My Botanical Pattern Sketchbook

I started filling this sketchbook about ten months ago. Taking Polina Oshu's course encouraged me to look more closely at flowers, plants, and the patterns that surround me. It also gave me the chance to slow down and enjoy some mindful, creative time. Not all of the patterns turned out well or felt particularly inspired. At times, I borrowed ideas from other artists as part of my learning process.

It was a little tricky to find good-quality acrylic markers that also fit my budget. Compared to the other brands I tried, POSCA markers were the best, but building a satisfying colour palette with them was quite expensive. I also tried some cheaper sets, but neither the pigmentation nor the nibs were good enough to achieve the level of detail I wanted.

Deciding what the colour palette would be was often the trickiest part for me.

Then, I drew the outlines of the flowers and stems, trying to distribute the colours evenly.

Sometimes, depending on the marker, I had to go over the colours twice.

Finally, I added some details on the background and the leaves.

This is one of the patterns I loved, mainly because of its colour palette.

These are the patterns I'm most satisfied with.

You can quickly check my sketchbook in the following video.