A Day of Sketching at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

The academy organized a sketching trip to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh… Before the sketching session, we’ll have a showcase of the garden’s plant specimens, history, and works by artists and photographers who have tried their hand at plant depiction. For the first time, I got up close and personal with ancient books that are hundreds of years old. The weighty, aged paper carries the traces of centuries-old depictions, and I’m absolutely in love with this feeling. Who understands! One book 📗 dates back to 1484, and another massive tome is from 1542. Some pages are too fragile to turn, but the artists’ descriptions of the plants remain vivid. Some are truly stunning, with different materials collaged (glass, wood, plants), and others using film printing techniques, showcasing the diversity of creativity! During the specimen explanation, I was shown historical specimens. I noticed one plant specimen collected in Yunnan in 1921, and now, in the Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh, you can see their vibrant purple presence. It’s magical. Moreover, I discovered Eastern elements like red leaves 🍁, welcoming pines, lotus flowers, and Chinese pavilions. Cultural exchange from centuries ago has led to the blend of Eastern and Western cultures we see today, giving a sense of history’s quiet flow, resulting in the diverse and beautiful fruits of civilization. British gardens, besides having typical English elements like lush green lawns, share a similar approach to tree management with Chinese gardens, both aiming to let plants grow freely without excessive pruning. The garden is home to various adorable animals, including waddling ducks 🦆, squirrels that keep their distance 🐿️, and fearless pigeons and seagulls. It’s a great place to stroll and clear one’s mind. I even spotted a little girl in a pink polka-dot raincoat and yellow rain boots, reminding me of a character from Beatrice Alemanya’s picture books 🥹 Finally, due to the constant rain, we only briefly visited the art gallery before heading back. I was deeply attracted to the wall colors, mainly in the Morandi color scheme, which was harmoniously matched. I’ll keep this in mind for future home decor. The gallery mainly exhibits mushroom-related elements. Mushroom lovers shouldn’t miss it, with clothing, picture books, mushroom merchandise, and detailed mushroom species introductions. The weather didn’t cooperate as planned. On a sunny day, one could spend even more time sketching at the Royal Botanic Garden, with its diverse array of plant shapes and postures perfect for the activity. Let’s plan to return when the weather improves! #Edinburgh #EdinburghArtAcademy #RoyalBotanicGardenEdinburgh #UK #Scotland #Illustration