Plant Portraits

The role of our scientific illustrators is to highlight botanical research, to clarify our understanding, but along the way they also happen to make science beautiful.  You can find botanical art printed in books, magazines and other media or sold as individual works. In a professional setting, botanical art pieces are composed in consultation with a scientific author and are often accompanied by a detailed, scientific description.  Students are taught how to properly analyse the plant they wish to draw and to accurately depict the form and details.

Prior Knowledge:

No prior knowledge is required.

Learning Intentions: 

In this program students will:

• explore the role of botanical illustration in science and art, recognising its use in documenting plant species and aiding scientific research
• describe some key moments and artists in the history of Australian botanical illustration and explain how their work has influenced modern scientific and artistic practices
• combine both the artistic and scientific aspects of botanical illustration, appreciating its role in both disciplines while developing their technical drawing skills

Activities:

In this video conference students will:

• carefully observe a plant, paying close attention to details such as shape, texture, colour, and structure, and record these observations through sketches
• experiment with various drawing techniques, such as line drawing, shading, and cross-hatching, to create detailed and accurate representations of plants
• identify and label key parts of a plant (e.g., roots, stems, leaves, flowers)

Victorian Curriculum (2):

Science: 

Nature and development of science

• scientific knowledge changes over time, often resulting from collaboration or by building on the work of others, and leads to advances in science VC2S6H01

Evaluating

• methods and findings can be compared with those of others to identify sources of error, to select evidence in support of reasoned explanations and conclusions, and to develop further questions for investigation VC2S6I05

Use and influence of science

• scientific knowledge, skills and data can be used by individuals and communities to identify problems, consider responses and make decisions  VC2S6H02

Communicating

• scientific ideas, findings, patterns, trends and relationships can be communicated for a specific purpose and audience, using various presentation formats, scientific vocabulary and digital tools as appropriate VC2S6I06

Visual Arts:

Developing Practices

• develop visual arts skills by experimenting with visual conventions, visual arts processes and materials  VC2AVA6D01

Creating

• plan and create artworks using visual conventions, visual arts processes and materials to communicate ideas, perspectives and meaning  VC2AVA6C01