Botanical Sketchbooking: A Meditative Approach
A course by LapinUrban Sketcher
A course by Lapin, Urban Sketcher
Slow down and connect with nature by learning how to illustrate plants and flowers using watercolors
Slowing down and connecting with nature through botanical illustration is how urban sketcher and illustrator Lapin finds peace in the rush of everyday life. He believes drawing through observation is a great way to develop creativity and mindfulness. In this course, he guides you through his meditative illustration methods to create lush illustrations of the plants and flowers around you.
Discover a new way to relax using a sketchbook, some watercolors, and your favorite plants and flowers. Learn how to observe organic shapes and look at nature from a new perspective to create beautiful botanical compositions that capture the essence of your natural surroundings.
This is Lapin’s second sketching course. In his first course—Urban Sketching: Express Your World in a New Perspective—he teaches you how to depict everyday scenes from your neighborhood by showing you a variety of perspectives and ideas.
What will you learn in this online course?
24 lessons & 12 downloads
What Will We Do in This Course?
3 minutes, 28 seconds
Line Techniques: The Geometry of Plants
12 minutes, 7 seconds
Line Techniques: Drawing Leaf by Leaf
19 minutes, 41 seconds
The Materials
6 minutes, 53 seconds
Colour Techniques: Create Your Greens
16 minutes, 4 seconds
Drawing from Observation: Line Work
3 minutes, 24 seconds
What's included in this course?
Start the course by getting to know Lapin, learn about his work as an urban sketcher and illustrator, and see how he uses drawing as a meditation practice. Discover his artistic influences and get a summary of what Lapin has prepared for you, before delving into the practicals.
To start creating linework sketches, Lapin first teaches you how to observe and identify the geometric shapes of a plant. See how to draw your first plant leaf by leaf, following Lapin’s methodology for the contour work. Then, see some basic color techniques to create a green color chart.
Learn about the importance of drawing from direct observation to enhance your use of color and perspective. Next, add color and texture, create contrasts, and play with cold and warm tones to add strength to your artwork. Use similar techniques to draw a bright flower and finish the unit by sketching a cactus.
Explore compositional techniques by sketching the same flower day by day to observe how its colors and shapes evolve. Draw your flower from different angles to explore a range of perspectives. Finally, learn how to create a pattern with your illustrations in Photoshop and see how to apply it to textiles and other surfaces.
Recommended software & tools for this course
What is this course's project?
Create botanical sketches using a meditative illustration method.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for sketchers of all levels who would like to find a new way to unwind through botanical illustration.
Requirements and materials
To take this course you will need some flowers, plants, fineliners, a white gel ink pen, watercolors, and a sketchbook.
Reviews
- 2 months ago
Explicaciones muy bien, voy poco a poco con buenos resultados..
- 2 months ago
Expected the course to be a bit more advanced as I have been painting botanical water colour for a while now, but as I also enjoy rough sketching in my free time wanted to try this course to learn some more tips. Lapin's calm and clear voice and the way he encourages to set a side time and full immerse in observation and just enjoy the process is what I love the most. The biggest flaw however is that when it was advertised the course looked to be in English (Audio), but only some lessons are.
- mirmackeyPLUS4 months ago
I found this course to be a great introduction to botanical sketching. The lessons were easy to follow and the explanations and examples were very helpful.
- 4 months ago
El profesor es muy claro en sus explicaciones. Me gusta
- 5 months ago
muy bien
In 18 years, he has filled over 200 sketchbooks, published 30 books, and was named the official air and space painter for the French Army in 2019. He’s a member of the Urban Sketching Community since 2008 and teaches Illustration Masters students at Elisava in Barcelona, as well as his own urban sketching workshops. His clients include the French Army, Air France, the City of Barcelona, Le Parisien Magazine, PlayStation, Heineken, Marks & Spencer, Aigle, Peugeot, Porsche, and Formula One.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- Presentation
- Influences
- What Will We Do in This Course?
- U2
Line, Material and Green
- Line Techniques: The Geometry of Plants
- Line Techniques: Drawing Leaf by Leaf
- The Materials
- Colour Techniques: Create Your Greens
- U3
Observation and Meditation
- Drawing from Observation: Line Work
- Colour and Texture: Green
- Colour and Texture: Bright Colours 1
- Colour and Texture: Bright Colours 2
- Colour and Texture: Bright Colours 3
- Colour and Texture: Bright Colours 4
- Colour and Texture: Bright Colours 5
- Colour and Texture: Bright Colours 6
- Colour and Texture: Bright Colours 7
- Cactus Illustration 1
- Cactus Illustration 2
- Cactus Illustration 3
- U4
Composition and Pattern
- Decay Study 1
- Decay Study 2
- Botanical Composition 1
- Botanical Composition 2
- Creating a Pattern
- FP
Final project
- Botanical Sketchbooking: A Meditative Approach
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FAQs
Yes, this course is designed for intermediate artists who want to deepen their skills in botanical illustration, urban sketching, and expressive drawing techniques.
You'll need a sketchbook, fineliner pens, colored pencils, watercolors, a watercolor palette, gel pens for highlights, and quality paper suitable for mixed media work.
You’ll learn advanced observational skills, botanical illustration techniques, Art Nouveau pattern design, mindful sketchbooking, watercolor mixing, and how to express emotion through your art.
Basic familiarity with watercolor and fineliner drawing is helpful, but the course covers key techniques and builds upon foundational skills for intermediate learners.
The course explores the flowing lines and decorative elements of Art Nouveau, guiding you to draw buildings and create plant-based patterns inspired by this style.
Absolutely! The course emphasizes sketchbook journaling, meditation drawing, and drawing plants from direct observation for better accuracy and mindfulness.
You’ll learn step-by-step leaf drawing, plant geometry analysis, real-scale sketching, simplifying shapes, and layering watercolor and pencil for vibrant botanical renderings.