Botanical Drawing Warm-up Tasks
Posted by Sarah Jane Humphrey on
What a year it has been with many great intentions having to take a reluctant pause. Hopefully, your drawing practice hasn't had to be on the list to put on the back burner.
Whether it has or not, with shorter days and a change in the weather meaning more time indoors, this is a great time of year to immerse yourself in creative projects. Easing back into drawing or even taking it up for the first time can be a little daunting. This is why a short warm up task can be a fun and simple way to build up confidence again.
Why warm up tasks are important

Botanical Illustration Workshop at the Port Eliot Festival
At the beginning of my Botanical Illustration Workshops, I like to introduce everyone to a quick study where we don't have to work to any preconceived expectations. Often these drawings produce beautiful imagery or at the very least conjure up a few giggles amongst the group which certainly loosens any apprehension about the main event.
From years of teaching hundreds of new students at my workshops, very early on it became quite apparent that whilst drawing is something that is pretty much second nature to me, it can be quite overwhelming to others. Beyond this, as a professional illustrator with experience, I have recognised within myself to never become complacent with drawing. It is indeed a practice and something which still deserves respect and open-mindedness. Warm up tasks are a great solution to explore techniques and gather new perspectives on drawing.
Warm up tasks to try

Continual Line Drawing
1. Continual Line Drawings
