Botanical Illustration

Abstract

“Botanical illustration is the art of depicting the form, color, and details of plant species. Botanical illustrations must be scientifically accurate, but often they also have an artistic component and may be printed with a botanical description in book, magazines, and other media or sold as a work of art.” Wikipedia.com. The history of botanical illustration goes back many centuries. Although traditionally done in watercolor, more botanical artists are also using colored pencil. True botanical illustration is very exacting in what is expected, including dissection and proper labeling, but more flexibility is allowed in botanical art and often these terms are used interchangeably.