Botanical Watercolor: Illustrate the Anatomy of Flowers

Discover the infinite source of inspiration that nature brings and explore the textures, contrasts, colors, and shapes of the botanic world. By creating expressive watercolor compositions, visual artist and illustrator Luli Reis looks to transmit her love and admiration of nature, documenting a plant’s full cycle from flower to decomposition.

In this course, Luli guides you through the artistic process of creating an illustration that’s full of life. Learn every step of making a botanical plate, from the anatomic study of plants and flowers to the essential watercolor techniques needed.

Begin this course by getting to know Luli Reis and her background as a visual artist and illustrator. Discover her artistic influences and go through the topics that are covered in this course.

Get familiar with the materials needed to make your watercolor illustration. Luli teaches you the most popular tips and techniques for botanical watercolor, including the wet brush for both wet and dry surfaces. Also, learn how to work with volume, light, and shadow effects to create a graphical representation that is true to nature.

Then it’s time for the pre-production phase of your final project. Study the geometric shapes of a plant to help create the general outline of your drawing. Learn about the anatomy of flowers by studying a real flower and understand the importance of choosing the right color palette for your final composition.

Luli shows you the multiple possibilities for mounting a botanical plate and teaches you how to correctly transfer your sketches to watercolor paper.

The time to enjoy the fruits of your labor has arrived. Start the coloring of your plate, painting the smallest elements first and inserting details that will define your personal style.

Then, Luli teaches you to paint the layout and main elements of your plant to ensure that there is visual unity in your project. Finally, she gives some advice on how to better preserve your work.

Create the illustration of a botanic plate with watercolors based on a study of the plant’s shapes, colors, and textures.

Illustrators, designers, creatives, art lovers, or anyone who wants to improve their knowledge of botanical art and illustrate plants with watercolors.

No previous knowledge of watercolors is needed to take this course.

Regarding materials, you will need watercolor paints in tablet or tube form, watercolor paper, round brushes, a support for mixing colors, sheets of drawing paper, pencils, and a soft eraser.