Starting to Sketch …
The Botanical Sketch Club was founded back in 2019 to encourage people to draw plants from life in a looser style than classical botanical illustration requests,, through workshops and outdoor sketching days in beautiful gardens around the UK.
I wanted to develop my own style of artistic expression whilst connecting with other people with a passion for plants, gardens and art.
So after several long chats with other artists and gardeners, I thought
‘What could be better than spending a magical day in beautiful locations drawing incredible plants ?’
A lot of botanical illustration is profoundly and beautifully realistic but I would like to encourage people to draw plants without feeling overwhelmed or intimidated. Having spent more than a decade exploring the human form in life drawing classes with some wonderful facilitators I want to encourage people to draw plants and flowers with that same feeling of fun and experimentation.
People have been making botanical art for millennia. Floral limestone reliefs appear on the walls of ancient Egyptian temples and medieval herbals are filled with illustrations of medicinal plants. The renaissance paved the way for more accurate rendering of plants with the scientific study of botany as a plethora of plant hunters followed, meticulously recording new scientific discoveries on their expeditions.
With the arrival of photography in the early 19th century, interest in botanical artwork waned a little but is now enjoying a resurgence as people try to find ways of reconnecting with the natural world once again.
Making time in our busy lives to play, let alone just to sit and draw isn’t always high on our agendas but the health benefits of doing just that are widely acknowledged, creating a form of meditation that helps you de-stress and refocus.
The simple act of putting pen to paper sharpens your observational skills making you look at your subject in a whole new light. A drawing, however simple, made on location will stay in your consciousness for much longer than snapping a quick photo. The idea that “If you haven’t drawn it, you haven’t seen it” ascribed to the eminent German botanist, Julius von Sachs in the 19th century, still holds true today.
It is within most of us to make a personal statement of expression using pencil and paint by just being present in the moment, but if you are new to drawing, botanical illustrations can seem like a daunting challenge. The trick is not to worry about the end result, but to simply enjoy the process of getting to know your subject better, capturing it at one particular moment in time and learn how to accept and embrace any imperfections.
Remember, the definition of a sketch is “a rough or unfinished drawing, often a preliminary study, simple, quick and minimalist, capturing the essential features and elements of the subject matter without stressing about the details”. Sketching allows you to explore and express ideas, and find new ways of collecting visual information.
There is a world of botanical specimens waiting to be explored through drawing - a wonderful way to slow down and connect with the natural world around you.
So come and join me on an artistic exploration of the plant world soon.
