Realistic Botany in Watercolor
Course teacher Margarita Astashova
«This botanical illustration course is a step-by-step path from line graphics to watercolor realism. You will analyze the design of buds, set up creative experiments, step by step get acquainted with spectacular techniques and professional secrets of watercolor technique.
You will try different stylistic drawing techniques and discover the aesthetics of Chamomile, Anemone, Aquilegia, Viola, Morning Glory, Orchid, Lotus and Iris from a new angle.
On the course, you will perform 11 graphic and 5 picturesque realistic works of different levels of complexity, as well as go through a set of 20 developmental exercises that will help you to become a skilled hand and develop the skill of confident use of the brush».
Start training immediately after payment
Lifetime access to the course
Paint online from anywhere
Telegram community support
Bow-wow!
Will I be able to draw like this if I have "paws"?
You definitely will! Mr. Cherry and I have foreseen everything!
My technique
In the graphics lessons, you will learn how to use alternative and mixed techniques and create a stylish series of graphic paintings with images of flowers.
These elegant and laconic drawings with contour lines on watercolor backgrounds will become an original decoration of a modern interior.
In sketching lessons, you will master the techniques of watercolor washing, modeling volumes with light and shadow, methods of creating textures in several layers, as well as aerial overtones and expressive accents.
These lessons will be very useful for those who want to learn how to paint flowers from nature and gather a uniquely designed collection of botanical sketches.
At Realist style lessons, you will learn how to create a realistic botanical illustration, and few can boast of this. The skills and techniques you learn in the course will prepare the necessary foundation and take you to this level.
You will create realistic painting in the best traditions of watercolor botany with subtle detail.
Course program
SECTION 1. THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS.
LESSON 1 «Introductory lesson»
LESSON 2 «Features of realistic botanical illustration»
LESSON 3 «Principles of preparation and work with references»
SECTION 2. MATERIALS AND WATERCOLOR TECHNIQUES
LESSON 4 «Materials in botanical illustration»
Lesson duration: 1 h 10 min
Lesson result:
- You will learn how to choose paper, paints, and brushes for botany painting
- You will be able to determine how the choice of materials affects your result
LESSON 5 «Watercolor techniques in botanical illustration»
Lesson duration: 1 h 9 min
Lesson result:
- Master techniques for drawing realistic botany
- The lesson will include a set of 15 exercises to develop watercolor skills.
SECTION 3. THREE-DIMENSIONAL DRAWING AND GRAPHICS
LESSON 6«CHAMOMILE. Basics of three-dimensional drawing»
Lesson duration: 1 h 11 min
LESSON 7 «ANEMONE. Three-dimensional drawing, simple linear and color graphics»
Lesson duration: 1 h 14 min
LESSON 8 «AQUILEGIA. Three-dimensional drawing and color graphics»
Lesson duration: 1 h 2 min
SECTION 4. GRAPHICS AND NATURALISTIC TECHNIQUE IN SKETCHING
LESSON 9 «IPOMOEA. GRAPHICS»
Lesson duration: 1 h 19 min
LESSON 10 «IPOMOEA SKETCH»
Lesson duration: 1 h 14 min
LESSON 11 «ORCHID. GRAPHICS»
Lesson duration: 1 h 15 min
LESSON 12 «ORCHID. SKETCH»
Lesson duration: 1 h 14 min
LESSON 13 «VIOLA. GRAPHICS»
Lesson duration: 1 h
LESSON 14 «VIOLA. SKETCH»
Lesson duration: 57 min
LESSON 15 «LOTUS. GRAPHICS»
Lesson duration: 1 h 5 min
LESSON 16 «LOTUS. SKETCH»
Lesson duration: 1 h 8 min
SECTION 5. IRIS. REALISTIC BOTANICAL ILLUSTRATION
LESSON 17 «IRIS. Three-dimensional drawing and general color washing»
Lesson duration: 2 h
LESSON 18 «IRIS. General color washing and detailing»
Lesson duration: 2 h
LESSON 19 «IRIS. Detailing»
Lesson duration: 2 h
LESSON 20 «Final of the course»
There I'll give you recommendations on how you can develop your Realist style after the course.
What materialswill I need?
- Watercolor paper of A5, A4 and A3 formats (for the final work); Density from 200 g/m
- A4 office paper (we will cut it to A5)
- Graphite carbon paper
- Plain pencils (softness: HB and B3), eraser
- Watercolor paints
- Palette
- Brushes No 10, No 5, No 2, No 1 round with a sharp tip (I have "Gamma" brushes)
- Black marker with a thin, sharp tip
- Black liner (preferably waterproof)
- A container of water, a piece of cloth for drying brushes
- Hairdryer
- Cocktail straws (minimum 3)
- In some cases, the following are introduced: pastel crayons (more details in lesson No 3 on the materials)
- Black pencil, salt, thread, coated cardboard
Course expert
- I am a professional artist and fine art expert.
- PhD in Aesthetics.
- I have been teaching since 2012
- I have 6 solo exhibitions and more than 20 regional and international exhibitions behind me.
- My works are held in private collections in homes in Russia, France and Spain.
Course teacher Margarita Astashova
Since my student years, I have followed the path of an artist and a scientist in an attempt to feel and understand the nature of fine art, its inspiring power, its secrets and internal laws. My workshop began to turn into an experimental laboratory.
In long periods of working on large canvases, I just wanted to relax, do something for pleasure, find a way to individually therapy. This is how I took my first step into the world of botanical illustration.
Today, botany for me is a hobby within the profession, a kind of meditation, a source of knowledge and inspiration. Point of contact with the world. Creating a uniquely designed collection of illustrations, we pay a visit to a cozy garden to discard everything fussy and finally hear ourselves in silence, in contact with flora.
Margarita's works
So why do students choose to study at the Drawing Dog school?
Our online school has been operating since 2019 and already more than 30,000 students are drawing with us!
USER-FRIENDLY PLATFORM AND UNLIMITED ACCESS TO LESSONS
After graduation, the access to the course in many schools is closed and renewal is possible only for an additional fee.
With the Drawing Dog you can revisit the course an unlimited number of times, the course remains with you indefinitely on any tariff!
NO ONE IS LEFT WITHOUT SUPPORT
Students at individual study tariffs are often left alone with the lessons and may abandon the course. In the Drawing Dog, you can watch the analyses of other students' work and get feedback on your drawings from our Telegram community.
There are no dry formal answers on feedback tariffs. We don't respond with "Good" or "Well done" – we will always find something to praise or something that you can improve.
LOYALTY PROGRAM
We appreciate our students and give bonus rubles for the purchase of new products to those who are already studying with us! For your convenience, discounts will be applied automatically when you enter your email address.
Our principles
Creativity for pleasure - teaching to enjoy the process
Each lesson is explained in such a way that you can draw from scratch.
A minimum of theory on any programs. Drawing beautiful pictures right away.
We'll help you to cope with fears, lack of inspiration and perfectionism
We teach you to see the advantages of your work and easily correct mistakes.
Works of school students
Reviews from our students
Only while the marathon is going on, when you buy a course, you get mega bonuses!
BONUS 1: Tulip bud in the morning dew
- This is a big lesson (4 hours) on drawing a tulip with drops of dew in the Realist style.
- Clear design of a three-dimensional bud;
- Selection and creation of vivid colors and shades.
- Realistic petal detailing.
- "Live" dew drops.
BONUS 2: Formulas of color combinations
How to get the right shades for realistic botany? It would seem enough to mix deep blue and red and you should get violet. But in fact, it turns out to be some kind of dirty and heavy shade, completely unsuitable for delicate flower petals.
Why is that? What are the rules and subtleties? Easy and clear lesson with illustrations + pdf guide.
Choose your participation option
I Draw It Myself
- 16 botanical illustrations: graphics, sketch, Realist style
- 20 lessons: theory + developmental exercises + creative experiments
- NEW! Machine translated subtitles: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Greek, Polish, Portuguese, Hungarian, Chinese, Indonesian
- «Unfreezing the course» — opportunity to start training at a convenient time
- An opportunity to watch the analysis of other participants' paintings.
- Lifetime access to the course materials
- Bonus. Records of the marathon «The Mystery of the White Lily»
- Bonus. «Formulas of color combinations or how to mix complex shades for realistic botany»
- Bonus. «Tulip bud in the morning dew»
With Support
- 16 botanical illustrations: graphics, sketch, Realist style
- 20 lessons: theory + developmental exercises + creative experiments
- NEW! Machine translated subtitles: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Greek, Polish, Portuguese, Hungarian, Chinese, Indonesian
- «Unfreezing the course» — opportunity to start training at a convenient time
- An opportunity to watch the analysis of other participants' paintings.
- Lifetime access to the course materials
- Checking your work by the school teacher and answering questions in the comments within 60 days of the start of the course
- Bonus. Records of the marathon «The Mystery of the White Lily»
- Bonus. «Formulas of color combinations or how to mix complex shades for realistic botany»
- Bonus. «Tulip bud in the morning dew»
VIP
- 16 botanical illustrations: graphics, sketch, Realist style
- 20 lessons: theory + developmental exercises + creative experiments
- NEW! Machine translated subtitles: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Greek, Polish, Portuguese, Hungarian, Chinese, Indonesian
- «Unfreezing the course» — opportunity to start training at a convenient time
- An opportunity to watch the analysis of other participants' paintings.
- Lifetime access to the course materials
- Checking your work by the school teacher and answering questions in the comments within 60 days of the start of the course
- Face-to-face one-hour online consultation with a course expert
- Bonus. Records of the marathon «The Mystery of the White Lily»
- Bonus. «Formulas of color combinations or how to mix complex shades for realistic botany»
- Bonus. «Tulip bud in the morning dew»
Frequently Asked Questions
- My level of drawing is beginner. Will I be able to do it that beautifully?
-
To master a realistic drawing, you need to divide it into stages. Understand the principles of bud design, the sequence of watercolor techniques, the elaboration of details that are responsible for realism.
You are going to enjoy technique of step-by-step mastering of these principles. During the course, we will gradually immerse ourselves in the topic, acquiring the necessary skills. And at each stage you will have a result - paintings in graphics and watercolor sketches. When you move on to the "Realism" section, you will already have an understanding and skills of how to draw it beautifully. So I'm sure you can do it!
- How long will the way from sketch to realism take?
-
If you have a no-feedback tariff, it will all depend on your personal pace at which you take the lessons.
On feedback tariffs, we are actively engaged in lessons during two months from the moment you "unfreeze" the course.
In general, I recommend taking the course slowly. Enjoy the process and results (pictures) more at each stage of learning.
- How will the feedback on my drawings be arranged?
-
At the end of the lesson, you'll post a photo of your work. The teacher will have an opportunity to leave textual, graphic (notes on the drawing), as well as audio comments to your work.
At the bottom of each lesson, there will be a comment section, where you can ask any questions about learning.
- IS THE COURSE SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS?
-
The course is suitable for junior artists from 13 years old, with the support of an adult and at a leisurely pace. Botanical illustrations are a calming process that trains perseverance. Like knitting, beadwork, embroidery.
- I am 67 years old, will I be able to learn how to draw such illustrations in the course?
-
It's never too late to learn painting. In our school, 30% of students are over 50 years old. And they are happy to draw, develop their skills, creative thinking and rejuvenate their soul and mind!
- After the course, will I be able to paint like a teacher?
-
The course will give you a great foundation. Plus, due to the fact that you will practice a lot with the teacher, in addition to the basics, you will begin to "see" the drawing in the landscapes, objects, and people around you. And, most importantly, you will understand how to draw it. As for the quality of work, it is important to understand that drawing, like any other skill, is developed over time. It's like cooking borscht or exercising abs – it takes practice and time.
