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Lupine

Lupine, from America's Deserts, Guide to Plants and Animals

Drawing as a Tool in Learning about Natural Science
The process of illustrating plants and animals teaches a lot about their form and function. It can be an interesting and fun part of a journal entry, written report, class project, etc. The following information should help get you started.

Simple Drawing Techniques for Natural Science Illustrations:
1. TRACING
Use a leaf or other flat object. Trace around the outside of the object. You can also make a photocopy of the object or make a photocopy of a drawing or photograph. Place the photocopy underneath your paper to trace it.

2. MEASURING
Use a ruler to measure the length and width of your leaf or other object and draw a “box” (rectangle) that size. Then, laying the leaf alongside the box, draw the leaf within the margins you’ve measured. You can also “reduce” or “enlarge” your drawing by drawing a proportionately smaller or larger “box”.

3. FREEHAND SKETCHING
This is a quick, “loose,” style of drawing and works really well in the field. Sometimes the original drawing is done in ink, sometimes in pencil.

Materials (available at office supply/stationery stores, artist’s supply stores and/or craft stores):

Pencil	Any #2 pencil is fine; a “soft” #2 is better.
Eraser	Example: Staedtler Mars or Magic Rub plastic eraser.
Ruler	A 6 inch ruler is a good, convenient size; example: C-Thru 6 inch, #18.
Drawing Pens	Disposable pens are a good buy and come in many brands and tip (or “point”) sizes – check office supply stores. Look for “rolling writer”-type pens like “uni-ball” brand. Don’t use ball-point pens; they smear, skip and aren’t black enough.
Drawing Paper	Use the whitest, best quality paper you can afford. For students, consider buying 8 1/2 X 11-sized sheets in quantity [250-500 sheets per package] from a paper supplier or office supply store. Heavy-weight “card stock” paper in “smooth” finish is available from Office Depot and probably other office supply stores in packs of 250 sheets.

Books:

Nature Drawing, A Tool for Learning, Clare Walker Leslie. Kendall/Hunt, 1995 (1998).
Illustrating Nature, How to Paint and Draw Plants and Animals, Dorothea Barlowe, et al. Dover Publications, 1997 (1998).
The Sierra Club Guide to Sketching in Nature, Cathy Johnson, Sierra Club Books, 1997.
Keeping a Nature Journal, Clare Walker Leslie, Charles E. Roth, Storey Books, 2000.

Parents & Educators