Preparing to Illustrate An Amaryllis Plate

Amaryllis bulbs are now appearing in my local market!

To prepare for my upcoming on-line workshop, Amaryllis in Watercolor: A Full Botanical Plate, 4 weeks starting January 8, 2026, we will be illustrating the growth cycle of the entire plant - from bulb and roots - to stem and leaves - to buds and blossoms!  If you wish to work from your own sketches and/or photographs, it is easy to force the bulbs.

I will force two bulbs:  one suspended in water so I can see the roots; and one planted in potting soil to see the leaves, stem, buds and blossoms.

Suspend the bulb in water to see the roots spread out as they might appear naturally in the ground. This is an amaryllis bulb vase.  

Or use any large vase: create a lattice over the opening with floral tape or coffee stirrer sticks to hold the base of the bulb.

Once the bulb starts to grow, start photographing or sketching the stages of growth that  interest you - stems, leaves, buds and blossoms.

If you prefer to work from a potted amaryllis, purchase one close to the class start date but still take photographs of the parts you want to illustrate.

Remember to take color notes in watercolor! These will be invaluable when painting from photographs.  Refer to your color notes rather than the photographs for a more accurate color interpretation of your amaryllis.