Botanical drawing and art

Entry requirements: none.

Are you fascinated by botanical gardens, unique plants, or even a single leaf you find along the way? Do you have a soft spot for botanical illustrations? You can learn it yourself! In this course, you will learn botanical drawing, both from observation and imagination.

We draw inspiration from classical botanical illustrations as well as imaginative gardens, such as the Classical Gardens of Suzhou. You’ll learn how to draw strong shapes, proportions, and line contrasts, but also how to translate sensory impressions like scent and color into images. This course is all about visualizing the botanical world we love. We’ll experiment with techniques for creating botanical drawings using pencil, fine-liner, and drawing pen, and we’ll also work with colorful (dried) botanical materials.

Through short exercises, you will build confidence in your drawing. In addition, you will create a detailed botanical illustration. You’ll go home with a collection of sketches, experiments, and a unique botanical creation to display at home!

What you’ll learn:

• Botanical drawing from observation and imagination
• Line contrasts, proportions, shading, and composition
• Working with color and layering in botanical forms
• Experimenting with various materials and techniques
• Using storytelling in your work

The course fee includes all materials.

About the teacher

Ying Yi Wu is a visual artist and storyteller specializing in Botanical Art. She graduated from HKU in 2018. Inspired by nature, she enjoys working with botanical materials and exploring how nature affects us sensorially. She dries flowers, leaves, and seeds to create stories in the form of animals, portraits, symbols, landscapes, fantasies, and letters. During class, she sparks stories that immerse participants in a shared creative experience and a sensory making process. For more information about teacher, visit https://yingyi.art.