How to Draw Plants

Live workshop in celebration of International Nature Journaling Week with a few tips and tricks to help you draw plants. In this workshop we use a handout which you can download here: johnmuirlaws.c...
I have a bunch of fun strategies to help you draw flowers, branches, leaves, curling petals, and other crazy plant stuff. This class will be useful for everyone. If you are a teacher, you will learn a lot of tricks you can incorporate into your lessons (everything I do is open source). This is going to be fun so gather your materials, journal and pencil, and come along.
What to Bring
Playful curiosity and sense of humor
Piece of white paper
Scissors
Journal and pencil
A curling leaf
A palmately veined leaf (like a maple)
A lobed leaf (like a white or black oak)
A permanent black marking pen (like a sharpie)..If you also have a red and blue sharpie (or two other colors) bring it along too.
A piece of clear or translucent plastic (like a heavy-duty zip-lock bag or the cover of a plastic folder for a school report)
A printout of the plant drawing worksheet (if you cannot print it out, view it online, and carefully copy what you see onto a piece of paper before class).

[@ybe7011]

This guy is the best! I love your enthusiasm about life so much!

[@lesliedroogmans3491]

I’m old enough to be his mother but I think I have a crush on him. I struggle with leaves and this is so practical!!

[@paulakotula3417]

You are an amazing DAD!!!!! I am impressed that you let your girls cut your hair! They will never forget that! LOVE!!!!!

[@sarahyip2825]

An artist is an engineer! Almost. Thanks! Nature Journaling has saved me!

[@jaimesantiago9352]

THAT'S what Im talking about! This man knows his stuff and that's what I needed. Great job, Sir!

[@amyvetter1830]

very, very useful!! I could see the petals but I did not know why. This helps so much.

[@melanieklarofficial]

Oh my gosh wht a FUN dad you are!!!!

[@kathrynfranz3277]

You are an awesome teacher! After being told in high school that college bound students "don't take art classes", I'm finally, at age 71, enjoying taking it on. Thank you for all the excellent instructional videos you have made available to folks like me! Happy New Year!

[@koryseeyouforteatime9669]

I love your teaching style and the way in which you incorage people working on their journaling! You're the best and I really love your book! I stay up until late by night as today, to watch your video because by day I'm been too busy recently! Now here are 2.50AM!! so thanks for everything you share! 🙏🏻❤️🥰🌿☘️

[@NeonButterfly7]

I’ve wanted to draw my whole life. I’ve been watching your videos consistently for the past week and your teaching was the absolute breakthrough I needed. Thank you so much for your generosity 😊🙏

[@wendygirling5664]

Hello John...I can not believe how you have explained this about leaves and petals etc so simply...you sure are a really great Teacher and you make it so easy to understand 😉 thanku so much for all ur guidance and instructions and tips and tricks x I am so grateful 🙂😉 x

[@NeilW210]

Another great video John. I always learn something from every one of them. Thank you.

[@belindafraser2692]

This is a brilliant channel - thank you so much!

[@sondarandolph2551]

You are the best art teacher I have seen. Thank you for all that you show us.

[@lylamcdaniel5938]

Love the new hair cut!! Kids did good!

[@tsumerox5721]

The sock trick is an awesome tip! And I never would have thought of using grooves for veins, thank you!! The haircut, too, is amazing XD

[@ksifton]

love learning about nature journaling, drawing and observation from you. Also, you're such a good dad! love the hair!

[@siljefar]

You made my day! 😂 Thanks for the laughs and the useful content!

[@DE-wp5mx]

love the transparent leaf visual concept.

[@magens9716]

I'm just getting into nature journaling and I am so excited by your surge of content. This was a great video and I got an unexpected laugh with the haircut reveal. Well done!

[@NeonButterfly7]

The tint effect around 38 minute mark was an incredible tip 👏😀

[@josephnielsen4575]

Jack thank you you - this video has help me to understand and overcome some of the problems I have encountered in drawing leaves - am heading out into the field today to put your process into practice - thanks again!

[@sallymoore9711]

What a great idea to use a sock!

[@Angie-pl3uw]

This would-be watercolorist thanks you! I adored geometry, by the way.

[@charmainecyr7520]

Amazing! Love the use of the paper and plastic models. This is the best demo of foreshortening I’ve seen.

[@vanessaboman8143]

Wow you are so cool as a dad! You have such a great family...

[@anitasanderszangeres]

i sacrificed a perfect set of socks! going on a traintrip, such a perfect solution. two waterpens one cool, one warm

[@melanieklarofficial]

I have watched a lot of drawing videos and this was SUPER helpful! Thank you!

[@8433alice]

What a great lesson. So clear, and thorough. Thank you!

[@shanglanliu5881]

Very useful tutorial. It is a long video but it is definitely worth watching. I really love how you teach perspective of leaf veins.

[@gorway7]

Top tip with choosing an old ball pen as an embossing tool is to choose an old gel pen, not an oil based biro as they can unpredictably resurrect themselves on a warm day and leave a nasty surprise. An empty gel pen left on a radiator for a few days will definitely stay dead.

[@NeonButterfly7]

Thank you for the tip 😀

[@elizabethbrito2774]

Amei sua aula!!!👏👏👏👏

[@dinnyhinds3296]

Great tutorial. I am a beginner. Thank you. Like the hair cut

[@sarahyip2825]

Bravo! 🌱

[@MarleyPeifer]

Awesome video! I always struggle with leaf venation! Or i just avoid them :)

[@ralfwilhelmschmidt-artist]

Min. 8: you have drawing a T-shirt😀Thank You!

[@aysebereket1]

Thank you so much for this lesson (and for all of you other videos). You have awesome teaching and communication skills (and drawing skills of course :D).

[@sharon1775]

very fun entertaining practical and so earthy ty

[@BabiBlee]

Thank you!

[@JanineMarieChrysler]

Oh, the hair! LOL!

[@HectorPlasmic]

Thumbs up for the haircut!

[@robinmacpherson3852]

Brilliant explanations; now all I need to do is cool my brain in the freezer 😀

[@sonmayab]

Coolest dad!

[@Kujuuuuu]

👍