Course: Botanical Illustration III: Advanced Techniques

Weekly outline

General

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Botanical Illustration 3 Introductory Days

January 8-11, 2026
- Forum
  
  News forum
  
  General news and announcements. I sometimes leave older articles up if they are interesting!
- File
  
  Welcome! File
- Page
  
  Course Overview and Format Page
- Page
  
  Learning Outcomes and Rubric for Assessment Page
- Page
  
  Purpose and Course Objectives Page
- Page
  
  Our Philosophy Page
  
  How we approach the botanical illustration instruction and what we'd like you to keep in mind as you progress.
- Page
  
  Reflective Writing Requirements Page
- Page
  
  Course Materials Page
- Forum
  
  Reading Assignment Forum
- Forum
  
  Please Introduce Yourself! Forum
- Page
  
  Instructions for Navigating this Course Page
- Page
  
  Student Guide to Navigating ‘Advanced Botanical Illustration' Online Page
- Assignment
  
  Scanning and Upload Information Assignment
  
  Opened: Thursday, 8 January 2026, 12:00 AM
- Page
  
  Sample Writing Page
- Page
  
  A Brief History of Botanical Illustration Page
- Page
  
  A word about your handwriting... Page
- Page
  
  A word about plant morphology Page
Lesson 1
Review of Elements and Principles
January 12-18, 2026
- Page
  
  Lesson 1.1 Review of Elements and Principles Page
- Page
  
  Important -- Multiple file uploads -- please read me! Page
- Assignment
  
  Exercise 1.1: Lines, Patterns and Shading with Pencil Techniques Assignment
  
  Opened: Monday, 12 January 2026, 12:00 AM
  
  Due: Sunday, 18 January 2026, 11:59 PM
- Assignment
  
  Exercise 1.2: Composition with Pen and Ink Assignment
  
  Opened: Monday, 12 January 2026, 12:00 AM
  
  Due: Sunday, 18 January 2026, 11:59 PM
- Assignment
  
  Exercise 1.3: Revisiting the Color Circle Assignment
  
  Opened: Monday, 12 January 2026, 12:00 AM
  
  Due: Sunday, 18 January 2026, 11:59 PM
- Page
  
  Blending Color Page
  
  In which the artist demonstrates basic blending of primary colors. Notice that the pencils used were quite soft (Prismacolors). The paper also has a strong tooth, so that soft pencils will be necessary to fill the tooth of the paper and avoid the white of the paper showing through. A paper with a smoother texture, such as hot-pressed watercolor paper, will not require such great pressure.
- Assignment
  
  Exercise 1.4: Portfolio Development Assignment
  
  Opened: Monday, 12 January 2026, 12:00 AM
  
  Due: Sunday, 18 January 2026, 11:59 PM
- Assignment
  
  Reflective Writing Entry Assignment
  
  Opened: Monday, 12 January 2026, 12:00 AM
  
  Due: Sunday, 18 January 2026, 11:59 PM
- Forum
  
  Student Open Forum
- Page
  
  Organization of your Art Tools Page
- File
  
  More on Portfolio Development -- What am I looking for? File
  
  454.8 KB documento PDF
- Page
  
  Portfolio Development Continued: Several Student Examples, and Recommendations Page
Lesson 2
Technical Drawing and Illustration with Pen and Ink
January 19-25, 2026
- Page
  
  Pen and Ink Methods Page
- Forum
  
  Reading Assignment Forum
- Page
  
  Shading with Pen (video) Page
- Assignment
  
  Exercise 2.1: Roots with Pen Techniques Assignment
  
  Opened: Monday, 19 January 2026, 12:00 AM
  
  Due: Sunday, 25 January 2026, 11:59 PM
- Assignment
  
  Exercise 2.2: Flower Parts with Quill and Ink Assignment
  
  Opened: Monday, 19 January 2026, 12:00 AM
  
  Due: Sunday, 25 January 2026, 11:59 PM
- Page
  
  Colored Pen Techniques (Video) Page
- Assignment
  
  Exercise 2.3: Colored Pen Illustration Assignment
  
  Opened: Monday, 19 January 2026, 12:00 AM
  
  Due: Sunday, 25 January 2026, 11:59 PM
- Assignment
  
  Exercise 2.3b: Colored Pen Illustration Assignment
  
  Opened: Monday, 19 January 2026, 12:00 AM
  
  Due: Sunday, 25 January 2026, 11:59 PM
- Assignment
  
  Reflective Writing Entry Assignment
  
  Opened: Monday, 19 January 2026, 12:00 AM
  
  Due: Sunday, 25 January 2026, 11:59 PM
- Forum
  
  Student Open Forum
- Lesson
  
  upcoming: Optional Lesson on Linocut
Lesson 3
Dimensions, Values, and Textures found in Nature
January 26-February 1, 2026
- Page
  
  Elements of Art found in Nature Page
- Forum
  
  Reading Assignment Forum
- Assignment
  
  Exercise 3.1: Drawing Geometric Forms with Pencil Assignment
  
  Opened: Monday, 26 January 2026, 12:00 AM
  
  Due: Sunday, 1 February 2026, 11:59 PM
- Assignment
  
  Exercise 3.2: Overlay and Shadowing Assignment
  
  Opened: Monday, 26 January 2026, 12:00 AM
  
  Due: Sunday, 1 February 2026, 11:59 PM
- Assignment
  
  Exercise 3.3: Charcoal and Chalk Illustration Assignment
  
  Opened: Monday, 26 January 2026, 12:00 AM
  
  Due: Sunday, 1 February 2026, 11:59 PM
- Assignment
  
  Exercise 3.3b: Charcoal and Chalk Illustration Assignment
  
  Opened: Monday, 26 January 2026, 12:00 AM
  
  Due: Sunday, 1 February 2026, 11:59 PM
- Assignment
  
  Reflective Writing Entry Assignment
  
  Opened: Monday, 26 January 2026, 12:00 AM
  
  Due: Sunday, 1 February 2026, 11:59 PM
- Forum
  
  Student Open Forum
Lesson 4
Watercolor and Colored Pencil
February 2-8, 2026
- Page
  
  Lesson 4: Watercolor and Colored Pencil Page
- Forum
  
  Reading Assignment Forum
- Assignment
  
  Exercise 4.1: Creating a Plant Portrait or Other Composition in Watercolor Assignment
  
  Opened: Monday, 2 February 2026, 12:00 AM
  
  Due: Sunday, 8 February 2026, 11:59 AM
- Assignment
  
  Exercise 4.2: Colored Pencil Techniques Assignment
  
  Opened: Monday, 2 February 2026, 12:00 AM
  
  Due: Sunday, 8 February 2026, 11:59 AM
- Assignment
  
  Exercise 4.3: Colored Pencil Illustration: Iris sp. Assignment
  
  Opened: Monday, 2 February 2026, 12:00 AM
  
  Due: Sunday, 8 February 2026, 11:59 PM
- Assignment
  
  Exercise 4.4: Mixed Media Illustration Assignment
  
  Opened: Monday, 2 February 2026, 12:00 AM
  
  Due: Sunday, 8 February 2026, 11:59 PM
- Assignment
  
  Exercise 4.5: Portfolio Development Assignment
  
  Opened: Monday, 2 February 2026, 12:00 AM
  
  Due: Sunday, 8 February 2026, 11:59 PM
- Assignment
  
  Reflective Writing Entry Assignment
  
  Opened: Monday, 2 February 2026, 12:00 AM
  
  Due: Sunday, 8 February 2026, 11:59 PM
- Forum
  
  Student Open Forum
Lesson 5
Identification and Portrayal of Plant Characteristics
February 9-22, 2026
(Extra week built in to catch your breath or take a break!)
- Page
  
  Lesson 5: Identification and Portrayal of Plant Characteristics Page
- Forum
  
  Reading Assignment Forum
- Assignment
  
  Exercise 5.1: Pencil: Pleurotus ostreatus Assignment
  
  Opened: Monday, 9 February 2026, 12:00 AM
  
  Due: Sunday, 22 February 2026, 11:59 PM
- Assignment
  
  Exercise 5.2: Pen and Ink: Quercus spp. Assignment
  
  Opened: Monday, 9 February 2026, 12:00 AM
  
  Due: Wednesday, 22 July 2026, 11:59 PM
- Assignment
  
  Exercise 5.3: Colored Pencil: Rosa spp. Assignment
  
  Opened: Monday, 9 February 2026, 12:00 AM
  
  Due: Sunday, 22 February 2026, 11:59 PM
- Assignment
  
  Reflective Writing Entry Assignment
  
  Opened: Monday, 9 February 2026, 12:00 AM
  
  Due: Sunday, 22 February 2026, 11:59 PM
- Forum
  
  Student Open Forum
Lesson 6
Final lesson: "Final" Drawing and Portfolio
February 23-March 1, 2026
- Page
  
  Lesson 6: Final Illustration and Portfolio Review Page
- Assignment
  
  Warm Up 6.1: Preparing for your Final Illustration Assignment
  
  Opened: Monday, 23 February 2026, 12:00 AM
  
  Due: Sunday, 1 March 2026, 11:59 PM
- Assignment
  
  Final Illustration Assignment
  
  Opened: Monday, 23 February 2026, 12:00 AM
  
  Due: Sunday, 1 March 2026, 11:59 PM
- Assignment
  
  Portfolio Review Assignment
  
  Opened: Monday, 23 February 2026, 12:00 AM
  
  Due: Sunday, 1 March 2026, 11:59 PM
- Forum
  
  Optional Activity: Portfolio Sharing Forum
- Page
  
  Materials for Further Exploration Page
- Page
  
  Works Cited Page

Weekly outline

General

Lesson 1

Lesson 2

Lesson 3

Lesson 4

Lesson 5

Lesson 6