Foreward
In the world we live in today, many new plant species are regularly being discovered, but even more are facing the threat of extinction. There are many contributing factors, but one of the main reasons is human activity. The dilemma is that although our lives depend on plant materials from the earth, we choose to live in opposition to nature, and this represents a real threat to wildlife. Although a lot of research has been done, and a great deal of information collected over the centuries, I believe that the main cause of this threat is a lack of awareness that every living thing matters, is interconnected and relies on every other living thing to survive. Botanical illustrations are becoming essential at this time, as they play a vital role in making this information easier to understand. They are visually striking and focus attention on a particular plant, and consequently the information that comes along with it. Visual communication, in the form of painting, is an effective way to share this knowledge.
Botanical artists hold a unique status: they can record plants and show them to the world, unlocking science for people outside of that world, enabling them to be seduced by the most beautiful images, drawn and painted by very skilled hands. Botanical artists have an amazing opportunity to form a bridge between the scientific world and the general public. Depicting and simplifying information in the most beautiful way, they can communicate to those who might consider scientific information boring. Illustrations help to raise awareness of the valuable knowledge that scientists have been researching and discovering over many years
My own journey began when I was studying environmental engineering at university. The word ‘environmental’ might lead you to think that the two areas are related. However, I assure you that what I do now is something else entirely, and how I ended up as a botanical artist is another story. My studies certainly developed my sense of structure, improved my ability to see things in a three-dimensional way on a flat surface and gave me the discipline to work methodically. These skills have been very useful to me as I have sought to produce successful illustrations
In this book, I am going to share with you my experiences of looking at wild species from around the world, as well as how I do my research and how I compose my illustrations from live specimens. I really hope this will help you in your own journey and inspire you to look for some plant samples and pick up your pencils
Finding ways to communicate, to draw and paint plants in the wild, is a burning passion for me. Through this book, I have the opportunity to share this with everyone who reads it. It is full of my thoughts on plants in the wild and how to get the best drawings and the most skilfully painted studies of plants, some of which have never been seen before
Obviously, it is wonderful if you know a scientist who can help explain the botany of a plant that you are working on. I was so lucky to grow up in a family with a botanist father, and I had the great fortune of being taken out on frequent field trips to unusual places in Turkey and around the world. But if you don’t have a botanist to hand, there are many other ways to do your own research and gather information. Knowledge is more easily acquired in this era
If you want to practise botanical illustration, it must become your passion. There should be a gathering momentum, from learning how to make basic drawings and paintings of plants, to enjoying and wanting to describe more plants in your own way. This is the passion that I feel. I need to draw each day. The more I do it, the more infectious it becomes. It is a way of life for me, and a really great way to live a life that is more connected to nature. In this fast-moving world that we live in, it is a joy to be a botanical artist. I love the fact that I am creating a legacy, a collection of artworks that tell a story of plants growing in natural places which, unfortunately, might not be there forever. While plant conservation is a very important issue nowadays, I very much like the idea that knowledge about particular plants will be passed on to future generations through scientific illustrations. Of course there is also lots to be gained from just enjoying drawing and painting nature for its own sake
Look around you – nature is just out there! Look closely, deep inside, and see all the magnificent details in the diversity of nature surrounding us. Being in contact with nature can trigger something inside you and make you feel more connected to this incredible earth in which we live. When this happens, simply start to draw nature – drawing is a better way of seeing
Işık Güner
Copyright © 2019 by Isik Guner. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
