An olive branch

12 February 2026

Step-by-Step - Level ◆◆◆

There’s something wonderfully calming about painting botanicals. You don’t need to rush — you can slow right down and paint one leaf at a time, dipping in and out of the painting whenever you find a quiet moment. It naturally draws you into close observation as well, really seeing the subtle colours, shapes and details, and becoming completely absorbed in the process.

In this lesson, we’ll paint an olive branch — a beautiful botanical subject and a long-standing symbol of peace.

We’ll be working from a photo I took on our retreat in Tuscany at Hortulanus. For those who enjoy a little extra context, these are Olivastra Seggianese olives, and the oil made from them was really delicious.

Happy painting!