BotanINK!
It was a real pleasure to be invited back to the Cranbourne Royal Botanic Gardens by the Friends - over the past two Wednesdays. The theme I chose to teach and demonstrate over the two weeks was exploring botanical illustration using ink.
The first week was spent learning different ways to create tones and shapes with black ink line only. Simple and complex hatching exercises were created in their sketch books first and simple leaf forms drawn. Then, on 300gsm hot press paper a complete and complex black ink drawing was created by each student using plant material they had brought with them or sourced from the garden.
Our technique was to begin the drawing as a silhouette outline only of the plant shape. Once this outline is created, the negative areas and 'windows' are drawn. This forces the artist to abandon any preconceived ideas of a 'leaf' and observe the silhouette and negative shapes in isolation. Finally, shading and tone is added to create and enhance the leaves, stems and buds. I did 'ban' all use of pencil and erasers, so some found it a bit confronting at first. But all 10 artists embraced the challenge and created some stunning works. As always, I demonstrate technique and try to complete a sample drawing so they can see how to progress.
'Bloodwood Acacia' demonstration work by Linda Weil©
Our second week (today) we leapt into color! I have a variety of color inks and these were made available for all to trial and use. These included: Inktense pencils, Art Spectrum Acrylic inks, Sennilier Shellac inks, Adele and Staedtler color fineliner pens and Prismacolor Premier markers. Some students owned their own Inktense pencils or sticks and different brands of inks which they had fun playing with.
Like the first week, the morning was spent experimenting with the different inks, creating color tests and exploring how each ink worked and washed and moved on paper. Test drawings were done in sketchbooks.
Moving on to 300gsm hot press paper, each student then created a color work of either a plant sample they had brought in, or a colorful autumn leaf supplied by two of the Friends. These drawings were started by laying down color with either the Inktense or acrylic inks. The Inktense was washed with water and allowing the colors to blend on the paper. Acrylic inks were blended in the wet state. Once dry, more Inktense or acrylic ink could be added and washed to strengthen colors. Finally, various inks, pens or markers are added to create detail. We had a lot of fun!
'Autumn Leaf' demonstration drawing by Linda Weil©
It was a most enjoyable two week workshop - everyone had fun and all created great works. I hope this introduction to ink inspires them to continue and develop their botanical illustrations using this versatile medium.
