Real World Gardener Interviews Catherine Wardrop Scientific Illustrator

What is Scientific Illustration?  <p>Host of Real World Gardener radio show Marianne, speaks with Sydney Botanic Gardens Scientific Illustrator, Catherine Wardrop</p> <a href='https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OOFmU-ocPd0/XxvqmQiorkI/AAAAAAAAiiQ/aE9nsvDRBZQicp35-8h83HkEMO0VuVTTgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Wardrop-profile-pic.jpg'></a> Catherine Wardrop <ol><li> Scientific illustration is one of many aspects of botanical research to aid plant identification and conservation at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.  How does it help?</li> <li>Why do botanists still use drawings instead of photographs?”</li> <li>Simply put, scientific illustrators create images of plants by referencing recent and historic herbarium collections. Catherine says "In my role, I use my artistic skill to translate the taxonomy, interpret microscopic botanical details, omit the unnecessary, document the essential and (hopefully) describe a species so well that it never has to be drawn again."</li> <li>What do you need to know about a species before you start drawing it?</li> </ol><ul><li>       Any knowledge of plants helps.Catherine had studied 5 years at arts school completing        an undergrad and post grad studies in visual art. Post grad was in plant and wildlife        illustration.</li> </ul> <ol start="4"><li>Is there a method when approaching botanical drawing?</li> </ol>  Prostanthera lasianthos <ul><li>    For a full plate which includes the habit of the plant, Catherine likes to do the microscope drawings first. It also involves a bit re-constructing. Scientific illustrator will include all parts of the life cycle of the plant.</li> </ul> <ol start="7"><li>Which plant species have proved challenging to draw?</li> </ol><ul><li>    When you start drawing a new species that has no previous illustrations or specimens. </li> </ul> <ol start="8"><li>How long have you been doing scientific illustration?</li> <li>Since 1998 Catherine has illustrated native, exotic and invasive weed species at RBG Sydney and the most recent examples