Lisa Dickinson

We are delighted to share the stunning work of student Lisa Dickinson, who has been working on her Botanical Painting Diploma Course with us. For her latest assignment, Lisa chose to study and paint the Echinacea Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea ‘Magnus Superior’) – a striking flower from the daisy family, Asteraceae, which also includes sunflowers.

Lisa was inspired by the beautiful specimens growing in her garden in New Zealand. She explained that she wanted to select a subject that would last well in a vase, as botanical studies often require time and patience to complete. The Echinacea was an ideal choice, combining strength with delicacy in its distinctive form.

Her assignment focused on tonal and colour painting, an important foundation in botanical illustration. Lisa created both a tonal study and a full-colour painting, allowing her to explore how light, shade and layering of washes bring out the structure of the plant. She admitted that tonal painting in watercolour was something she hadn’t done before, but she embraced the challenge wholeheartedly. Lisa also studied techniques from botanical artist Keith West’s step-by-step demonstrations, which she found invaluable in developing her confidence.

Lisa’s finished work beautifully captures the elegance of the Echinacea. Her colour painting highlights the delicate pink petals and the intricate texture of the cone, while her tonal version demonstrates a clear understanding of form and structure. She reflected that she would like to refine the details of the stigma further in future studies, but overall she was pleased with the balance she achieved between accuracy and artistry.

Her reflections on the process are inspiring for fellow students:

“It was interesting to see how the tonal drawing does meld into the colour painting, I thought it would overpower the work, but it doesn’t… It is a flower I have always wanted to paint, and I’m glad I gave it a go. I would like to have another try, to see if I can do a really accurate representation of the solidity of the cone in comparison to the delicacy of the petals.”

We think Lisa has done a wonderful job, and her thoughtful approach shows how much can be learnt through careful observation and experimentation.

If you are inspired by Lisa’s work and would like to learn more about painting plants and flowers in detail, why not take a look at our Botanical Painting Diploma Course.

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