Two weeks ago we began a new class: Botanical Watercolor Illustration. My intention was to create a class that fused watercolor techniques while studying the shapes create by the bounty of plants that is only offered during the early summer in Michigan. Illustration is something we haven’t covered in my adult classes and it is a different type of drawing then what we study during our Drawing Foundation classes. Illustrative drawing can be more abbreviated; for example, each flower can be drawn the same, where in drawing you would be looking for the differences between the flowers and making sure that each one is accurately portrayed. 

Similarly, in writing, sometimes your intention is to persuade or entertain, etc. With Illustration there is more of an emphasis on interpreting the story for viewers, in your own creative style, and less emphasis on accurately drawing. 

For our illustrations, we did linework style art, inked in black, essentially creating a ‘coloring page,’ and then we colored in with watercolor. Students used watercolor techniques, like wet on wet and charging to finish their work. 

To listen to more info about Illustration watch the video below: