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Has learning about a plant ever changed the way you draw it?

Has learning about a plant ever changed the way you draw it?

by Zoe Nikolopoulou -
Number of replies: 5

Hi all,

I’m curious—has there ever been a moment when something you learned about a plant (its behavior in the wild, its cultural symbolism, ecological role or even its mythological associations) shifted the way you saw or illustrated it?

I’ve found that certain plants feel different to draw once I understand more about their life stories—like how a seemingly delicate wildflower might turn out to be incredibly resilient, or how a medicinal herb carries centuries of human connection. Have you had a moment like that—where knowing changed your way of seeing and therefore your way of drawing?

Would love to hear your thoughts! 


In reply to Zoe Nikolopoulou

Re: Has learning about a plant ever changed the way you draw it?

by Shelly Williams -
Absolutely Zoe. What a great question. Once I research a plant, which I do on almost every plant I draw, I develop this kind of connection, or attachment, to the plant. I just read a really interesting book that you might like (maybe already read it) called The Light Eaters by Zoe Schlanger. Now I have even more fascination and curiosity about the plant kingdom. She delves into some of the newest plant science research and some controversial issues regarding plant communication and 'intelligence'.
In reply to Zoe Nikolopoulou

Re: Has learning about a plant ever changed the way you draw it?

by Sonja Williams -
Hi Zoe,
I have definitely had that experience with plants. I have a plant in my front yard, which is a native plant called Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana). It is regarded by most as a weed, and I have myself ripped out numerous young ones from my garden. Its berries are lovely, but poisonous to people. Upon reading more about it, I learned that it provides food for a wide number of birds and mammals and was even used centuries ago to make a brown ink. Needless to say, I have let it grow and take over my front yard because I want to see all of the animals who love it.
See more images of Phytolacca americana

This summer, I am taking a class in bird illustration, and it is definitely happening with birds, too. I chose to illustrate a vulture, an animal that many people find repellant, but after learning more about them, I find them really beautiful, in a strange way...

Sonja
In reply to Sonja Williams

Re: Has learning about a plant ever changed the way you draw it?

by Carol Haley -
Sonja - what a great story!
In reply to Sonja Williams

Re: Has learning about a plant ever changed the way you draw it?

by Shelly Williams -
Hi Sonja!
I am curious about the bird illustration course. Is it Jane Kim's course through Cornell?
In reply to Zoe Nikolopoulou

Re: Has learning about a plant ever changed the way you draw it?

by Carol Haley -
Hi Zoe - Definitely - a year or so ago, I bought a bunch of different plant specimens to keep in my apartment for inspiration. The pussy willow (Salix sp) stems I bought in a bodega lasted a long time (months). Their catkins went through a series of interesting changes I'd never noticed before. Now I would not would draw them as fuzzy ovals on a stem, but would draw a progression of their development (gray fuzz to dropping their ebony colored caps to a profusion of tiny yellow flowers, etc) over time.