Between the last post and this one, spring has really arrived. One day it’s just a few blooming flowers here and there, and when you look around suddenly everything is full of fresh green leaves and you can’t see the birds in the trees anymore. I took the opportunity to sketch Japanese cherry blossoms and documented it for you again.
Japanese cherry trees are one of my favorite sight in spring, a lovely pink dot amongst delicate greens. I’ve chosen a single twig with flowers and sketched it in a loose style. I explain my process for drawing the flowers from different angles, and how I keep the painting style loose, but realistic.
I hope you enjoy the video!
All of the techniques I show here can be learned in my course Introduction to Botanical Sketching (it starts very soon with the first ever live run-through – you will get assignments and feedback from me for over 4 weeks while you learn botanical sketching).
Further resources:
- Introduction to Botanical Sketching (course) – The live version of this course starts on May 15, enrollment is open now.
- Adding shadows to sketches + choosing shadow colors
- Sketching plant portraits
I thought the shadow shapes on your blossums turned out very nice! Such a beautiful flower – makes me also think of apple blossoms. I have the botantical course. How much to add the live version?
Thank you!
Many thanks Margret. It is really a lovely flower. The upgrade is $40 for four weeks of assignments and feedback (of course you keep access to the videos afterwards). 🙂
These are lovely, Julia! Think I’ll watch the video and paint some flowering crabapple, which is found in the woods around here.
Oh, that’s sounds like a lovely idea. Have fun!
This is so lovely Julia!! I love to see and hear your process! I just purchased your intro to sketching course and hope to start it today, hopefully!
Thanks so much Betty! And I really hope you’ll enjoy the course! 🙂
Spring is beginning to burst where i live in northern New England (US). The fruit trees’ blossoms are merely a promise at this point, but the shad trees have popped and your blog entry + video are inspiring. A two quick ink questions : (1) i know you use R+K SketchInks, but have you tried colour mixing? I’m wondering specifically if mixing bright blue Marlene with bright pink Vroni delivers lovely shades of violet and purple; and (2) what ink did you use in your forsythia sketch shown in your blog post and vid a week or so ago? I’m starting to experiment with waterproof inks in my watercolours; you use them to great effect. Thank you so much.
Thank you! Oh, the fruit tree blossoms are always so beautiful!
Yes, the inks are mixable, I’ve experimented a bit a got a nice turquoise. I haven’t tried to get a purple yet, but it shouldn’t be a problem since the pink and blue almost look like primary colors.
I used the RK SketchInk in orange/yellow (I forgot the name but they only have one yellow). I may have thinned it a bit with water.
Hope that helps! 🙂
Absolutely, Julia – very helpful indeed! I believe the R+K colour in your forsythia sketch must have been “Carmen.” I’m going to go ahead with the purchase of a couple of colours (hard to refrain from putting all of them in my cart, but i’m determined not to exceed my budget). I did find a web page that discusses R+K mixing and offers some colour mixing charts. Honestly, those charts make it very hard to limit my purchase. For your reference, if you’re interested, here is the URL:
https://jannahlyon.com/rohrer-klingner-sketchink-mixing-inks-together-color-mix-chart/
Thank you for all the knowledge you share with us. I look forward to your posts and study your sketches time and time again.
Ah, thanks for sharing, that’s so useful! I got the inks bit by bit to make sure I actually use them, but I’m sure some of them will last for years. I wish they sold them in smaller containers. I’m currently testing if they are indeed lightfast. The company says yes, but one never knows. I’m happy to hear you enjoy the blog so much!
preciosa Ilustración. Tras haber visto tus dibujos en una publicación de Instagram, hoy he hecho un recorrido por tu blog y cuanto más lo miro más me enamoro. cada detalle que veo me da ideas para plasmar lo que yo he observado. ayer en uno de nuestros paseos vimos una ardilla. Son muy simpáticas pero huidizas, gracias a tu blog se me han ocurrido varias maneras de plasmarla. Gracias. Intentaré enviarte alguno de mis dibujos. Te sigo con entusiasmo. Un abrazo.