Recently one of my students on Skillshare asked a very interesting question which made me write this post. The question is related to the class - Botanical Illustration - Advanced Watercolor Techniques and the question she asked was : How do you decide which technique you use where when there are more than one option? And how do you decide the order of the individual steps?
When I started writing a reply, it was impossible for me to give her the answer in 1-2 lines. So here is the complete guide I created below to make the decisions when painting botanicals with watercolors.
Deciding which technique to use and in what order to execute individual steps can be challenging for watercolor botanical artists. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist, having a clear strategy is essential for creating realistic and captivating botanical illustrations. In this comprehensive article, we'll explore the factors to consider when choosing your techniques, how to structure your workflow, and practical tips to enhance your decision-making process. By the end of this post, you'll have a solid framework to confidently approach your botanical art projects and elevate your creative practice. Here are some tips that might help:
Understanding the Subject:
Observation: Observation is the key to any beautiful illustration. Start by observing your botanical subject closely. Pay attention to the details such as the texture, color variations, and lighting. This will give you a better understanding of the techniques that might work best.
Research:Sometimes researching the botanical subject can provide insights into how other artists have approached similar subjects. Try to collect pictures onilne, or in person and see if you can find any common patterns, textures and shapes.
Choosing Techniques:
Watercolor Techniques: For soft, translucent areas like petals or leaves, use wet-on-wet techniques. For more defined areas like veins or edges, use wet-on-dry techniques.
Layering: Use layering to build depth and dimension. Always start with lighter washes and gradually add darker tones.
Blending: Decide whether to blend colors smoothly or leave them with visible brushstrokes, depending on the texture you want to achieve.
Detailing: Use finer brushes and techniques like stippling or hatching for intricate details such as veins or patterns on leaves.
Order of Steps:
Sketching: Begin with a light pencil sketch to outline the main shapes and elements of your botanical subject.
Base Layers: Apply base layers of color using broad washes to establish the general color scheme and tone. I generally start with wet-on-wet techniques for most subjects except of very small and tiny subjects.
Building Up Layers: Gradually build up layers, starting from the lightest to the darkest. This helps in maintaining control over the depth and contrast. I use wet on wet for at least the first two layers and depending upon the subject texture. This can vary based on the surface texture of the subject.
Details and Textures: Add finer details and textures towards the end. Use smaller brushes and more controlled strokes for this part.
Final Touches: Add highlights and any final touches to bring your illustration to life. This might include adding the brightest highlights or the darkest shadows. For brught highlights, you can use white gouache paint or white gel pen as well
Experimentation:
Test Techniques: If you are scared of starting painting on your final piece, don’t hesitate to test different techniques on a separate piece of paper before applying them to your main artwork. This can help you see which method works best for the effect you want to achieve.
Flexibility: Be flexible and willing to adapt as you go. Sometimes, the artwork itself will guide you towards the best approach.
Experience and Practice:
Learn from Experience: With practice, you’ll develop an intuition for which techniques to use and when. Every piece you create adds to your experience and helps you make better decisions in future projects.
Never Stop Learning: Keep learning and experimenting with new techniques. The more techniques you master, the more options you’ll have to choose from. Dedicate a few minutes of your day for simple experiments and you’ll see the difference.
I hope these tips help you in your botanical art journey! Keep practicing and experimenting, and you'll find your own workflow that suits your style and the specific needs of each piece you create. Happy painting!
If you still have any questions, feel free to connect with me on Instagram or Email Me. I’d be happy to help ☺️
Also, I am offering 1 On 1 FREE CLASS Q&A Sessions. If you have any of my classes on Skillshare and have any follow up questions, you can book a FREE 30 minute call with me and I will be happy to help you and meet you :)
