Natural History Illustration: Succulents

Overview

Succulents are celebrated for their striking forms, subtle colours, and distinctive chalky blue bloom, making them fascinating subjects for botanical and natural history illustration. This online course will guide you through the process of accurately illustrating a diverse range of succulents using pencil, ink, and watercolour.

Through step-by-step demonstrations, you will develop techniques for observational drawing, colour mixing, and watercolour painting while learning how to capture the unique structure, texture, and colour of these remarkable plants. The course explores essential drawing methods for depicting form and proportion, alongside practical guidance on composition to help you create balanced and visually engaging illustrations.

You will also discover the work of both historical and contemporary botanical illustrators, gaining inspiration from a variety of artistic styles, techniques, and approaches to composition. The course includes clear demonstrations, practical exercises, and helpful tips that you can revisit whenever you wish. Whether you are new to botanical illustration or looking to refine your observational drawing and painting skills, this course provides a solid foundation for creating accurate and beautiful natural history illustrations of succulents.

Programme

This online course lets you study from home while connecting with a vibrant virtual community of fellow learners. The course is delivered through Blackboard, our online learning environment, and any live sessions will be hosted via Microsoft Teams.

Utilising a variety of resources and sources, learners will explore the following during the course:

Unit 1 – Drawing:

• Introduction
• Setting up your workspace
• Materials
• Variety within succulents, tips on identification and biological terminology.
• Drawing techniques to show accuracy- use of Fibonacci spiral in succulents to assist in accurate leaf placement.
• Tonal drawing techniques to show points of lighting, shape and texture.

Unit 2 – Ink line drawing:

• Materials
• Linear shading – using line to show depth and shape •
• Using fine liner to show texture and identifying features

Unit 3 – Watercolour painting:

• Setting up your painting, materials
• How to mix colours, colour theory
• Basic watercolour techniques – how to build colour to show shape and texture • Building layers to create shadow and depth
• Colour blending – wet and dry techniques
• Fine detail

Unit 4 – Further techniques:

• Ideas for composition
• Final painting video demonstration  

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module, students should be able to:  

1. Demonstrate an ability to draw a variety of succulents from life with accuracy and detail, paying attention to defining plant features, texture and tone and colour mixing.
2. Show evidence of knowledge of the artwork and relevance of contemporary and historical botanical artists in the field of succulents and botanical illustration composition.
3. Produce a field book which shows evidence of all techniques and demonstrates a body of study exercises from the module units as well as research and development towards a final piece of work.
4. Complete a finished succulent painting showing the techniques learned with interesting compositional ideas.

Assessments

1. Portfolio - presented as PowerPoint using the course Template devised by tutor. This covers the units’ tasks. (60%)
2. Final Illustration. One complete painting from self-directed study of a succulent. (40%)

Reading Suggestions

Reading suggestions will be offered throughout the course.

Entry Requirements

This course is for everyone. No previous experience is needed and there are no formal entry requirements.