Realistic Botanical Illustration: Escape to Nature
A course by Katerina KolbergWatercolor Artist and Illustrator
A course by Katerina Kolberg, Watercolor Artist and Illustrator
Learn to paint detailed botanical illustrations by exploring the versatility of watercolor and experimenting with glazes, color values, and textures
Even on the grayest day, a botanical illustration can evoke the warm glow of the sun, the intricate veining on a leaf, or the freshness of summer berries. For watercolorist Katerina Kolberg, painting is an escape to the natural world. Turning her passion into a career, she has created award-winning illustrations and packaging designs for brands like Yoplait and Vivi Kola. While watercolor is known for its unpredictability, Katerina has adopted a methodical approach that provides ultimate control, making it possible for anyone to learn to paint with detail.
In this online course, discover Katerina’s techniques to compose realistic botanical illustrations using watercolor. Harness the expressiveness of wet-on-wet and the precision of glazing to capture the vibrant colors and textures found in nature. Retreat to your own oasis inspired by the lush detail around you.
What will you learn in this online course?
25 lessons & 18 downloads
The Materials
19 minutes, 35 seconds
Basic Techniques 1
10 minutes, 40 seconds
Basic Techniques 2
13 minutes, 57 seconds
Painting Wet on Wet 1
15 minutes, 18 seconds
Painting Wet on Wet 2
11 minutes, 3 seconds
Painting Wet on Wet 3
16 minutes, 13 seconds
What's included in this course?
Step into Katerina’s world as she describes how she started painting and introduces you to a few of her favorite projects. Discover some of the classical and contemporary botanical artists who have inspired her approach to watercolor.
After familiarizing yourself with the materials you need, explore the fundamentals of color mixing and practice different types of washes. Then work on some exercises with the wet-on-wet technique, embracing the loose expressiveness of watercolor.
Take your skills one step further as you learn glazing methods to gain more control and add a burst of realism to your pieces. Delve into the relationship between hues and tonal values and find out how to recreate a variety of textures.
Then it’s time to tackle your project, first sketching out your overall composition. Take your own reference photo to create a more detailed drawing and transfer it onto watercolor paper. Experiment with glazes to paint your fruit, building up the volume with transparent layers and finishing up with the finest textures.
Next, apply Katerina’s approach to illustrating leaves and branches by working wet-on-wet with denser pigments. Step back and look at your piece as a whole to unify the tone through additional layering. Add definition with crisp water droplets and create a sense of motion by loosely painting in a couple of flying bumblebees to wrap up your artwork.
What is this course's project?
Create a botanical illustration using watercolor. Katerina paints pears on a branch surrounded by bumblebees, but you’re free to choose any subject you like.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Anyone who wants to use watercolor to create realistic botanical illustrations that immerse the viewer in the richness of nature.
Requirements and materials
No prior knowledge is necessary.
As for materials, you need 100% cotton watercolor paper, watercolor paints, a variety of brushes, masking fluid, and other easy-to-find materials that Katerina specifies in the course.
Reviews
- 3 months ago
un curso muy interesante para aprender pinturabotanica
- fabienne_slbPLUS5 months ago
Très bon cours. De très bons conseils sur la prise des photos, les différentes techniques d'aquarelle, les mélanges de couleurs. Adapté à tous selon son niveau, permet de progresser pour les + initiés.
- mcolgrovePLUS8 months ago
Excellent course! Katerina really helped me understand the traditions of botanical painting and how to implement them in my own painting.
- 10 months ago
Me ha encantado e inspirado.
- 11 months ago
Ótimo curso! Só precisa acertar o som que está desencontrado das falas e umas poucas distorções em um dos vídeos.
Katerina’s distinctive style has led to collaborations with brands such as Yoplait, Vivi Kola, Monarte, Roland Foods, Freerange Market, and Fairmont Hotels. Her illustrations have won various awards and have been featured in publications like Feeling Plants and A Fairy Tale about Love: Wedding Graphic Design.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- U2
The Basics
- The Materials
- Basic Techniques 1
- Basic Techniques 2
- Painting Wet on Wet 1
- Painting Wet on Wet 2
- Painting Wet on Wet 3
- U3
Gaining More Control and Tools for Realistic Painting
- Painting Layers and Glazing
- Values Translated into Colour
- Understanding Texture 1
- Understanding Texture 2
- Understanding Texture 3
- U4
The Illustration: Drawing the Pears
- General Composition
- Photo References
- Tracing and Transferring 1
- Tracing and Transferring 2
- Painting the Whole Pear 1
- Painting the Whole Pear 2
- Painting Half the Pear 1
- Painting Half the Pear 2
- U5
The Illustration: Drawing the Leaves and the Bees
- Painting the Leaves and the Branch 1
- Painting the Leaves and the Branch 2
- Adding Layers and Water Drops
- Painting the Bees
- FP
Final project
- Realistic Botanical Illustration: Escape to Nature
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
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Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
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Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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FAQs
Yes, this course is designed for intermediate artists who already have some experience with watercolor painting and want to advance their botanical illustration skills.
You’ll need artist-grade watercolor paints, a variety of brushes (including flat and squirrel mop), watercolor paper (preferably 300gsm or higher), masking fluid, a color wheel, and a board for stretching paper.
Yes, the course teaches you step-by-step techniques for painting realistic flowers, leaves, and fruits with attention to color temperature, gradients, and three-dimensional effects.
Absolutely. You’ll learn to mix complementary and analogous colors, use the color wheel for harmonious palettes, and avoid muddy results in your botanical paintings.
Yes, the course demonstrates how to translate traditional watercolor techniques into digital workflows using Procreate for botanical illustration.
You’ll master pigment lifting techniques using clean brushes and sponges, as well as strategies for correcting common watercolor mistakes without damaging your paper.
Yes, the course includes a section on designing and painting custom wedding invitations featuring botanical watercolor artwork.