What is Botanical Art?
We are focussed on raising the profile and practice of botanical art and illustration through our work and exhibitions. So what is the difference between botanical art, botanical illustration and flower painting?
Here are some helpful definitions:
Botanical art:
Botanical Illustration:
Botanical illustration focuses on scientific recording and botanical accuracy to enable identification of a plant, generally from live plants or herbarium specimens. Typically, the illustration will depict ALL relevant aspects of the plant, including the life cycle and frequently includes dissections. Most are monochrome for cost effective reproduction.
Artwork from L - R
Phormium colensoi, Mountain Flax, Janet Marshall
Clianthus puniceus, Kakabeak, Sue Wickison
Botanical art is a representation of a plant or fungi or lichen, which is scientifically and botanically correct but not necessarily ‘complete’ as a scientific recording. Botanical art is frequently in colour (on a plain background). It may also include a record of the plant growing in its natural habitat. Botanical art may form part of a project and contribute to a flora - a record made of plants in a geographical location or garden.
Artwork clockwise from top left:
Fuchsia - Heike Jane Zimmermann
Dahlia - Lisa Dickson
Orange and Yellow Nasturtium - Sandra Morris
Metrosideros excelsa, Pohutukawa - Helen Gunter
Myrtaceae - Erin Forsyth
Tulipa sp. - Lisa Dickson
Flower painting/Floral art:
Flower painting focuses on the creation of a pleasing painting and less on the botanical accuracy or the various features of the flower. Flowers may be in vases, in a still life, in a garden or the countryside. The style of painting may be more impressionistic, colours and/or relative size may not be entirely true.
Artwork R-L
Five Prints of Flowers in Glass Vases, created in the late 1600's. Provided by Rijksmuseum, Netherlands. PD for Public
Stock image
Credit: These definitions above have been drawn from ‘Botanical Art and Artists’ which we recommend as one of the most useful online resources for botanical artists.