Realistic Botanical Illustration: Escape to Nature

Learn to paint detailed botanical illustrations by exploring the versatility of watercolor and experimenting with glazes, color values, and textures

• Introduction
• The Basics
• Gaining More Control and Tools for Realistic Painting
• The Illustration: Drawing the Pears
• The Illustration: Drawing the Leaves and the Bees
• Final project

Even on the grayest day, a botanical illustration can evoke the warm glow of the sun, the intricate veining on a leaf, or the freshness of summer berries. For watercolorist Katerina Kolberg, painting is an escape to the natural world. Turning her passion into a career, she has created award-winning illustrations and packaging designs for brands like Yoplait and Vivi Kola. While watercolor is known for its unpredictability, Katerina has adopted a methodical approach that provides ultimate control, making it possible for anyone to learn to paint with detail.

In this online course, discover Katerina’s techniques to compose realistic botanical illustrations using watercolor. Harness the expressiveness of wet-on-wet and the precision of glazing to capture the vibrant colors and textures found in nature. Retreat to your own oasis inspired by the lush detail around you.

• About Me
• Influences
• The Materials
• Basic Techniques 1
• Basic Techniques 2
• Painting Wet on Wet 1
• Painting Wet on Wet 2
• Painting Wet on Wet 3
• Painting Layers and Glazing
• Values Translated into Colour
• Understanding Texture 1
• Understanding Texture 2
• Understanding Texture 3
• General Composition
• Photo References
• Tracing and Transferring 1
• Tracing and Transferring 2
• Painting the Whole Pear 1
• Painting the Whole Pear 2
• Painting Half the Pear 1
• Painting Half the Pear 2
• Painting the Leaves and the Branch 1
• Painting the Leaves and the Branch 2
• Adding Layers and Water Drops
• Painting the Bees
• Realistic Botanical Illustration: Escape to Nature