How to Be a Successful Nature Artist - Where to Begin

If drawing animals, plants and nature in general is a passion of yours, then consider being a nature artist. It takes time to develop and grow your craft, but it's a lot more fun than doing the usual, everyday art assignments on subjects that may or may not interest you. Having been in the business of nature art for over twenty five years, here are tips I can offer that may help you in your quest in becoming a professional in this interesting field.

Know your subject well

It is mandatory to know what you're drawing, in as much detail as possible, in order to realistically draw animals or plants correctly. In scientific art, accuracy is a must, but for everyday work that is for posters or other items, it is less critical to be spot-on with detail. Whichever venue you choose, become an expert in your subject by reading, observing, seeing it in real life, and truly knowing it inside and out. Know the muscles and how they lay, how feathers sit on the skin of a bird. Learn to see in depth, and develop a critical mind to analyze what you're drawing. Be thorough in your learning. Poorly done drawings are usually due to the artist not knowing the true structure of the subject or how it moves. For example, many people aren't accurate on conveying how horses gallop. Whatever subject you are focusing on, give it 200% of your attention. The quality of your work will show if you have learned your subject well enough or not.

Never stop learning