Natural history illlustration....

Before we moved from the urban jungle, I had applied to Newcastle Uni for a place in their Bachelor of Natural History Illustration, and to my surprise was accepted, but by then Id signed the lease on our new home, furthur north, and so was no longer able to attend. Recently I was delighted to find a new course of similar tangents run by Leonie Norton, externally from Sydney. Its a self paced process, periodically sending assignments in for feedback and comment. Modules include drawing techniques, painting techniques (largely watercolours) and then sections on reptiles, birds, mammals, plants, shells, feathers, crystals and rocks.So Ive begun study after recieving the first module last week.

This artform has always fascinated me, its detail and precision both a reproduction of natural beauty and an accurate description of the subjects characteristics which served as reference well before the age of the camera, and indeed still do today. Already my 'eye' is shifting, once you begin to look for natural source material the world comes alive with potentials and observation kicks in. Im enjoying the process so far....