Botanical drawing process
Each field has different reasons for drawing. Rather than for entertainment we explore science and how the process and the result impact discovery.
Plantingscience.org explains to students that “It’s All About Seeing, Really Seeing”. Training your eye takes time. We notice what is important to us and block out other things in order to be efficient. The aim is not for perfect journals but to create a visual representation that is meaningful to you and to share what you see with others.
Techniques and tips they describe are listed below.
Sketch the important ideas rather than true-to-life drawings
Show what you see
Draw outlines of objects
Should be accurate in detail
A legend below the drawing describing what is illustrated, including the species
Labels to identify and describe parts of interest
An indication of the object’s size and magnification if a microscope was used for the observations
Have drawing tools handy
Try different views to truly observe the subject
Ask yourself questions about why you are observing the subject? What is important to you?
Use labels and notes to describe the object and key features
Think about your drawing and what you are learning about the object or nature
Does that process help you in your projects? How do you see your subject or problem?