Exciting because it meant that I could continue working in pen and ink, a medium that I really enjoyed using for the twig drawings in my RHS exhibit.
The only problem, or should I say more of a challenge, is that part of the commission involved illustrating five plants that are completely out of season, in that they are not flowering. In addition there was also a ladybird, grasshopper and bumblebee to illustrate, and wait for it - a timescale of just 3-4 days !!
The first step - research is the key and knowing where to look. The internet is great, but be careful if you use images and ensure that you have permission to use them and/or they are copyright free. The same applies in using illustrations in books.
With a challenge such as this, the key thing is to really know your plant and start to bring the elements together from various sources to produce a viable and realistic plant portrait.
I was somewhat lucky with this commission, as the brief was to produce sketch like ink drawings, this helped in two ways, I could potentially work a little faster, which helps with the tight timescale, and secondly I could be a little freer with my drawing style, but still create an accurate portrayal.
A selection of reference books on my desk. My collection of Stella Ross Craig books proved invaluable with a project such as this.
My Francis Rose key is my go to book for checking accurate identification details. This is my second copy as my first is in pieces, and a very treasured possession, after years of use in the field.
The above dried grass samples were not used for this project, but keeping dried or pressed specimens is an excellent way to help with future drawings.
I collected grasses, sedges and rushes in particular as they can be quite tricky to identify.
Even though time was tight, I made sure that my sketchbook was used for the initial studies and to make sure I was interpreting correctly what I was seeing.
The drawing of Yarrow taking shape.
The next stage was to trace the design from my sketchbook onto tracing paper using my Rotring Isograph ink pen with a 0.10 nib and my lightbox.
Once the design was on tracing paper, the Fabriano Artistico HP paper was placed over the tracing and to save time the last drawing was made directly with the ink pen.
This was quite risky, but it saved on time and also having my sketchbook at the side made sure that I could refer to that for any detail that was difficult to see.
The finer details and areas of tonal work were completed once the main outline was in place.
A selection of my ink pens.
Left to right: Zig Zag 'throw away' technical drawing pen; Rotring Isograph pens; far right, an old Rotring pen, the equivalent of the modern Isograph.
Now for the completed work:
Bombus terrestris
Meadow grasshopper
Seven-spot ladybird
Selfheal
Yarrow
Red campion
Red clover
Ragwort
Well, 'what now?' you may say, no respite I'm afraid.
My botanical art courses at Peter Symonds College AHED in Winchester are nearing the end of term and the Natures Details Courses start at the end of this week.
This year we are opening with the 'Sketching the Beauty of Owls' course and Beebo and Eddi will be returning. Further courses include Spring flowers, Summer Flowers, Butterflies and Moths, the Seashore Palette and Painting on Vellum.
Further details can be found on the website.
Have a good week everyone !
