From Botanical Drawings to Narrative Illustration

Start off by getting to know Elizabeth Builes. She tells you about her career in illustration and how the scientific method plays an important role in her work. She also shares some of her favorite projects and biggest sources of inspiration.

Do a quick review of the scientific method and how you can apply it to your creative drawing process. Discover the importance of observation and create an image bank that inspires you. Pratice different styles of linework and start filling in your field notebook.

Next, analyze the text you're going to illustrate and do some research on its meaning and context. Create associations between certain words, phrases and images and transform them into illustrations on the page. Use a variety of rhetorical devices to add literary depth to your work.

Finally, learn how to brighten your drawings with color and add a distinct atmosphere by combining illustration techniques. To tie everything together, Elizabeth shows you how to digitize your work without losing any details and get it ready to print or share on social media.