Filtered by: Illustration
Amanda Patton talks Illustration, how to design a garden and garden design software
the delights of fading flowers
When I was an impoverished art student, I took to painting dead flowers. I don’t think it was the fact that I couldn’t often afford to replace any flowers I bought that led me to paint them, more that there was some intrinsic beauty in them that captivated me. This painting (below) was one of [...]
Tuscan inspiration
I’ve just come back, somewhat reluctantly it has to be admitted, from a couple of weeks in Tuscany. As ever when travelling (and one of my main reasons to travel), I come back inspired by new scenery, new architecture, quirky details and, in this case, some truly awe-inspiring paintings and sculpture. It was also lovely [...]
hand drawn vs CAD?
There’s a bit of snobbery going on in the garden design world, between those who draw their plans by hand and those who use CAD (computer aided design), and both think they’re right. The hand-drawing devotees – using tracing paper and a pencil – swear that it’s the only way to make sure that designs [...]
Montenegrin Landscape
This sketch was of an extraordinary and very beautiful landscape around the Boka Kotorska in Montenegro; huge blocks of white limestone seemingly erupting from the hillside, juxtaposed with mulberry, birch and beech forest – bright green when in sun, dark and moody against the white when in the shade. Nestled against this unlikely backdrop was [...]
Snowdrops and ivy
I put this little pot of snowdrops on my windowsill so I could play around with a light and dark background behind the flowers, and a bit of reflected light on the pot. The contrasts between light and dark, and with strong geometry behind plants, is a theme I come back to time and again (and [...]