Ship's Artist

Left: Painting from the Society Islands by Sydney Parkinson, 1769.
© Natural History Museum.

Sydney Parkinson was the talented chap who formed part of James Cook's team on the Endeavour back in 1768. His depictions of the flora and fauna seen for the first time by Europeans on that voyage are a beautiful and valuable record of discovery.

Show your child this picture by Parkinson. There are many more inspirational examples through botanical history to use as a stimulus, Edith Holden's 'Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady' published in 1906 for instance.

Helpful Hints:

Try to provide some decent art materials - watercolour pencils are ideal for beginners.

Don't present the child with an entire pot plant, but help them find a single sprig or flower that they want to work on to begin with.

If you work on making a frame for the finished picture with your child, or invest in a clip frame, it will really boost their sense of achievement.