Best botanical illustration courses: Learn plant illustration online

Nature provides unique inspiration for art.

So if art’s your hobby, profession, or a new activity you’d like to explore, look into these sought-after online botanical illustration courses — they’re just a click away!

Whether you prefer to paint with watercolors or acrylics, or use software like Procreate and Adobe Illustrator for your creations, there are plenty of online botanical illustration classes to choose from. 

We’ve done the research and assembled some of the best online botanical illustration courses out there — keep reading to learn more!

Affiliate disclosure: Articles on Tiny Workshops may contain affiliate links.

How to choose the best botanical illustration class for you

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced illustrator, there are a number of fun, high-quality botanical illustration classes online to match your skill level.

That being said, we suggest you consider the following as you peruse the list of online botanical illustration courses in this guide: 

• Your level of expertise 
• The time you’re willing to invest
• The type of skills you want to learn/improve
• The kind of art you want to create
• List of materials required per course 

The classes you’ll find in this list are available on platforms such as Domestika, Skillshare, and Udemy. Besides specific material requirements, each online learning platform offers unique subscription plans, teaching styles, course durations, and language options. 

Best botanical illustration courses

Whatever your skill set and goals may be, there’s a world of botanical illustration course content, engaging instructors, and attractive deals awaiting you. 

Each of the classes below explores different approaches to botanical art, providing a myriad of options for all kinds of artists. So let us know your favorites in the comments section below!

Botanical Sketchbooking: A Meditative Approach

The instructor for this Domestika course is urban sketcher, Lapin. Having discovered how drawing can foster creativity and mindfulness, the illustrator uses this class to pass this principle on to fellow artists. 

Throughout this botanical illustration course, Lapin will teach you how to identify the geometric shapes found in nature. Lessons cover contour work, color techniques, and creating textures.

You’ll put these skills to practice while illustrating cacti and decaying plants, learning botanical composition along the way. Finally, you’ll digitize your work and learn methods for printing on textiles and wallpaper.

This Domestika class allows unlimited access to content after purchase — click below to find out more! 

Botanical Illustration with Watercolors

In this beginner botanical illustration class, Mexican illustrator Paulina Maciel will walk you through her process for creating delicate, watercolor art. 

This Domestika course begins with working on basic watercolor exercises and experimenting with texture. Paulina will then guide you on plant morphology, while thoroughly dissecting a flower to demonstrate its anatomy.

You’ll also learn how to digitize your work in Photoshop and apply it to graphic design projects such as customized stationery. 

You can also enjoy Paulina’s follow-up Domestika course, Botanical Watercolor Sketchbook, where you’ll learn how to develop a sketchbook containing both illustrations and notes. 

If you’re interested in taking several botanical illustration classes, signing up for a Domestika Plus subscription is an excellent way to enjoy an extensive catalog of free courses and further discounts. Click below to find out more about this great class!

Botanical Illustration: Paint a Colorful Garden with Watercolor and Gouache

Sara Boccaccini Meadows starts this Skillshare class with an insider look into her personal sketchbooks, followed by a visit to a beautiful botanical garden for fresh inspiration! 

This botanical illustration course covers how to create loose, improvised sketches, mix colors inspired by your surroundings, layer paints to create depth and texture, and add detail to your painting with pen. 

You’ll also be experimenting with gouache, which is more opaque than watercolor paints and provides intensity and vibrancy. By the end of this class, you’ll be equipped to sketch, develop, and paint a whimsical botanical scene!

Sign up for Skillshare’s yearly subscription to access this course. Or — check out the platform’s free, month-long trial by clicking below!

Paint Realistic Watercolor and Botanicals – Chasing Autumn

There’s something magical about fall. If this happens to be your favorite season, read ahead to know more! 

Chasing Autumn is a progressive-style class on Udemy that will challenge you to paint a series of seven, fall-inspired leaves.

Each illustration will serve as a building block for the next, enhancing your knowledge of watercolor techniques as you go further into the course.

By purchasing this botanical illustration class on Udemy, you’ll have lifetime access to all of its content once you’ve signed up.

Botanical Watercolor: Illustrate the Anatomy of Flowers

Inspired by her grandmother’s artwork and her parents’ background in Biology, it didn’t take long for Luli Reis to discover her undeniable love for nature. 

During this botanical illustration class, you’ll master basic watercolor techniques to create depth and volume. You’ll also explore the anatomy of flowers and learn how to preserve your watercolor works long-term.

As your final project, you’ll be invited to create a botanical watercolor painting depicting the anatomy of a flower.

This course is ideal for illustrators, designers, creatives, and art lovers of all skill levels. Check out more of our picks for the best watercolor classes to explore the medium further!

Paint with Me: Vintage-Inspired Botanical Illustration Using Mixed Media

Join Kendall Hillegas as she paints a dahlia in a realistic, vintage-inspired style. 

During this Skillshare course, you’ll observe Kendall’s creative process from start to finish as she talks through details and her decision-making process. You’ll be encouraged to adapt, experiment, and incorporate personal style into your project. 

As an intermediate-level course, you’re required to have previous drawing experience and an understanding of foundational skills including composition, saturation, and value.

By the end of this botanical illustration course you’ll be walking away with a personalized, vintage-inspired piece! 

Start your free Skillshare trial by clicking below or sign up for the platform’s yearly subscription plan to enjoy all of its botanical illustration courses!

Negative Watercolor Painting For Botanical Illustration

Starring Cristina Cilloniz, during this Domestika class you’ll learn how to master negative watercolor painting!

Using this technique will teach you how to create depth by building up layers, resulting in impressive illustrations that pop off the page.

Having collaborated with renowned brands, the expert instructor will share her personal experience and creative process, covering everything from warm-up exercises to color theory. 

Basic drawing knowledge is helpful for this botanical illustration class and ideal for artists who are eager to build on their current skill set. 

Botanical Watercolor For Patterns

Selling original work on her online shop, Isabela Quintes is a great example of how your watercolor paintings can go a long way! 

Throughout this class you’ll learn how to use Adobe Photoshop to digitize your botanical watercolor paintings into patterns that you can apply to textiles and other merchandise. 

Before digitizing your painting, Isabella will guide you through every step of the painting process.

Basic exercises, watercolor painting techniques, and composition will all be covered. Previous drawing or watercolor skills aren’t necessary for this course, but prior experience with Adobe Photoshop is highly recommended. 

Remember, Domestika offers unlimited access to course content after purchase, so be sure to take advantage of this perk — click below to sign up.

Botanical Illustrations on Your iPad in Procreate + 15 Free Procreate Brushes

Enhance your digital art talents with this botanical illustration class! Instructed by Liz Kohler Brown, during this Skillshare course you’ll create three, singular styles of botanical illustrations using the incredible Procreate app.

As a bonus, you’ll receive a comprehensive resource set including the tools used in the class: 15 Procreate brushes/stamps, and 150 botanical reference photos you can use for future projects. 

Liz will also demonstrate how to apply gold shimmer textures, sketch contour drawings using photography, experiment with texture brushes, and perfect hand-drawn lines. 

Discover Skillshare’s free, 1-month trial to get your start at the button below. Also check out more of our favorite Procreate classes to learn more techniques!

Botanical Painting with Acrylic

Have you ever considered transforming your art into a large-scale painting or mural?

In this Domesika class, you’ll use acrylic to create a poster-sized, botanical illustration with the help of Lucila Dominguez and an acrylic paint set.

With Lucila’s guidance, you’ll assemble an inspirational mood board, work on warm-up strokes, and repeat drawing drills with foliage and flowers as your subject.

Following this, the illustrator will teach you about color theory, creating volume with light and shadow, and painting with acrylics. Having previous drawing experience is advised, but not required, to take this course. 

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That’s it for our list of top botanical illustration courses online! Do you have any more recommendations? Let everyone know in the comments below!