just the highlight reel of how to get it right the first time!), check out our Zoom Drawing Workshops! We show you how to make “mistakes” and learn from them. Learn more abou ..read more

Strawberries are as fascinating as they are sweet. (Did you know that each tiny “seed” on a strawberry’s surface is technically its own fruit?!) Whether you’re attracted to their vibrant red color, their mighty green crown, or their cute white flowers, we’re here to help you create your own stunning strawberry illustration.   Strawberry by Wendy Hollender (Purchase prints here)   Watch this video or scroll through this post for a step-by-step guide through the process of drawing a strawberry plant, complete with seeds, sepals, leaves, and even a cut section to showcase the fruit’s in ..read more

We’re over-the-moon excited to announce a major milestone: our 100th Zoom workshop! Thank you for hopping aboard this wild ride of creativity, growth, and botanical wonders. We couldn’t have done it without our incredible community of passionate learners like you! To celebrate our 100th Zoom drawing workshop, we’re offering a SPECIAL BONUS! Participants (who purchase before June 23) will be entered to win this ORIGINAL artwork from Wendy Hollender. Winner will be announced during the last workshop session. REGISTER FOR ROSES ON KRAFT PAPER HERE       If you’re a fan of botani ..read more

  If you’re delving into botanical illustration, honing composition skills is key. (Our FREE Composition Quick Guide is a great place to start.) Whether you’re a casual artist or an experienced illustrator, refining your compositions can elevate your work to new heights. In this guide, we’ll explore four essential tips to enhance your botanical illustrations: 1. Visualize Your Composition 2. Embrace the Center 3. Utilize 3D Techniques 4. Evaluate and Adjust    1. Visualize Your Composition Visually seeing the ideas in my head laid out on paper (or on screen) is a crucial step f ..read more

Gardenia remyi by Wendy Hollender   Many people say things like, “I can’t draw to save my life,” and “I could never draw something like that!”, but the truth is…  ANYONE can draw! (Yes, even YOU!) If you have the desire to learn, and you commit to the time it takes, we can show you how. Here’s everything you need to know to get started on your botanical art journey.   PREPARE Just as you prepare your kitchen before you jump into the art of cooking, you must prepare your drawing space before you jump into the art of botanical illustration. You’ll be all Set For Success with thes ..read more

In winter, the exposed twigs and branches on a tree offer important information about a tree’s structure and identifying characteristics. Leaf arrangement and leaf scars are studied easily on these exposed branches, and often dormant buds, dried bracts, seed pods, nuts, dried berries, and capsules are present too. Observing these details can help you understand the life cycle of the tree as the seasons progress and will be the first building blocks to your seasonal sketchbook. Botanical sketchbook documenting an Elderberry from flower to fruit The Practice of Botanical Drawing started as a yea ..read more

Demo from Trompe L’oeil Workshop by Wendy Hollender   Have you ever seen a drawing so realistic that it fools you into believing it’s a three-dimensional object? “Trompe L’oeil” is a French term meaning “Fool the Eye”.    Learn (from Wendy!) how to incorporate these fun techniques on kraft paper and tell a story by choosing related or symbolic elements to draw. Lesson inspired by Gerald P. Hodge, 1999, with whom Wendy studied back in the last century. Scroll through this post for examples of student work produced during the workshop. Find Trompe L’oeil Workshop Recording Here ..read more

5 Warm-Up Exercises to Stretch your Drawing Muscles What do artists and athletes have in common? They both use their bodies as instruments to perform enjoyable activities. To keep their instruments in tip-top shape, they often stretch their muscles before they begin.    Elderberry Study Page by Wendy Hollender   Botanical drawing can take a loooong time, and you may not finish in one sitting. When that unfinished drawing is taunting you from your table, telling you that you couldn’t possibly get back into that zone… Warm up and have fun! Try these 5 simple and effective exercise ..read more