How to Draw Botanical Illustrations with a Fineliner

Starting with a large leaf, sketch a curve then add jagged lines, similar to a single daisy leaf.

In this leaf, sketch uneven veins throughout.

Start from the inside with these tiny rectangular petals, they will be slightly curved and uneven.

Continue to sketch these in a circular method until you fill the furthest oval with petals.

Sketch another stem, then add a circle to the top with a smaller rectangle in the middle and add small leaves pointing downwards.

Then, add rough star or circle motions throughout the circle.

Use a fine liner to roughly outline the jagged leaves, then add shading in the spine of the leaf, heading outwards.

Do this for all leaves.

Draw rough star shapes in your circle and outline the inner rectangle shape and leaves.

Then, to create your pollen use a circular motion – similar to the Daisy illustration we made.

Sketch the stem similar to Fern No.1, and add a second stem to add leaves to.

The leaves of poppies are similar to those of the ferns as they have waved leaves to!

Once the petals are outlined, bring the fine liner to the centre of the poppy and outline.

Add small rough circles around the centre then link to the centre with short lines. Shade in the circles and shade outwards up the petal.

Similar to Fern No.1, sketch a curved line and add leaf shapes.

As an optional extra, sketch another daisy to add on.

Draw lines down the centre of each petal.

Start to shade from the inside of the petal outwards, adding flicks where necessary.

Follow these steps for the bud as well.

Leaves are slightly different to ferns, they are more jagged around the edges so be sure to use a light hand when you’re lining these and create small, uneven strokes.

Repeat along all leaves.

Draw an oval shape with petals that are slightly dipped at the top.

Following from the bottom petal, draw the stem and add another stem coming off it – this will be for a bud.

Start to add small, uneven ovals into the middle to create the pollen, shading outwards up the petal.

Top Tip: Rough circles/spirals can be added to the pollen to give it a deeper effect.

Using a 0.05mm pen, start lining from the centre of the fern and work your way out, adding shading and flicks throughout.

Make sure your shading follows the same way as your outer lines.