This section focuses on different ways you can document a plant.
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One of the reasons why many botanical artists learn more about plants and about botany
is because this helps them to indicate the key differentiating features of a plant in their illustration of it.
Recording features of plants by sketches done in the field and on expeditions - and preserving plant material for further examination - is vital to the development of botanical illustrations and paintings back in the studio

This section covers
  • ​How to Identify a Plant - conventionally and using a plant app
  • How to use a Sketchbook to record a plant
  • How to photograph a plant - TIPS for botanical artists
  • How to dissect a flower - video explanations
  • Botanical recording of plants by Botanical Societies and National Plant Collections (UK)
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Musk Mallow - recorded as a pressed specimen and in sketchbook drawings and colour studies - by a Diploma student at the Chelsea School of Botanical Art
GO TO: Separate pages (see links below) for:
  • Plant Pressing for your own Herbarium for botanical artists wishing to develop their own Herbarium of pressed and preserved plant material. This provides o
    • view instruction videos on this topic
    • find out about a recommended book on "how to"
    • plus other resources for plant pressing.
Banner Image: Crop of a record produced by a student of the Diploma Course at the Chelsea Physic Garden in July 2015

How to identify a Plant
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BASIC METHOD - RECORD LOCATION AND FEATURES

Some ways of recording and identifying a plant
  • Location of the plant
  • Nature of the habitat
  • Growth stage
  • Leaves: shape and margins; length; whether or not they are hairy; leaf arrangement on the stem; whether or not there is a stalk
  • Flowers: colour and time of peak flowering
  • Reproductive structure
  • Colours of different parts
REFERENCE
  • Flora Search - a structured BSBI questionnaire - with prompts - on the characteristics of the plant you are trying to identify
PLANT APPS

Plant Apps are an amazing help while you are out and about -
  • BUT they are NOT infallible.
  • It's always best to check again when you get home
  • AND to make a proper conventional record when you see a new plant.

There are various Plant Apps which help identify what a plant or tree is. These include ones available from both Google Play and the Apple Store APPLE ONLY
  • PictureThis® - identifies 1,000,000+ plants every day with 98% accuracy
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​There are others which are specific to different parts of the world.

How to use a Sketchbook to record a plant
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A sketchbook is a useful tool for recording annotated drawings of a plant in the growing naturally. 

SKETCHBOOK TIPS BY LUCY T SMITH
  • ​Do NOT forget the "big picture". Remember to look at:
    • habit,
    • stems
    • joints, 
    • leaves etc
  • Walk around the plant to get a feel for it; 
  • Find angles for drawing/sketching which are:
    • informative
    • unusual
    • NOT awkward or ambiguous
  • Look for all stages of growth
    • bud / flower / fruit
    • lower leaves
    • upper leaves near to flowers
    • new growth and old growth
    • woody stems and new stems

NOTE: Lucy T Smith is a professional botanical illustrator and instructor who produces botanical illustrations for Kew Gardens and others.
Picture
TIPS for Sketching / Drawing Plants by Lucy T Smith
EXAMPLE OF A FIELD SKETCH by an RHS Gold Medal Winner

The sketch below of Ophrys balearica (and five others) were displayed as part of the RHS Gold Medal winning exhibit of "Orchids in Menorca" by Louise Lane GM (2012, 2014, 2019) at the RHS Botanical Exhibition in 2014.

The Field Sketch below by includes: 
  • Top left: name, place found and date. 
  • Top right: GPS data for location. 
  • (left) measured drawing in the field; 
  • (Centre) an annotated study of specific botanical aspects plus notes of variations between plants at that site. 
  • (Right) Colour notes (including paints to use) for different parts of the orchid. 
  • (Bottom right) measurements of petals, sepals and labellum 
The Field sketch was then mounted and presented immediately below the completed painting that it provided information for.
Picture
Louise Lane with Painting and Sketch at the RHS Botanical Art Show in 2014 (Gold Medal top right)
Picture
Sketch of Orphys Balearica by Louise Lane (RHS GM 2014) - presented underneath the painting of this orchid as part of Louise's RHS Gold Medal winning display
KIT FOR SKETCHING TRIP

Of course if you are going to sketch in the field you need a kit of all the sketching media and tools you will need plus some practical essentials.

For this sketchbook trip searching for wild orchids, Shevaun Doherty is taking:
  • field guide to orchids
  • sketchbook - with Bulldog clip to keep pages from flapping if there is a wind
  • a very small palette - complete with paint dabs
  • two brushes
  • sharp pencil
  • very precise eraser
  • elastic band to keep everything together (never ever underestimate the importance of the elastic band or bulldog clip!)
  • mini-callipers
  • groundsheet - to sit on
  • raincoat
  • wellington boots

Of course if somewhere where it is sunnier you can dump the raincoat and wellies and substitute sun protection and sun hat.
EXAMPLE: STUDIO SKETCH

By way of contrast, this is a STUDIO based sketch study by Shevaun Doherty is of the colours for Ophrys apifera (bee orchid).

The sketch is being produced as an example of her sketchbook work for Sceitse, Sketchbook Exhibition by the Irish Society of Botanical Artists that will take place at National Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre, National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin in November 2020.

It's good to see exhibitions of sketches and sketchbooks!

NOTE: The actual sketch is much bigger​

Online Examples of Botanical Artists Sketchbooks
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Not a lot of professional botanical artists/illustrators record their sketches online - which is a pity.

The artists listed below have provided pages or sites devoted to their Sketchbooks - by way of providing examples of how you can record plants in a sketchbook.
​Contact me if you have a web page or site which could usefully be added in to this section.
Sketchbooks allow artists to research their subjects and to fine tune observational skills.  They facilitate drawing and painting practise without the pressure of producing a finished work. They allow compositional ideas to be formulated. A large body of study material can be created without the commitment of a final piece. Consequently sketchbooks act like an experimental  journal, a personal library, from which the artist can pick and choose subjects to take forward.
Dianne Sutherland
Think of your sketchbook as a creative filing cabinet
Sarah Morrish | Illustrating Nature's Details
WEBPAGES or BLOG POSTS OF SKETCHBOOK EXAMPLES

All the examples below are by full time professional botanical illustrators/teachers
Below are examples from students
INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS
BOOKS ABOUT SKETCHBOOKS

Below are a couple of books about Botanical Sketchbooks which you may well find very useful - as well as a pleasure to read and review.

They are:
  • Botanical Sketchbooks - compiled by Helen and William Bynum (re. sketchbooks from 18th  20th centuries)
  • Botanical Sketchbook by Mary Ann Scott and Margaret Stevens (re. a sketchbook kept for the SBA DLDC)
Botanical Sketchbooks by Helen and William Bynum
​HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:
​This book is about botanical sketchbooks which were created to record the natural world - between the 16th and 20th centuries. It attracted a lot of glowing reviews when published.
  • the contents provide a real insight into the firsthand experiences and adventures of the botanists, artists, collectors, and explorers behind them.
  • It's a unique book which all botanical art enthusiasts will treasure.
  • It's also a very special gift for a botanical artist or for a person who enjoys botanical art.​​
​You won't find this quality of content in any other book.

​It has facsimiles of 275 original illustrations recording plants from the 18th - 20 centuries with most recorded at a time when there were no cameras for recording plants.

The collection of colour images is amazing - and many of have never been seen before - because they are in sketchbooks!
TWO VERSIONS: This book was published almost simultaneously in the UK and USA - hence
  • the two different covers below and
  • the two different publishers.
​The standard of publishing is absolutely first rate. (My copy is the Princeton edition)
"a very beautiful book"
a comment made by many purchasers and reviewers
UK version:
​Hardcover: 296 pages
Publisher: Thames and Hudson Ltd;
Publication date (1st edition): 13 April 2017

RECOMMENDED UK:
rated an average 5 out of 5* by 4 customer reviews

BUY IN THE UK
Botanical Sketchbooks from Amazon.co.uk
USA version:
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press
Publication date: May 9, 2017
Language: English
Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 1.4 x 10.9 inches

RECOMMENDED USA:
rated an average 4.8 out of 5* by 14 customer reviews
​
​BUY IN THE USA
Botanical Sketchbooks from Amazon.com
The sketchbooks cover:
  • sketches made on location - by adventurers, collectors, those pursuing botany and those undertaking imperial projects
  • by those serving science - as naturalists or botanists and in the botanical garden
  • by those making art - by artists interested in nature in art, as a job (eg for explorers), for their patrons
  • by those who sketched plants as a pleasing occupation
It also has a very useful listing at the end of how to find out more.
What's unique about this book is that it provides an insight into the working methods and sketchbooks kept by various different important and/or famous names in botanical art - as well as a few who are less well known - what they recorded and how they chose to make and annotate their records.

​Students will find the range of sketches interesting and how they vary from the very basic to the very sophisticated.
About the authors: Helen and William Bynum are historians of science and medicine, who also have a particular interest in horticulture and the importance of plants in human culture and society. ​​​
Botanical Sketchbook
by Mary Ann Scott and Margaret Stevens
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
- read my Book Review: Botanical Sketchbook (see extract below)
The book provides a masterclass for all aspiring botanical artists and is highly recommended. It's an essential buy for all students of the Society of Botanical Artist's Diploma in Botanical illustration and a recommended buy for all other aspiring botanical art students and artists and many of their tutors. It provides an excellent benchmark for the standard of botanical illustration and painting which can be achieved by an exceptional student. It also tells the story of how such excellence can be developed - through much practice and intelligent use of the botanical sketchbook.
Katherine Tyrrell
About the Book: This book was developed by the Society of Botanical Artists as a way of emphasising the importance of keeping a sketchbook.  
  • It focuses on the sketchbook kept by Diploma student Mary Ann Scott.
  • She was awarded a Distinction with her Diploma in Botanical Art by the Society of Botanical Artists

Read an interview with the author of Botanical Sketchbook - A Making A Mark Interview with Mary Ann Scott. This also provides my-depth review of the book.
About the authors: Mary Ann Scott was a student on the SBA Distance Learning Diploma Course when she developed her sketchbook. Margaret Stevens was the the President of the Society of Botanical Artists and the Director of the Distance Learning Course when she developed the book.
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Hardcover: 128 pages
Publisher: Batsford (19 April 2010)
​
Average Customer Rating out of 5 stars:
  • in UK: 4.7 (based on 39 customer reviews)
  • in USA: 4.3 based on 34 customer reviews​

BUY THIS BOOK
Botanical Sketchbook from Amazon.com
Picture
Examples of the shade cards developed by Mary Ann Scott as a reference for recording purposes

How to photograph a plant - tips for botanical artists
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The best camera is the one you've got with you when you need it
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

I'm no expert but I've taken tens of thousands of good quality plant photos by buying a decent quality bridge camera (rather than a Single Lens Reflex - which is what the experts use) - and learning how it works - and what are the challenges it needs to deal with e.g. bright sunlight; busy backgrounds etc. 

You need a camera which can capture detail well and sometimes photograph from a distance when you're unable to get to a plant easily.
  • Camera - do you have a camera which can do the job and works for you? 
    • I personally work with a Canon bridge camera which gives me macros at zero distance and also zooms a very long way.  (There again I have a disability and am unable to carry multiple lenses)
    • ​Many people now use their camera phones. It's worth spending a bit extra to get decent images because you know you'll always have your phone with you. 
    • You can get macro lens attachments for some camera phones
  • LOOK! - before you start to photograph. Don't look through a lens. Look with your eyes.
  • Light - neutral light is always best. Photography is very difficult in bright sunlight (both tones and colours distort); overcast skies are much better. Sometimes you can solve the problem if it's a small plant by using a backpack or similar or even getting a companion to provide shade!
  • Angles - walk all the way around your plant (without damaging other plants). You will discover new angles which explain more about the structure of the plant
  • Top to bottom - If you're producing a botanical study, it's not just about the pretty bits. Start at the bottom and photograph the total height (and/or width) of the plant in sections.
  • Capture - make sure you have everything in that you need. LOOK at your photograph after you have taken it to see whether you actually captured what you set out to record
  • Distance and Angles - Observe the whole plant and then its parts from different distances and different angles. You should be using macro (or zoom if it's impossible to get close). 
  • ​Pale against dark - If I'm shooting something very pale I always look for a patch of dark background to shoot it against - as I then get a much better photo in terms of shape, colour and tone.  Hedges and trees trunks usually work very well. 
  • Use the Macro Mode - If you have a macro on your camera, use it to produce much better quality detail than zooming on Auto. First you need to understand when you can use it and what distances it works best at.  When buying a new bridge camera I always look to see how close I can get to an object and still use the Macro. 
  • Clarity - You need to be absolutely still - even if your camera has got good use a portable tripod if you have one. Otherwise use whatever supports are available to ensure a pinsharp photo. ALWAYS check your photo to ensure that it's sharp. You may need to zoom in view mode to make sure you have important details in focus.
  • Battery - make sure it is fully charged before you leave the house and/or have a battery charger with you. The best things you ever see are always just after your battery has expired!
  • Organisation - Make sure you organise your photos on your computer or cloud facility if you want to be able to find the one you want quickly.
    • ​I organise by trips to places
    • then extract and create copies in plant folders - with the correct plant name!
    • Seasons are another good way of archiving - so that if asked to illustrate a plant out of season you know where your photo resources are.
  • Archive - Always make sure you have backed up your photos to a different place - and that this stores them in the original format. There are various ways of doing this. If you just upload them to your computer and wipe them from the original mode of capture then you may well find out the hard way that hard discs can become corrupted and that way you can then lose everything. 
EXAMPLE: Three photos I took with my Bridge Camera in September 2020 plus a crop. 
This is nothing special but it serves as an example. I'm familiar with the Yellow Horn Poppy but wanted to see what information I could capture with my five year old Canon SX40HS bridge camera while sat on a bench at a distance of some 10 feet.  (I find that the advantage of sitting is that it's much easier for me to keep your camera still. If standing I tend to spread my feet so I am better balanced )

So I took the whole plant - including adjacent foliage as I couldn't work out from where I was sat which was which. Then moved in for more detail. Finally I zoomed for a close up shot of the yellow horn poppy itself.  Then I checked to see what I'd got. 
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Photo of a yellow horn poppy growing at Kew (complete plant)
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Partial ZOOM: More details of growth habit and leaves associated with the yellow horn poppy
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ZOOM VIEW of the yellow horn poppy - which provides a lot more information about both structure and detail
Picture
CROP of previous photo. This is the level of DETAIL captured with an ordinary good quality bridge camera - from a distance of 10 feet
TIPS BY PHOTOGRAPHERS
TIPS BY BOTANICAL ART SOCIETIES
ARTICLES ON PHOTOGRAPHY FOR BOTANICAL ARTISTS

Dissection
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The video below about flower dissection is produced by Science and Plants for Schools (SAPS) - supporting plant science in UK secondary schools and post-16 colleges.
The videos below have been produced by the Association of British Botanical Artists
Science Sauce publishes science teaching and learning materials - including learning videos like the one below. The man behind the site is Alex Nixon is a high school science teacher with experience in Years 7 to 13 (Grades 6 to 12), including general science, IGCSE Biology, IGCSE Environmental Management, A Level Biology, IB Biology, and IB ESS.

Botanical Plant Recording
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Botanical Recording Societies
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Botanical artists in need of help with recording plants in their area may find their local botanical recording groups are able to provide assistance. They can also provide training in Field Identification Skills.

Botanical Recording Societies in the UK

Plant Science: Glossary
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Plant recording for National Collections
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NEXT:
Plant Pressing for your own Herbarium
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Botanical Gardens