Video Tips on using pencils for botanical art
​including pencil media, drawing and blending with graphite pencils
​and how to draw botanical subjects using a graphite pencil
​
The Botanical Art Video Tips and Tutorials below are by botanical artists and can also be viewed on YouTube.  

This page covers
  • basics around use of a graphite pencil (e.g. brands, pencil sharpener)
  • basics of drawing using a pencil (e.g. drawing armatures)
  • botanical drawings using pencil
  • botanical subjects in pencil
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More Video Tips about Botanical Art 

Introduction to Graphite Pencils

Ann Swan introduces the different types of pencils she uses and the different brands on the market.  She highlights the ones which are suitable for her use - but recommends people find a brand which suits how they use a pencil on paper.

How to sharpen a mechanical pencil

One of the things you need to do when using a pencil for botanical art Is make sure you have a sharp point. 
Sharpening is a key skill which you need to develop if working with pencils.  You can use a knife or conventional pencil sharpeners for normal wood cased pencils but sometimes you may want to sharpen a mechanical pencil.
This is a demonstration of how Ann Swan HAND sharpens her graphite pencils to achieve a long, clean, sharp point for her detailed botanical plant drawings.

She also shows you how to safely change a blade on a surgical scalpel.
This is Sarah Morrish's video about how she sharpens her pencils to maintain a good point using a Rapesco Sharpener and fine grade emery boards or sandpaper.
How do you sharpen the point on a mechanical pencil?

​Mindy Lighthipe shows how to sharpen a lead in a clutch pencil using a special sharpener designed for use with mechanical pencils.

Understanding Surface Contour - how to create an armature drawing

First we learn how to draw contours. Next we need to be able to understand form and draw it - because this is what converts a 2D image into a 3D image.

In this video Mindy Lighthipe shows how to create an armature drawing to make a record of the form of an artichoke.

Drawing Paper for Realistic Pencil Drawings

JD Hillberry doesn't draw plants or flowers but he is a very experienced pencil artist who specialises in realistic rendering. 

In this video he highlights:
  • how you need to protect your paper when drawing and why you need to pick up paper by the edges
  • how to create a barrier between your hand and the drawing support
  • different sorts of paper - and the difference between the front and back side and Hot and Cold Press papers. (He likes to use the reverse side of Arches Aquarelle HP paper)
  • he demonstrates the difference in values between different papers with different tooth.

Pencil Drawing - Blending and Shading - Learn to blend and shade your drawings

JD Hillberry specialises in drawing in pencil and charcoal.

​he provides excellent advice about different approaches to blending and shading - focusing on blending tools. direction of blending moves and the type of touch to use to avoid damaging the surface of the paper..

He covers the use of:
  • a paper stump
  • a tortillon
  • a foam pastel blender (tools with foam tips)
  • chamois,
  • a cloth like paper towel
  • felt cloth (for rough textures)
  • printer paper

Help with Erasing

Help with Erasing

Graphite for Scientific Botanical Illustrations
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Now we progress to looking at how botanical subjects can be drawn using a graphite pencil

Graphite for Scientific Illustrations - Supplement to the free Guidebook - with English subtitles

BELOW is the Graphite for Scientific Illustrations - Supplement to the free Guidebook by Rogerio Lupo, Brazilian winner of the Margaret Flockton Award in 2010 and 2013 (with English subtitles ​reviewed by Bobbi Angell, American Botanical Illustrator).

This video lesson aims to support the study and practices of the Guidebook: Graphite and its Possibilities Applied to Scientific Illustrations - see  Graphite for Scientific Illustrations de Rogério Lupo

Botanical Subjects in Graphite
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How to draw a Poppy seedcase in graphite

Gaynor Dickeson looks at how to keep clean and how to keep the paper clean as well as specific aspects of drawing in tone and line using graphite.