Botanical Art | Prerna Gupta

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Botanical Artist & Illustrator

A slightly different sort of style. Palash in watercolor.
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#botanicalart #botanicalpainting #botanicalartist

A slightly different sort of style. Palash in watercolor.
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#botanicalart #botanicalpainting #botanicalartist

Some more progress. Should have clicked a better photo, but this is the best I could do. This season of life is tough 🥲
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#botanicalart #botanicalpainting #botanicalartist #watercolorartist #watercolorpainting

Some more progress. Should have clicked a better photo, but this is the best I could do. This season of life is tough 🥲
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#botanicalart #botanicalpainting #botanicalartist #watercolorartist #watercolorpainting

So stoked to be a part of this exhibition, opening 17 May 2025. Mark your calendars!
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#baww25india #botanicalartworldwide #indianbotartsoc #botanicalart

So stoked to be a part of this exhibition, opening 17 May 2025. Mark your calendars!
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#baww25india #botanicalartworldwide #indianbotartsoc #botanicalart

I last posted on IG almost a month back. This break was not intended. But life happened and one day turned into one week into one month.
Caring for a young baby and going back to full time work after a short maternity leave has left me barely any time for other things. So while I've not been able to find the time to be more active on social media, I have still managed to continue to paint. It's a matter of survival, you see.
So, in the New Year, here's something new I'm working on. A watercolor piece. Nervous and also weirdly confident 😄
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#botanicalart #botanicalpainting #botanicalartist #botanicalillustration

I last posted on IG almost a month back. This break was not intended. But life happened and one day turned into one week into one month.
Caring for a young baby and going back to full time work after a short maternity leave has left me barely any time for other things. So while I've not been able to find the time to be more active on social media, I have still managed to continue to paint. It's a matter of survival, you see.
So, in the New Year, here's something new I'm working on. A watercolor piece. Nervous and also weirdly confident 😄
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#botanicalart #botanicalpainting #botanicalartist #botanicalillustration

A couple of days late, but here's a recap of November in my botanical art sketchbook.
1. Wax begonia
2. Indian Gooseberry
3. Giloy vine
4. Diffuse Hogweed
5. Various wildflowers (trying out some mixed media)

My little baby does not leave me much time for painting, so I'm trying to make the best of this season of life and just enjoying some pressure-free botanical sketches. Now that I look back, it's been a productive month art-wise, even though it felt soooooper busy when I was living it!
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#botanicalsketchbook #botanicalart #botanicaldrawing #botanicalartist #botanicalpainting

A couple of days late, but here's a recap of November in my botanical art sketchbook.
1. Wax begonia
2. Indian Gooseberry
3. Giloy vine
4. Diffuse Hogweed
5. Various wildflowers (trying out some mixed media)

My little baby does not leave me much time for painting, so I'm trying to make the best of this season of life and just enjoying some pressure-free botanical sketches. Now that I look back, it's been a productive month art-wise, even though it felt soooooper busy when I was living it!
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#botanicalsketchbook #botanicalart #botanicaldrawing #botanicalartist #botanicalpainting

Botanical Art Worldwide artwork is done so it's time to plan for what's next. I've been meaning to improve my skill in note-taking when in the field so that I can paint a plant when I'm back home based on the sketchbook work (and also the photos I take). It's all preparation for a future project I'm dreaming of! This is how I like to work, with an aim in mind and something to work towards.
Currently practicing with some wildflowers I've found around me; this one is the Commicarpus chinensis or Diffuse Hogweed.
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#botanicalart #botanicalsketchbook

Botanical Art Worldwide artwork is done so it's time to plan for what's next. I've been meaning to improve my skill in note-taking when in the field so that I can paint a plant when I'm back home based on the sketchbook work (and also the photos I take). It's all preparation for a future project I'm dreaming of! This is how I like to work, with an aim in mind and something to work towards.
Currently practicing with some wildflowers I've found around me; this one is the Commicarpus chinensis or Diffuse Hogweed.
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#botanicalart #botanicalsketchbook

Here's the finished drawing of Coccinia grandis in colored pencils on Grafix Duralar film. I love working on this substrate and every time I do, I discover new ways of working!
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#baww25india #botanicalartworldwide #coloredpencildrawing #coloredpencilart #coloredpencil #botanicalart #botanicaldrawing

Here's the finished drawing of Coccinia grandis in colored pencils on Grafix Duralar film. I love working on this substrate and every time I do, I discover new ways of working!
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#baww25india #botanicalartworldwide #coloredpencildrawing #coloredpencilart #coloredpencil #botanicalart #botanicaldrawing

They're all just pieces floating in the air right now, but soon they'll all be brought together.
The deadline is so close now, and I have so much left to do. Fingers 🤞🏽
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Faber Castell Polychromos on Grafix Matte Duralar film
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#baww25india #botanicalartworldwide #botanicalart #coloredpencildrawing #coloredpencilart #coloredpencilartist

They're all just pieces floating in the air right now, but soon they'll all be brought together.
The deadline is so close now, and I have so much left to do. Fingers 🤞🏽
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Faber Castell Polychromos on Grafix Matte Duralar film
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#baww25india #botanicalartworldwide #botanicalart #coloredpencildrawing #coloredpencilart #coloredpencilartist

Little ripening kindoori (as we call it locally) added to the drawing! Next up is a BIG challenge - a white flower 🤞🏽
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#botanicalart #botanicalartworldwide #botanicalartist #botanicaldrawing #coloredpencildrawing #coloredpencilart

Little ripening kindoori (as we call it locally) added to the drawing! Next up is a BIG challenge - a white flower 🤞🏽
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#botanicalart #botanicalartworldwide #botanicalartist #botanicaldrawing #coloredpencildrawing #coloredpencilart

This leaf is mostly done, I think. I might tinker around with the shadows a bit though, just adding a little bit here and there. Also, this is probably the first time I'm absolutely thrilled with a leaf I've drawn 😄 progress feels great!
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#botanicalart #botanicalartist #botanicaldrawing #coloredpencildrawing #coloredpencilart

This leaf is mostly done, I think. I might tinker around with the shadows a bit though, just adding a little bit here and there. Also, this is probably the first time I'm absolutely thrilled with a leaf I've drawn 😄 progress feels great!
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#botanicalart #botanicalartist #botanicaldrawing #coloredpencildrawing #coloredpencilart

A new drawing on Dura Lar film of the Coccinia grandis vine. The plant blooms just around September where I live and soon it will be laden with green/red fruits. The unripe fruit is widely used to make a simple and delicious stir-fry!
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Will hopefully be able to finish this just in time for BAWW India exhibition deadline. Fingers 🤞🏽
@indianbotanicalartsociety
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#botanicalart #botanicalartworldwide #botanicaldrawing #botanicalartist #coloredpencildrawing #coloredpencilart

A new drawing on Dura Lar film of the Coccinia grandis vine. The plant blooms just around September where I live and soon it will be laden with green/red fruits. The unripe fruit is widely used to make a simple and delicious stir-fry!
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Will hopefully be able to finish this just in time for BAWW India exhibition deadline. Fingers 🤞🏽
@indianbotanicalartsociety
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#botanicalart #botanicalartworldwide #botanicaldrawing #botanicalartist #coloredpencildrawing #coloredpencilart

The big pomegranate is done! Lots of layers of colors with a final one with the @carandache wax blender. The @fabriano1264 hot pressed paper takes a little getting used to but I'm overall happy with the result.
Swipe to see another section of the drawing and then swipe again for what's been keeping me busy this last week❣️
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#baww25india #botanicalartworldwide #botanicaldrawing #botanicalart #coloredpencildrawing #coloredpencilart

The big pomegranate is done! Lots of layers of colors with a final one with the @carandache wax blender. The @fabriano1264 hot pressed paper takes a little getting used to but I'm overall happy with the result.
Swipe to see another section of the drawing and then swipe again for what's been keeping me busy this last week❣️
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#baww25india #botanicalartworldwide #botanicaldrawing #botanicalart #coloredpencildrawing #coloredpencilart

Excited to be exhibiting once again at The Art of Botanical Illustration at the RBG Melbourne, Australia. I have three pieces in the exhibition this year and I can't wait to see pictures of them up on the gallery walls❣️
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#tabi2024 #botanicalart #botanicalillustration #coloredpencilart

Excited to be exhibiting once again at The Art of Botanical Illustration at the RBG Melbourne, Australia. I have three pieces in the exhibition this year and I can't wait to see pictures of them up on the gallery walls❣️
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#tabi2024 #botanicalart #botanicalillustration #coloredpencilart

The Wild Himalayan pomegranate fruit is sour to taste and is therefore used in chutneys etc. but not too palatable when consumed directly as a fruit.
The pomegranate varieties that we usually consume are grown commercially for their fruit, but these plants are susceptible to blight and pests.
Researchers in India, a few years back, successfully crossed these commercial varieties with the wild Himalayan pomegranate for greater pest resistance.
This is just an example of why wild crop varieties need to be conserved, especially since more and more crops are homogeneous varieties grown on large commercial farms..
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#pomegranate #baww25india #botanicalartworldwide #botanicalart #botanicaldrawing #coloredpencildrawing #coloredpencilart

The Wild Himalayan pomegranate fruit is sour to taste and is therefore used in chutneys etc. but not too palatable when consumed directly as a fruit.
The pomegranate varieties that we usually consume are grown commercially for their fruit, but these plants are susceptible to blight and pests.
Researchers in India, a few years back, successfully crossed these commercial varieties with the wild Himalayan pomegranate for greater pest resistance.
This is just an example of why wild crop varieties need to be conserved, especially since more and more crops are homogeneous varieties grown on large commercial farms..
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#pomegranate #baww25india #botanicalartworldwide #botanicalart #botanicaldrawing #coloredpencildrawing #coloredpencilart

Little baby pom? More like a teenager because the pomegranate species I'm drawing doesn't have fruit as big as the ones we get in the market. This is the Wild Himalayan Pomegranate, locally called 'dadim'.
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#botanicalartworldwide #botanicalart #botanicalillustration #coloredpencildrawing #coloredpencilart #drawing #botanicaldrawing #baww25india

Little baby pom? More like a teenager because the pomegranate species I'm drawing doesn't have fruit as big as the ones we get in the market. This is the Wild Himalayan Pomegranate, locally called 'dadim'.
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#botanicalartworldwide #botanicalart #botanicalillustration #coloredpencildrawing #coloredpencilart #drawing #botanicaldrawing #baww25india

Had to delete the last post because I was really disliking how the camera was making the work look. Here's a slightly better photo. I think I need to take a break from the greens and move to some other color. The fruit is a lovely mix of pale red and green. Coming up next.
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#botanicalart #botanicalillustration #botanicalartworldwide #coloredpencildrawing #coloredpencilart #colouredpencil #drawing

Had to delete the last post because I was really disliking how the camera was making the work look. Here's a slightly better photo. I think I need to take a break from the greens and move to some other color. The fruit is a lovely mix of pale red and green. Coming up next.
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#botanicalart #botanicalillustration #botanicalartworldwide #coloredpencildrawing #coloredpencilart #colouredpencil #drawing

Not sure if using this Fabriano hot pressed paper is the best decision for this drawing, but I'm going to trust the process and keep at it. Hopefully, it'll turn out ok 🤞🏽
Wild Himalayan pomegranate for Botanical Art Worldwide India exhibition.
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#baww25india #botanicalartworldwide #botanicalart #botanicalartist #botanicaldrawing

Not sure if using this Fabriano hot pressed paper is the best decision for this drawing, but I'm going to trust the process and keep at it. Hopefully, it'll turn out ok 🤞🏽
Wild Himalayan pomegranate for Botanical Art Worldwide India exhibition.
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#baww25india #botanicalartworldwide #botanicalart #botanicalartist #botanicaldrawing

Finally getting started on my drawing for the Botanical Art Worldwide India exhibition. The work for this drawing began many many months back with researching the subject and how it fit into the BAWW theme of Crop Diversity. Then came the visit to the Himalayas in April to see the plant in person, make notes and take photos. And now, almost in September, the actual drawing work begins.
All this to say that some paintings just take forever to come to completion. And I love this whole process - the planning, the sketching, the color matching and even the frustrations.
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#botanicalart #botanicalillustration #baww25india #coloredpencildrawing #coloredpencilart #coloredpencil

Finally getting started on my drawing for the Botanical Art Worldwide India exhibition. The work for this drawing began many many months back with researching the subject and how it fit into the BAWW theme of Crop Diversity. Then came the visit to the Himalayas in April to see the plant in person, make notes and take photos. And now, almost in September, the actual drawing work begins.
All this to say that some paintings just take forever to come to completion. And I love this whole process - the planning, the sketching, the color matching and even the frustrations.
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#botanicalart #botanicalillustration #baww25india #coloredpencildrawing #coloredpencilart #coloredpencil

It's been a while since I last posted. Life generally is rather hectic and I'm also working on a huge illustration project with a tight deadline. So, all other art is on the back burner currently, but I did take out some time for the sketchbook exchange with @indianbotanicalartsociety
I might have lost sight of what I originally set out to draw, but this is also fun and something that's been on my mind for a while.
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#sketchbook #botanicalsketchbook #penandink #pendrawing

It's been a while since I last posted. Life generally is rather hectic and I'm also working on a huge illustration project with a tight deadline. So, all other art is on the back burner currently, but I did take out some time for the sketchbook exchange with @indianbotanicalartsociety
I might have lost sight of what I originally set out to draw, but this is also fun and something that's been on my mind for a while.
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#sketchbook #botanicalsketchbook #penandink #pendrawing

Here’s the final colored pencil drawing of the desiccated gourd. Even though these were quite new colours for me to use, I’m happy I gave this challenge a go. Sure there are areas where I can see I need to improve but on the whole, I am quite happy with it!!
And thank you to everyone who helped me decide on the composition (in my stories a few days back)! ❤️
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#coloredpencil #coloredpencildrawing #botanicalart #botanicalartistsofinstagram #botanicalillustration #botanicaldrawing #coloredpencilart

Here’s the final colored pencil drawing of the desiccated gourd. Even though these were quite new colours for me to use, I’m happy I gave this challenge a go. Sure there are areas where I can see I need to improve but on the whole, I am quite happy with it!!
And thank you to everyone who helped me decide on the composition (in my stories a few days back)! ❤️
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#coloredpencil #coloredpencildrawing #botanicalart #botanicalartistsofinstagram #botanicalillustration #botanicaldrawing #coloredpencilart

Not a good photo, but it will do for now. The gourd is coming along wonderfully, with many many layers upon layers of different colors to give it depth. I'm quite pleased with the progress so far! What do you think?
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#botanicalart #coloredpencil #botanicaldrawing #drawing #coloredpencilartist

Not a good photo, but it will do for now. The gourd is coming along wonderfully, with many many layers upon layers of different colors to give it depth. I'm quite pleased with the progress so far! What do you think?
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#botanicalart #coloredpencil #botanicaldrawing #drawing #coloredpencilartist

An update on this dried gourd artwork. The markings on the dried skin are taking so much time because each one of them has to be intentionally and carefully added keeping in mind the form of the gourd. In the highlights, the markings would be lighter while in the shadow areas, they need to be dark and saturated. This is what is going to make the final drawing look realistic.
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#botanicalart #botanicalillustration #coloredpencildrawing #coloredpencilart #drawing #botanicalartist

An update on this dried gourd artwork. The markings on the dried skin are taking so much time because each one of them has to be intentionally and carefully added keeping in mind the form of the gourd. In the highlights, the markings would be lighter while in the shadow areas, they need to be dark and saturated. This is what is going to make the final drawing look realistic.
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#botanicalart #botanicalillustration #coloredpencildrawing #coloredpencilart #drawing #botanicalartist

Working on this very interesting and challenging subject next. It's a dried gourd with some of the dried skin breaking off to reveal the loofah-like structure inside. I also realised that I've not worked on brown subjects before in colored pencil so there's lots to learn with this piece.
Follow along, I'll keep sharing progress pics as usual!
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#botanicalart #botanicalpainting #coloredpencildrawing #coloredpencilart #drawingartist #drawing #coloredpencilartist

Working on this very interesting and challenging subject next. It's a dried gourd with some of the dried skin breaking off to reveal the loofah-like structure inside. I also realised that I've not worked on brown subjects before in colored pencil so there's lots to learn with this piece.
Follow along, I'll keep sharing progress pics as usual!
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#botanicalart #botanicalpainting #coloredpencildrawing #coloredpencilart #drawingartist #drawing #coloredpencilartist

Happy Worldwide Day of Botanical Art.
Here's a throwback to a pen drawing of an oleander seed pod from a couple of years back. Since I'm quite enjoying pen artwork these days, it made sense to share this again!
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#penandinkbotanical #botanicalart #botanicalartist #inkdrawing #blackandwhitedrawing #penandinkdrawing

Happy Worldwide Day of Botanical Art.
Here's a throwback to a pen drawing of an oleander seed pod from a couple of years back. Since I'm quite enjoying pen artwork these days, it made sense to share this again!
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#penandinkbotanical #botanicalart #botanicalartist #inkdrawing #blackandwhitedrawing #penandinkdrawing

And two months later, it's done 😄 (please ignore the black border, this was the only way to share the complete artwork in an Insta grid square)
I've really enjoyed working with a new medium, it's been so fun mixing things up for a change. And I can absolutely see myself working with pens more.
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#penandinkbotanical
#penandinkdrawing #botanicalart #botanicalillustration #pendrawing #blackandwhitedrawing #blackworknow #botanicalartist

And two months later, it's done 😄 (please ignore the black border, this was the only way to share the complete artwork in an Insta grid square)
I've really enjoyed working with a new medium, it's been so fun mixing things up for a change. And I can absolutely see myself working with pens more.
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#penandinkbotanical
#penandinkdrawing #botanicalart #botanicalillustration #pendrawing #blackandwhitedrawing #blackworknow #botanicalartist

Nearing the end now. A few more hours and this should be done!
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#blackandwhitedrawing #penandinkbotanical #penandink #penandinkdrawing #botanicalart #botanicalartist

Nearing the end now. A few more hours and this should be done!
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#blackandwhitedrawing #penandinkbotanical #penandink #penandinkdrawing #botanicalart #botanicalartist

Some subjects fascinate me and I return to them again and again. Two years ago (where does time go!), one of my artworks showed a Ficus religiosa growing on and around a sheesham tree. The latter was slowly being subsumed by the Ficus and in a few years, would probably die.

Now, I have returned to the subject again. This time, the host tree is barely identifiable, only a shell of its trunk is left standing. What caught my attention with this pair of trees was how the Ficus was sending out hundreds of tiny roots, making a web and swallowing up the original tree whole. A scene out of some horror film for sure!
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#blackandwhitedrawing #botanicalart #botanicalillustration #botanicalartist #inkdrawing

Some subjects fascinate me and I return to them again and again. Two years ago (where does time go!), one of my artworks showed a Ficus religiosa growing on and around a sheesham tree. The latter was slowly being subsumed by the Ficus and in a few years, would probably die.

Now, I have returned to the subject again. This time, the host tree is barely identifiable, only a shell of its trunk is left standing. What caught my attention with this pair of trees was how the Ficus was sending out hundreds of tiny roots, making a web and swallowing up the original tree whole. A scene out of some horror film for sure!
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#blackandwhitedrawing #botanicalart #botanicalillustration #botanicalartist #inkdrawing

We visited @slownesshimalayas this past weekend for a short and sweet vacation. I went there with a purpose in mind - to sketch and study a plant - but I came back with so much more. The farm is set up with so much heart and passion and I encourage anyone who enjoys just being in nature to visit them!

1 - Swing under the big oak tree
2 - One of the sketches I did there of the Banj oak
3 - So excited to try the hisalu, a wild Himalayan berry, had to take a photo
4 - More sketches
5 - Did lots of reading

Can't wait to do this again!

We visited @slownesshimalayas this past weekend for a short and sweet vacation. I went there with a purpose in mind - to sketch and study a plant - but I came back with so much more. The farm is set up with so much heart and passion and I encourage anyone who enjoys just being in nature to visit them!

1 - Swing under the big oak tree
2 - One of the sketches I did there of the Banj oak
3 - So excited to try the hisalu, a wild Himalayan berry, had to take a photo
4 - More sketches
5 - Did lots of reading

Can't wait to do this again!

Finally putting these pens to good use after letting them lay in my drawer unused for years! Wasn't inspired to use them for a long time but when I saw this peepal tree "swallowing" up a copperpod tree and killing it, I knew I had found just the subject to bring out the pens!
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#blackandwhitedrawing #penandink #penandinkbotanical #botanicalart #botanicalartist

Finally putting these pens to good use after letting them lay in my drawer unused for years! Wasn't inspired to use them for a long time but when I saw this peepal tree "swallowing" up a copperpod tree and killing it, I knew I had found just the subject to bring out the pens!
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#blackandwhitedrawing #penandink #penandinkbotanical #botanicalart #botanicalartist

The post brought some happy news - I'm a Fellow of the @societybotanicalartists
Thrilled to be in the company of wonderful artists I look up to!

The post brought some happy news - I'm a Fellow of the @societybotanicalartists
Thrilled to be in the company of wonderful artists I look up to!

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