Society of Botanical Artists - Assignment 1

In August 2023, my youngest child started college. The day we took her to school was the same day I submitted my application for the SBA distance learning diploma. I had been dreaming of applying for many years, and the time had finally come! On October 23, I got an email confirming my acceptance into the program!

One of the most remarkable and unforgettable days in my life! Until then, I had been learning art on my own. I relied on online resources such as YouTube and Instagram videos, as well as books that I purchased and completed the assignments from. Therefore, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to be taught by a teacher or tutor who could provide me with the feedback I needed to improve my skills and learn from top professionals in the industry. As an added bonus, I had the chance to travel to London to meet some incredible individuals in January.

Following our amazing London trip, I started on my first assignment. I have to confess that it felt quite intimidating, yet incredibly exciting! I was absolutely thrilled and filled with anticipation. The assignment involved drawing an outline a leaf in pencil, creating a tonal chart and completing a study in pencil showing tone. This marked my first attempt at drawing from direct observation. Until then, I had solely relied on my personal photos or images bought online. Coincidentally, one of my friends was going on vacation and graciously lent me her amaryllis plant which was just about to bloom. See below for all the details :)

Below are my three pieces for my first assignment. Focusing on outlines and graphite pencil. Plus, I made a chart of all my pencils which will be a great reference for future pencil work.