Evidence first
Clear labels and honest observations make a collection more useful over time.
About the studio / established 2017
We teach attention as a creative skill.
RapidHerbarium began as a shared table in Portland where a botanist, an illustrator, and an archivist compared field notebooks after weekend walks. Today, our courses help people build a calm, informed practice of observing and recording plants.
Our mission
Make botanical literacy tangible, welcoming, and responsible.
We believe a useful herbarium combines care with curiosity. Our curriculum gives learners practical processes without flattening the complexity of ecosystems, local knowledge, or seasonal change.
Place matters
We discuss permission, sourcing, habitats, and the difference between collecting and noticing.
Process over perfection
A thoughtful first page is more valuable than an intimidating ideal.
The working group
Mara Ellison
Botanical educator
Mara designs field observation lessons and brings twelve years of community garden teaching to every critique.
Jon Bell
Illustrator and editor
Jon helps learners translate structure, texture, and scale into generous page compositions.
Priya Shah
Archive coordinator
Priya develops our labeling standards and keeps the curriculum grounded in accessible archival practice.