Drawing Plants

This video series, created with the California Native Plant Society will teach you some basic techniques to help you quickly and accurately draw plants, either for field sketching or careful botanical illustrations. These videos make use of paper models which you can cut out and manipulate to teach yourself the fundamentals of foreshortening leaves and flowers. Following along with your own model is much more helpful than simply watching the videos alone.

Download a leaf and flower worksheet to follow the exercises at home.

If you are a teacher, you can download PDF templates to create classroom sets of materials to teach botanical illustration to your students. Download the multiple leaf template and multiple flower template. Also you can create large demonstration models to use in front of the class.

 

How to draw plants: Introduction

How to draw plants: Symmetry

How to draw plants: Foreshortening part 1

How to draw plants: Foreshortening part 2

How to draw plants: Leaves and petals

How to draw plants: Curling leaves, part 1

How to draw plants: Curling leaves, part 2

How to draw plants: Conclusion

 

 

 

  • neil cameron watson

    Hi john, first, i want to thank you for the drawing plants series. i struggle with drawing, and your vids clarified for me this fundimental knowledge, essential if one wants to get any where drawing plants. will you be continuing this series?, i do hope so. and where (if anywhere) can i see the 6th video , curling leaves. regards neil

    • http://www.johnmuirlaws.com/ John Muir Laws

      Thank you so much Neil. I have now posted the sixth video (split into two parts). I hope you enjoy it. Let me know about other topics you would find helpful and I will see if I can develop online materials to meet the need. The most important thing is to keep drawing. The more you draw the easier it becomes.

      • neil cameron watson

        thank you for your response John, in the last half hour of Christmas eve too, many thanks again, neil

  • Kathryn

    Thanks for your clarity in explaining the processes. Very much appreciated.

    • http://www.johnmuirlaws.com/ John Muir Laws

      I am glad you enjoyed these videos Kathryn. What other resources or topics would also be helpful to you?

  • http://www.aboutfigurines.com/ Lladro@Lladro Figurines

    So anyone can learn basic art concepts and apply them with a little practice?

    Some better than others I suppose.

    Lladro

    • http://www.johnmuirlaws.com/ John Muir Laws

      Drawing is not a gift. It is a skill that is developed by practice and that anyone can learn to a high degree of proficiency. If you don’t do it, you will not get better. Throw yourself into it for one year. At the end of that year, you will emerge with the skill solidly under your belt.

  • http://www.aboutfigurines.com/ Lladro@Lladro Figurines

    Ok, I agree it is a skill. A skill that can be developed. But like most skills you may or may not be able to develop that skill into the level you want whether you practice for one year or a lifetime. Some people can and others or most can not. Yep, they can draw, or paint and it looks nice with practice. But the product is not competitive with true artists and eventually you come to that realization.

    It is like playing baseball, or writing, or playing chess. You can practice at chess for a solid year, learn all the openings, memorize a thousand games, get actually pretty good and some 10 year old with a 1800 ranking will absolutely kill you in the game. You are solid, you learned, you practiced, and you can beat most people but you will never get to the levels you want to reach.

    Sorry, so much in life is like this. Practice, skill, more practice without a gift of specialized talent will leave you searching for the level you will never reach. You see it over and over again in all forms of life. Business, sports, music, art, and a hundred other daily activities.

    I don’t know what you call it but “it” is a key ingredient. Doesn’t mean with practice you can not get good you just will never reach the levels you want to reach. Sometimes that is great for many of us. Most of the time we move onto something else.

    Lladro

    • http://www.johnmuirlaws.com/ John Muir Laws

      Llardo, you point is well taken and it has really gotten me thinking. Inspired by your thoughts, I have written a blog post on the subject http://www.johnmuirlaws.com/art-and-drawing/you-can-draw Let’s move the discussion there. I also invite others to share their thoughts.

  • http://kungfoowiz.deviantart.com Edward

    Hey John

    Thank you for the helpful videos, symmetry has always given me a bit of trouble, your videos have filled me with great ideas =) Thank you man, I hope you are keeping well and continuing your wonderful work, you are a kind person =) Edward

  • http://apprendre-a-dessiner.org Apprendre le dessin de manga

    Hey,
    thanks for sharing those great drawing video.
    Digged it.

  • http://www.funtober.com/ Wayne Melton

    Your videos are great and an inspiration to those of us less talented that we may also be able to do basic drawings. You make it look so easy yet your videos are so informative. You help a lot of people to do something they may never have considered.

    Thanks
    Wayne