Illustrating a Virginia creeper leaf

Lizzie completes a botanical illustration of an autumn leaf in real time, explaining her processes as she paints. The plant is actually Boston Ivy, Parthenocissus tricuspidata, but the term "virginia creeper" is widley used to refer to many of this gorgeous Parthenocissus species.
Using Winsor and newton watercoloour paints, winsor and newton series 7 brush (a number 1) and Fluid 100 hot press paper from Global arts.
For a written step by step blog on this please visit: www.lizzieharper.co.uk/news/ar...
and for a pinterest sxs handout on the steps: www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/52959...

[@pambrown9523]

LOVE this! Really appreciated watching you step out of your comfort zone into the unknown!👏👏👏💖💖💖😁😁😁

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Yeah, it truly was a case of gritting my teeth and launching into the world of loose and wet paint. Agh! I'm glad you enjoyed the film, and thanks for leaving a comment!

[@empress_craft]

Lovely! Thank you once again for recording your process. So so so many layers, and it really comes down to patience!

[@ladyhecate9450]

Now this was very interesting in how you went about doing this. I loved it. Even a leaf deserves to get the attention it deserves and you certainly did that. Fantastic. Yes....we see the beauty of the leaf in the fall just as we see the beauty of a tree when all the leaves have fallen off. Trees have such character one gets to see when the leaves are gone.

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Thanks Delores. I love the way trees emerge in autumn too, and theyre so much easier to draw without all those leaves hanging about! x

[@anitadavidson1266]

This was incredible to watch. I am new to art, including watercolour, and watching your patience and skill combine to make this gloriously colourful Autumnal leaf was honestly a privilege. I look forward to watching more of your videos. I watch for pleasure, and not under the false idea that I could ever do this. I’m starting too late in life at age 57. I struggle with health issues that cause unexpected tremors - yeah, this beautiful style and tremors are not exactly a match made in heaven. Many thanks again. 👩🏻‍🎨🖌️🎨🙌🏻

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Oh the tremors must be so aggrevating for you! My mum has those too, it makes the simplest things so tricky. But at least you enjoy watching the process and the steps coming together to make a picture that looks like the plant or leaf I'm illustrating. 57 isnt too late to start anything! But I cna see the tremors are a problem. Maybe you could play with working really big with lots of ink lines? Or just enjoy the films as you are doing now. Either way, Im touched by your comment and thankyou for it. x

[@anitadavidson1266]

@@LizzieHarperillustrator thanks for the encouraging words, they’re much appreciated. I’m sorry to hear your Mum also suffers from tremors, and yes, it makes everything feel like you’re competing in some kind of high level egg and spoon race! 😂 I like the idea of splashing the paint around and being happy playing around. You never know, I could end up being the next ACCIDENTAL Jackson Pollock. 😂🤷‍♀️🎨👩🏻‍🎨🖌️

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

@@anitadavidson1266 Go for it! I think with the tremors working big will be key, and you'd be far less frustrated by unexpected movements as they'd be part of the whole. Maybe they'd add some movement and life to your work, sometimes the stuff I do is so small and regimented it looks like it's been dead since 1800! Good luck, and Ill be looing out for exhibitions showcasing the Botanical Jackson Pollock in the best museums soon!

[@anitadavidson1266]

@@LizzieHarperillustrator Thank you 😂😁

[@andrewmorris2958]

Beautiful, your work is stunning and so inspirational 😲 thanks for posting!

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Thank you Andrew! What a lovely thing to say!

[@adrianacarolinacaceresmart4459]

Amazing!!! Hipnotic video, can stop seeing!

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Wow, thank you!

[@alisonruth3947]

Thank you so much for sharing your great talent. I love your work.

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Thank you so much!

[@fionagardner1105]

Just love the way you've the way you've painted the leaf, you've inspired me to paint again love your technique .

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Wonderful! That's the best accolade out there, that you'll be picking up your brushes again. Thank you for the comment. x

[@irmabenus7001]

Really beautiful work you make👏👍thanks for your step-by-step demonstration!!

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

My pleasure, and thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!

[@songbird5266]

You make this process so attainable...one tiny step at a time. I love it. I feel encouraged and motivated.

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

I'm so glad! Everything is easier when you break it down to its component steps.

[@RicardoPereira16081975]

Amazing! I love your work!

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Aww, thanks for that, Ricardo!

[@larryglatt2548]

It's wonderful to hear your thinking as your progress through the painting, thank you

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Hi again Larry, Talking out loud and wittering on about what I do is something I'm happy to indulge in. I'm so flattered people as kind as you take the time to listen, and to leave kind comments. Much appreciated! (I'll keep this reply shorter than my ramble on use of line in botanical illutsration!) Yours Lizzie

[@larryglatt2548]

@@LizzieHarperillustrator Hi again Lizzie, thanks for your helpful replies.

[@ashleyevans3330]

You are SO TALENTED!!!!!!❤

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Oh, I WISH, Ashley! Just done it for years, so Ive got a bit better over time. x

[@begosanchezfotografia9304]

Excellent work. Thanks for sharing.

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@letajones8556]

Love it!!!

[@PauseCreative]

Nice illustration ! Thank you for sharing and explaining ! Brigitte

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Thanksyou for taking the time to comment, Brigitte; I'm so glad you liked the finished illustration. x

[@alpacagirl4622]

Really enjoyed it ☺️

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

So glad!

[@karolfrench5816]

I’m mesmerised. Such focussed attention. , BEUTIFUL. X

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Thanks so much, Karol. What a lovely comment.

[@updatepencildrawing]

Awesome

[@DonaldTaylor-tj2xr]

Nice demonstration thanks.

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Cheers Donald!

[@DonaldTaylor-tj2xr]

Tks. leaves are the difficult part. You should publish a book.

[@user-xi8ju6ix4r]

You are amazing........

[@fansworldeditbyguni7613]

You are a amezing artist just woooooow

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Thankyou! x

[@paigeme886]

Oh Wow! Thank you so incredibly much! Your explanation and providing all the steps is amazing and I'm so grateful! Thank You so much!!!!! Oh the paper!! may i ask, are you preferring the fluid 100 to the stonehenge aqua?

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Hello again Babydoll me! Im using the Fluid 100 right now as I have a big pad of it, but I do still like the Stonehenge aqua too...

[@GabrielSlayer88]

Tremendous work Lizzie, truly sublime. The medium you've used here, just (I say just as if they're not wonderful) water colours? I'm just in awe at the vibrancy achieved. I've not had that experience when working with them in the past. Might be time to go back and have an experiment.. Love your work, thank you for sharing with us.

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Hi Gabriel Yes, watercolour. Sometimes I add a couple of drops of watercolour ink (I like Dr Martins hydrous inks) which give a real punch. But if you use watercolour a little thicker than many would, you find the colour is that much "punchier". You should give it a go. Its a bit of a balance, retaining the delicacy and capturing the colour intensity, but it's easy enough to do once you get into the swing of it. Thanks for the comment Lizzie

[@kimchatwin-smith891]

try Dr Ph Martins Hydrus water colour - they keep the intensity when they dry

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Yes! That's the brand I use, and I mix them in with watercolours so theyre a little less in-your-face. great tip. x

[@lvbailey1]

❣️

[@wendyizod923]

Interesting watching you paint in a different method than you usually do, and also getting beautiful results. Which brush are you using for this painting?

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Hi again Wendy, its the same brush. It might be a number 2 size winsor and newton series 7 instead of a number 1 size, but other than that it'll be the same. x

[@susan3156]

I’m new to watercolours and have been binge watching KZbin for the past 3 weeks while I wait for my art supplies to arrive from the U.K. (I’m in Tasmania). Firstly, I would like to say I love your work and your tutorials, as well as your blog, and I can’t wait to put these into practice. I watched your paper video re Fabriano and also saw on the Billy Showell website that there were issues with the paper last year. I wanted to ask if Fabriano have fixed the problem or if not which paper have you been using? I’ve seen a review on the Milford paper which looks like a good option although I don’t believe they make a HP, but I’m too inexperienced to know.

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Hi Susan, so sorry to only just pick this up! Oh dear... I havent tried the Milford, it sounds interesting. Im currently using (and loving) Fluid 100 by Global Arts and Stonehenge qua. Both hot press, and Im satisfied with both thus far...Thanks for the comment and no, alas, Fabriano dont seem to have fixed the problem. Such a pity. Thanks for the comment.

[@VintageJoBeth]

Really gorgeous colours! Lizzie, I have Derwent inktense pencils, do you think these would work in the same way as your dr Martin’s? ❤️🧡💛

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Hiya, and thanks for the comment. Im not good with colour pencils, so wouldnt be able to predict how they work with watercolour. But then "Inktense" pencils may well be ink-based. I guess they could easily serve the same purpose. My concern would be that the ink should probably be mixed into the paint before being applied to the page. If that's possible then yes, why not? Id suggest doing a couple of tests on scrap watercolour paper to see how the materials interract. Ocne yorue confident they'll work well in a blend, then go for it! Let me know how you get on. x

[@kevbar1505]

It was overworked with the darkest dark edges. It was better one stage before.

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Hi Kevan, Ah yes, quite possibly true. The danger of overworking a painting is ever present and I do mess up and take things a bit too far quite often. It's an art form in itself knowing when to say "enough" and walk away. Thanks for the comment. x

[@kevbar1505]

@@LizzieHarperillustrator Wow, I didn't expect a response. Thank you kindly for seriously considering my responce.

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

@@kevbar1505 But of course! This youtube channel would be nothing if it weren't for folks watching my films and interacting with comments and feedback. And anyone who literally is willing to sit through half an hour of watching paint dry deserves a response to any question they might want to ask! Thanks, Kevan. x

[@garimayadav8192]

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟👍👧