This Kapow Art and design video supports teachers in delivering a cross-curricular lesson inspired by the botanical illustrations of Carl Linnaeus and Charles Darwin. Pupils will apply their observational drawing skills to closely examine and record flowers or parts of plants, linking their artistic work with scientific learning.
Subject: Art and design
Pupil video: Botanical drawing
This Kapow pupil video is part of the Kapow Art and design scheme of work. It is designed for pupils and explores how to create abstract artwork inspired by the artist Georgia O’Keeffe. Pupils begin by looking closely at photographs of flowers, using a viewfinder to zoom in on a small section. They sketch several compositions in their sketchbooks, paying attention to line, shape and how the image fills the space. The video demonstrates how pupils can use different mark-making techniques to capture sweeping lines and tonal contrast, helping to build confidence before creating their final drawing.
The video continues by guiding pupils through the process of enlarging one of their sketches onto a larger piece of paper. It shows how to match lines to the edge of the original composition and encourages pupils to allow lines to flow beyond the borders. Pupils learn to work in layers, starting with a light sketch before refining their drawing using a range of drawing tools. The activity encourages creativity and expression, resulting in a bold abstract artwork that captures the essence of a flower without needing to look exactly like one