Botanical illustration process
There are couple of steps that I like to outline for clients to make sure they know what to expect. When working on massive projects these phases are crucial for staying on track with deadlines as essentially these grouped tasks and treated as Project Milestones:
Illustration brief
The initial time for discussing all the details and ideas, outlining the concept and the scope of work. This is followed by the Project Timeline, defining the budget and signing the necessary paperwork. At this stage, I make sure to gather everything that might help me work on the illustrations like what needs to be included, style/color palette preferences, files required for final delivery, etc.
Initial sketches
Right after the project starts, I begin working on the initial sketches. This step is very important, as it gives a chance to both the illustrator and the client to try different layout options and make sure every part of the plant is represented correctly. Usually, it’s a simple outline with a very light shading, that will be used as a road map for future illustrations. In most cases, I’ll do my own research for botanical illustrations that I’m working on and make sure every important part of the plant is highlighted.
Painting / Drawing
After sketches are approved by the client, I’ll move to watercolor painting stage (or ink drawing), depending on the style that project requires. I carefully follow the plan we developed together for the artwork beforehand, so the final product will be best suited for my client needs.
Scanning, digital editing and files delivery
When I finish working on the botanical illustration, I’ll scan the artwork and send it for final approval. Then I’ll edit the final files digitally (removing the background, adjusting colors, vectorizing black & white drawings, etc.) and deliver the illustration using any file formats the project require. Shipping original artwork is also possible after digital files are developed.
A dedicated illustration studio
I love being transparent about how I work and sharing my process when creating hand-drawn botanical art. Work with an artist who truly loves nature and dedicates art practice to capturing the beauty of plants, educating and inspiring others.
