Natural History Illustration: Invertebrates

Overview

Develop the skills to create your own illustrated field study book while exploring the fascinating diversity of invertebrates through observation, drawing and painting. This practical online course introduces a range of media and techniques, including tonal and linear drawing, mixed media, and watercolour washes, enabling you to accurately depict form, structure, volume, colour, texture and pattern.

Through carefully structured practical exercises, you will strengthen your observational skills, learn to record specimens with increasing accuracy, and gain an understanding of the anatomy, diversity and ecology of invertebrates. Alongside developing artistic techniques, you will build the scientific vocabulary and visual recording skills that are fundamental to natural history illustration and transferable to the study of a wide range of plants and animals.

The course is delivered entirely online through high-quality video demonstrations, downloadable illustrated handouts, individual tutorials, and regular tutor feedback, allowing you to progress at your own pace while receiving personalised guidance. By the end of the course, you will have produced your own field study book and developed a strong foundation in both observational drawing and natural history recording.

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 Teams. It can be studied as a stand-alone course, and it is also an optional module for the Certificate of Higher Education in Natural History Illustration at Aberystwyth University.

Programme

Session 1: Presentation & Discussion: Artists Inspiration.

Capturing form through line – minimal mark making to capture essential characteristics (fine line pen, pencil.)
Creating volume through tone – tonal shading using charcoal, conte and pen with blenders.

Depicting Texture – exploring the potential of drawn marks for capturing the various textures of molluscs, millipedes, earwigs, earthworms and spiders.

Recording Colour: Suggestions; tinted charcoal, sepia & graphite pen, oil pastel, graphitint/ watercolour pencil. Painting on Location – a limited palette.

Seminar - Methods for recording on location, creating a field notebook.

Practical Observing and Sketching Session, on location (weather permitting)

Session 2: From Drawing to Painting – Colour Studies

Recording Colour using demonstrations followed by practical painting time creating swatches:
- Black isn’t Black – mixing dark colours
- Earth Pigments and Earthy colours
- Painting Patterns – wet on wet, and dry on dry

Depicting Texture – exploring a range painted marks for depicting the textures of molluscs, millipedes, earwigs, earthworms and spiders (e.g. shiny, segmented, scaled & hairy)

Demonstrations for Developing Field Sketches:
- Charcoal and Watercolour
- Pen and Watercolour
- Oil Pastel and Watercolour

Demonstrations for Developed Illustrations:
Capturing form through line – drawing with the brush

Creating volume through tone – tonal painting

Creating more resolved illustrations

Seminar: gathering and using reference material – field sketches, photographs, notes and field guides.

Learning Outcomes

1. Create a natural history Illustration field book with notes from personal observations.

Assessments

1. Study Book - 70%
2. Book Illustration - 30%

Reading Suggestions

Additional reading list available on request.

Entry Requirements

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

What Do I Need?

A list of materials, not included in the course fees, will be available prior to the course start date.