Botanical Art Techniques: A Comprehensive Guide to Watercolor, Graphite, Colored Pencil, Vellum, Pen and Ink, Egg Tempera, Oils, Printmaking, and More

by American Society of Botanical Artists

The Ultimate Reference, from the Experts
 
This definitive guide is the most thorough how-to available on every major technique of botanical artistry. The experts at the American Society of Botanical Artists offer step-by-step projects that move from introductory to advanced—so any level of artist can build on acquired skills. Helpful tutorials cover watercolor, graphite, colored pencil, vellum, egg tempera, oils, pen and ink, and printmaking. Filled with more than 900 photographs and stunning examples of finished art by the best contemporary botanical artists, Botanical Art Techniques is the authoritative manual on this exquisite art form.


 

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Reference, Nature, Education

416 pages, Hardcover

First published September 16, 2020

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this and highly recommend it. There were tutorials by more than 50 artists. The book is full of beautiful illustrations with many examples. Step by step it helped me along.
I thought this was just going to be a “how-to”with lots of beautiful pictures but this was quite in-depth.
I’ve been painting at home for about two years and now I’m learning hand lettering. I learned a lot from this book and can’t wait to start some of my projects. This book was so much more than I thought it would be.


Thank you NETGALLEY and the publisher for this ARC, in exchange for my honest review. ♥️

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a phenomenal primer on creating botanical art for those who are very serious about the craft. With over 400 pages, it goes into step-by-step techniques using a variety of media from pencils to watercolors and much more. It is well illustrated with incredible botanical art throughout, showing all of the steps the artists undertook to create the finished work.

I have always been in awe of artists who could create watercolor or colored pencil botanical art that looked like a photo and I finally understand how they do it. The amount of detail they use is incredible -- precisely measuring each petal, using multiple papers and tracing designs onto new sheets, using all different materials to enhance the effect, and so on. In one case, one stunning piece was listed as taking 200 hours of work.

This is for artists way out of my league (not just in talent but in time and money for supplies), but I was also able to see how to do so much that is in my league, and how various materials give the effects I'm after. A fantastic resource.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

This is an amazing book of over 400 pages of botanical art! The artwork in this book contains crayon and watercolour techniques and the artists who showed how to paint/draw individual pieces gave step by step and understandable instructions to complete each piece.

This book would be an amazing gift for any Botanical art fan and contains an absolute wealth of information and beautiful pieces.

[Elaine Howlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely stunning and comprehensive guide to creating botanical artworks. The book instructs the reader in the basic artistic skills and techniques required and then elaborates on them with applied and advanced techniques as they relate to botanical illustrations. Each step is helpfully portrayed with photographs of the techniques and finished artwork.


Read more reviews and other bookish content on my blog https://elainehowlin.com

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

BOTANICAL ART TECHNIQUES had me at that exquisite cover, and kept me entranced ‘til the last page. It’s a gorgeous guide from the pros at the American Society of Botanical Artists. Provides helpful instruction for any artist, no matter how skilled, with a host of tutorials on using watercolor, colored pencil, ink, pen, oils, egg tempera, and more. Awash in glorious photos (900+) plus examples of stellar work done by the best contemporary artists in the field, BOTANICAL ART TECHNIQUES has become my haven of joy amid “le virus horrible.”

5 of 5 Stars

Pub Date 15 Sep 2020

Thanks to Timber Press and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

#BotanicalArtTechniques #NetGalley

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is gorgeous, detailed, and overwhelming. It is full of tutorials, and skill-wise I cannot describe how out of my league this artwork is. There are many techniques discussed, from accessible to rarified. I had never even heard of metalpoint before, and I don’t currently have access to egg tempera paint or classic metal etching chemicals. So I just sort of flipped through stunned and looked at the pretty pictures and determined in my heart that professional botanical art is not a viable career path for me.

Do you remember Tolkien’s story of Leaf by Niggle, with the artist who spent his life painting one perfect, utterly detailed leaf? That is this book.

If you need a description of how to do detailed realistic botanical watercolor art on real vellum, this is the book for you.

[Treena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me begin my review by saying that I am a beginner art student. I only really doodle in my journals and requested this book because I wanted to push myself to learn how to draw better.

I really liked how thorough each concept and technique was explained. I especially appreciated that each medium (e.g. Graphite, Pen and Ink, Colored Pencil, etc.) had a selection of introductory tutorials for us to follow/copy, as we worked at our own pace. And then, once we were done with that, there were more advanced tutorials to work on. And not just one tutorial, but 2 to 4.

I really liked that there were detailed pictures for me to use as reference points and that each concept or technique was illustrated in a clear manner.

On a side note: I also very much appreciated the tips and tricks the book gave on how to care for flowers/plants. 🙂

I am very glad I was granted an Advanced Reader Copy of this book by NetGalley for me to review. This review is entirely my own opinion.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book, with techniques for different types of art suitable from beginner level to advanced. Everything is covered, including graphite, coloured pencil, watercolours, oils, and acryllics.

The artwork is stunning, and shows what can be achieved with each medium. Step-by-step instructions accompany each project, which range from simple drawings for beginners to complicated compositions for more advanced artists.

There are also sections with details on scientific illustrations and field studies, and a comprehensive guide to the materials needed for each medium.

I was given a digital copy to review and loved it, so I can imagine the physical copy will be truly a book to treasure! Highly recommend for anyone who wants to improve their skills.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a comprehensive guide to the materials and the basics of botanical art with excellent examples and lovely pictures. It even tells you the right way in which to hold the pencil! It is really the kind of reference book that you need to keep in 'hard copy,' however. I love these books, but it can be difficult to use them in ebook form.

It also has sections by different artists, and provides illustrations of how to draw different flowers, and discusses the parts of flowers.

I received this free ebook from Net Galley in return for an honest review.

[Marzia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cover is spectacular. This is the kind of book that in a shelf and in a library really stand out.
It is very practical and technical and very captivating. It it exhaustive but never boring.
You can find plenty of wonderful illustration and this is the reason why you can buy this book also if you are not a painter.


Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most beautiful books I've seen....this is for the serious artist showing step by step instructions on how to draw/paint the most beautiful flowers and plants in all kinds of different mediums. Painting with egg tempera.....who knew you could create such exquisite paintings from egg yolk?

[Kat Caric · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW, 5++ STARS! *This* is the artbook for botanical realism I've hunted for decades to find! Take my money, I want the print edition!

This is an enormous class in botanical rendering, yet it is easy enough to flip to a section of a particular technique if desired. It can serve as a very entertaining coffee table book, but that would leave the gift of its power on the table: Because this is such a feast, work in hand is the siren call here.

Sign me up for this class! That is what this book can be, over 400 pages of intense instruction to devour in the comfort of your own home studio or kitchen table.

I think I will dream of the drawing of Echinocactus grusonii. Holy moly what detail and beauty!

This book teaches a scientist eye for detail in the botanical (and then covers technique in great precision) -- and isn't perfection in art merely learning to truly SEE? It highlights painting from life (because photography will never capture the range of color and value seen with the miraculous human eye) although does mention photography too for our artistic convenience. Step 1 in art is the art of seeing, and here is an art book that states that, hurray!

As a painter depicting realism (in fantastical mashings and settings), I have perused many botanical illustration books, how-to and final artist compilation both, and have never been completely satisfied. I have an immense art book library, and this book is going to be a stand-out among all of them (as I am reviewing an advanced digital copy here).

Moreover, it highlights a REASON to specialize in botanicals: The world crisis of detachment from nature, from Nature Herself, the matter that made our physical being. "...the work contains the potential to affect the way people look at the world..." We all have our reasons for coming to be artists; we are reminded we are a vital force needed for a new reason.

This book can be an entrance for beginning artists as basic drawing techniques are discussed; it has a basic introduction to line type and shading form. It then moves to flowers and leaves, fruit and vegetable, branch and pattern, the golden ratio in nature and how to render it well, and increases complexity and technique building ever upward in final result, such perfection. I remember many many years ago trying to paint a pineapple in high realism - pattern that is not ruler perfect can drive an artist eye fairly wild, but here is a path for those efforts.

Then entire correct botanical plant depiction is shown, proper botanical format with parts of the plant rendered, whether in graphite or color wash or ink. There are so many techniques covered that I cannot list them all. If one wanted to become a professional botanical artist, this is the book to buy.

I am gifted today for the perusing of this book, and cannot wait for the print copy. Thank you to NetGalley, and to Carol Woodin, and Robin A. Jess (and the Society) and to Timber Press for an advanced reader copy.

HIGHLY recommended, a solid buy now.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! This is one beast of a book. Its expensive but when you receive it and heft its weight and review all the content, you get a good feel that it was worth the price.

I have a real interest in botanical art. I'm blessed to work in a profession where I get exposed to it every single day and I work with professional botanical artists. While I'm also an artist, I don't consider myself a trained botanical artist. I paint florals, yes, but not super detailed, accurate down to the width and shape of a single stamen kind of artist. This book has provided me with better insight into where a botanical artist is coming from when they compose their pieces.

They have a brief look into artist studios, as well as a quick talk about working on site outdoors. (If you want a really full book on outdoor journaling and drawing, check out "The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling").

There's a fascinating look into all the pains artists go through to preserve their live specimens while they're drawing/painting - stuff I didn't realize they'd do, like put pins through flower heads to keep them upright, etc. There's definitely an emphasis on drawing from life instead of from photo references. I tend to use photo references a lot for my painting. I decided to purchase some forced bulb tulips and paint those, however - and I have a new appreciation for the value of having the actual plant in front of you because you can better make out what's happening - those two pointy leaf tips behind the tulip's stem weren't two separate leaves after all, but one leaf where it split at the top and I just couldn't see that it was from one leaf initially because it was blocked by the stem. That kind of stuff that you can make out instead of being stuck with a two-dimensional photo where you cannot rotate the plant.

So, botanical art is more like a journey of learning and curiosity than just making something pretty. I like the idea of that approach because it means I get a double-whammy of both the positive effects of learning something new while expressing creativity.

There's a brief section on botany at the front of the book, but I did feel pretty frustrated because the diagrams provided didn't point out every plant part that was discussed in the accompanying text. I suppose if I want that kind of detail I need to get a book that is only focused on botany.

Finally, they get into effective techniques for particular art mediums. This is just wonderful and a great way to learn to hone pre-existing skills or start to try out new ones. I would say that I think it's helpful if you already have some skill in drawing to begin with. This just shows you how to take your skills to the next level.

I'm glad I picked this up and look forward to attempting some of the techniques discussed.

[penny shima glanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume is, as its title implies, a comprehensive guide to botanical art techniques. The tutorials include details about the teaching artist, examples of their art, and detailed step-by-step photo tutorials explaining each skill. It is a book that is thorough in its crash course of Botanical Arts. This book includes introductory skills through advanced techniques. The combination creates essential reading for a new artist. It also results in a useful reference and refresher for those looking to improve or add proficiency.

The introductory section covers the basics that any inspiring botanical artist should understand to begin a successful study of the art. This includes how to care for cut flowers, tips for field work, and a crash course in basic botany. The first part of the book focuses on black and white drawing. It covers tips for basic pencil (graphite) technique as well as that for pen and ink. Skills include the basic -- how to hold a pencil and the importance of a pencil tip, to the more advanced -- how to shade to enhance, not muddle a drawing. The book does not assume knowledge nor patronize the reader. Part two introduces color and offers tutorials for color pencil and watercolor -- on both paper and vellum. In addition to photo tutorials, detailed diagrams are also included, for example there is one that explores how to create depth--from one full strength and detailed "hero" specimen with multiple layers of muted colors, decreased detail, and reduced scale. The third part provides a brief exploration of specialized techniques such as etching, silver point, acrylics, and oils. This section also includes principals and both traditional and modern approaches for botanical art composition.

As a self-taught watercolor artist, this volume provides refreshers on lessons long forgotten (perspective). It also unlocks mysteries of "how to do that" (for example, the use of masking fluid and composition). It is a book that is welcome on my shelf as I explore botanical art techniques.

I received an eARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for a review. The FTC wants you to know.

[Doreen Prentiss Gabriellini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Botanical Art Techniques: A Comprehensive Guide to Watercolor, Graphite, Colored Pencil, Vellum, Pen and Ink, Egg Tempera, Oils, Printmaking, and More by American Society of Botanical Artists
is a gorgeous book. Besides being beautiful it is practical. This is a voluminous text weighing in at over 400 pages.

This textbook is extremely unique in that it combines botanical science with botanical art. The first thing you notice is that the book is broken down into tutorials given by experts. The very first chapter discusses basic botany by PhD in botany. The lessons/tutorials are built upon one another. The initial major lesson is drawing botanicals in black and white and using/developing basic graphite skills. Holding the graphite pencil correctly, line control, line weight and light and shadow are covered here. This is only in the first tutorial! So to say this volume is complete and extremely vast would be an understatement.

The drawings are just pure eye candy which spurs the reader to continue to see what is on the next page. This is not just another art book. This book helps the reader develop a relationship with the subject and grow their knowledge of botany in order to make them a better artist. There is even a section on how to care for your cut flowers and how to arrange them so it enhances your view and understanding of the actual flowers.

The authors also give instructions for portraying leaves, vegetables and roots and the techniques are valid for drawing or painting almost anything. The detailed instructions are accompanied by illustrations that are remarkably detailed.

There are many mediums covered in this book. There are watercolors, pen and ink, transferring, acrylics, oils and etching to name a few.

The end results of each tutorial may seem nearly impossible to achieve by the reader but by the process of breaking each skill down into steps with detailed explanations, the artwork seem more attainable. Well done!

I would like to thank the publisher, author and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Steffany .O (coffee over apples) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not only were the illustrations within this book beautiful but the designing and layout of each page was excellently done. The information provided on each page of instruction was divided and labeled in methods which clearly answered all the questions that I pondered along the way. The first sections provided insight into the studios of various botanical illustrators. For most established artists this may seem redundant or unnecessary, however I find that this is helpful in understanding how other creators organize their space. Utilizing the natural light provided in a studio can alter the way In which we perceive our work at various times of the day.

Many tools shown to be used by the illustrators were new to me and answered questions I had in regards to using mediums of which I am not familiar. As an illustrator, my go to medium has continued to be acrylic, and although much of the book focused on water color, graphite and color pencil illustration techniques, there were still methods and materials which I believe could be utilized across any practice. My first impression after learning that many sections would be based on how to draw various plants in detail was that I might not get much information that would be general enough to apply to a broad range of illustrated subjects. I was wrong in my assumptions as I quickly learned that in each chapter, though it was a walk through of the artists process, each artist presented a new skill set that was multifaceted for an array of artistic processes. In-between sections were mini chapters that provided ways of understanding color theory, caring for materials and ways in which to select proper materials. Though these were not new to me, they were helpful in giving me ideas on how I can provide this information concisely to my illustration students. I will be referencing this book in my own studio. Thank you for the advanced reader copy!

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Botanical Art Techniques is an encyclopedic tutorial instruction guide to multiple different media for rendering botanical subjects. Due out 15th Sept 2020 from Workman Publishing on their Timber Press imprint, it's 416 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

This is a jaw-droppingly beautiful book. The techniques are advanced and the whole really aimed at advanced students (and professionals), but it honestly feels like a book which can be grown into with sufficient dedicated practice. It's a comprehenshive reference full of tutorials and techniques.

The introductory chapters include tips for preparing specimens to keep them fresh whilst being drawn, working in the studio and in situ, tips for setting up a studio, and a crash course in botanical Latin. The tutorials begin with rendering in black and white (graphite, and pen & ink), then in color (colored pencil, watercolor (on paper and vellum), and finally an advanced compendium of specialized techniques and composition.

This is a very very comprehensive guide. The applied tutorials are well written, but advanced. I would suggest that art students of all levels of expertise will find good takeaways here, but it will be most efficiently utilized by advanced to professional artists. This would be a superlative choice for libraries, reference, art/makers' studios and collectives, or a wonderful inspirational gift for an aspiring artist.

Really beautifully made. Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[M. Raymond · Rating 5 out of 5]

--A Wealth of Information for Creating Detailed Art of the Natural World--

I was provided an advanced review copy from the publisher and the following are my thoughts.

First of all, this book is a MUST-HAVE for anyone aspiring to create botanical art that accurately depicts plants as they appear in NATURE (and not in your imagination). If you are an artist with a scientific bent, this is the book to get. No other botanical art book I know of offers this amount of information on this topic. At 400-plus pages, it aims to help keep this tradition alive and well by sharing the tips of top modern-day botanical artists who work in different mediums.

Many of the tips you will not easily find elsewhere, if at all. The beginning chapters on how to keep your plant specimens looking fresh for longer tops anything I've ever read (and I've trained in Ikebana).

The tutorials cover graphite, colored pencil, pen and ink, watercolor, vellum, egg tempera, oils, and printmaking. I'm mainly interested in working with graphite, colored pencils, and pen and ink, and the tutorials, and the amount of content in just these mediums alone is worth it for me. The rest of the tutorials I view as a bonus or for future inspiration. The composition chapters go beyond the information I've seen in other books.

Again, at over 400 pages (which are beautifully laid out and full of tutorial photos), it really is no exaggeration to call this book "comprehensive". This is the book I'd give as a gift to a budding botanical artist.

But first, I'm buying it for me!

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Botanical Art Techniques
A Comprehensive Guide to Watercolor, Graphite, Colored Pencil, Vellum, Pen and Ink, Egg Tempera, Oils, Printmaking, and More
by Carol Woodin; Robin A. Jess
Impressions: This is a thorough and in-depth guide to drawing plants with a mind for scientific study. The amount of study and thought for each plant is fascinating. I feel like I do the abridged, abridged version when I try and draw or paint botanicals. I don’t strive to understand the plant but it is apparent that the writers of this book are systematic in their study.
Liked: I am a bit speechless as to how detailed this book was. It was surely an undertaking to compose and I appreciate that. I loved how many types of mediums were addressed and discussed! What a resource this book is.
Disliked: Not too sound ungrateful but there was so much to read it was overwhelming. I think I could sit down and read this in a sitting to glean information and this is defiantly a buy and explore over time kind of a book. I didn’t dislike this I was just surprised at how much is actually there.
Learned: I learned some new perspectives on drawing proportions, layering for depth, and creating texture. I never would have thought to paint on vellum however it looks beautiful. I fully want to try etching sometime now too!
Quotes: I didn’t read enough of the text to garner any good quotes.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion shared here.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Botanical Art Techniques" is an awesome, comprehensive guide to drawing or painting botanical art for anyone from a complete beginner on up. They started with the very basics and progressively worked up to projects suitable for more advanced artists. The different articles were written by different people, but the articles worked well together to teach about botanical art techniques. The authors covered the basics of the different mediums: graphite, pen and ink, colored pencil, watercolor on paper or on vellum, and more briefly on egg tempera, oil, acrylic, gouache, silverpoint, and etching. They also covered the basics specific to botanical art, like working in a studio or outside, how to keep the plant alive while you draw it, and things to consider in composition.

They also gave step-by-step demonstrations for drawing or painting a variety of subjects, like flowers, leaves, fruits and vegetables, roots, branches and stems. There were demonstrations for a cactus, kiwi vine, crab apple branch, slipper orchid, grapes, magnolia flower, and many more. The instructors did a very good job of teaching how to do these things rather than just telling you how to replicate a certain drawing. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn how to make realistic art in a wide variety of mediums, but also specifically to anyone interested in botanical art.

I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Mackenzie Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Upon first glance, the cover is eye-catching and immediately makes me want to pick it up to look inside. This book is by far one of the best art tutorial books I have ever laid eyes on. The art is beyond beautiful, and the guidance they provide is easy to understand. There are different chapters on shading, how to correctly hold a pencil, how to analyze a flower to draw it proportionately, how to arrange cut flowers, and so much more. Various techniques are provided throughout that allow you to create in a variety of mediums including paint, ink, and pencil.

One of my favorite things though, is that it dives into botanical science. It showcases the basic anatomy of a plant so you can become more acquainted with what you are drawing. By doing so, it let's you understand and connect with the art even more. I have always loved drawing flowers, but this has made me appreciate them so much more than I previously had.

I cannot speak highly enough about this book. Whether you are a seasoned artist or just dipping your toes in, this is a must have! I am counting down the days until I can get my hands on a physical copy!

Disclosure: I received a complimentary eARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me this opportunity!

[Jamie Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic, Detailed, and Beautiful Book

If you want to improve your plant drawing and painting skills, this is the book for you. After an introductory section, the book is broadly divided into black-and-white drawing, color techniques, and specialized techniques and composition. The bulk of the book focuses on color techniques, which include working with colored pencils and watercolor on paper and vellum. The introductory section looks at details like preparing cut flowers before drawing/painting and broader topics like working in the wild. The black-and-white section focuses on graphite and pen-and-ink techniques. Each section has what the author calls applied and advanced tutorials. The book is visually stunning. The illustrations alone make the book worthwhile if you love detailed drawings of plants, but the level of detail the authors go into about all the techniques is amazing. They truly show you step-by-step how to break down a technique and help you get the different effects you may desire. There are sections, too, that tell you how to combine media for even better effect. If you like to draw or paint flowers, leaves, fruits, and vegetables, this book will certainly help you improve your skills.

I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! With 420 pages of excellence, Botanical Art Techniques is a gorgeous resource for anyone with an interest in creating drawings of plants. The introduction guides the reader in botanical basics, how to work in nature, or collect (when appropriate) cuttings for home study, and how to create a home studio. The sample studios are beautiful without being out of reach for most home hobby-artists.

The process of observing nature over time and relying on close inspection, is a gift during these stuck at home days. The explanation of why photographing nature is inadequate for botanical artwork was interesting and made total sense, but it hadn’t previously occurred to me.

Detailed tutorials are provided for graphite, pen and ink, colored pencils, watercolors and general instruction is provided for other methods. This will appeal to anyone interested in beginning or improving their own botanical art techniques, or to those who love beautiful botanical artwork.

I love this book. Timber Press never fails to publish books I wish to savor and collect. This one is no exception. I can’t wait to buy a print copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Timber Press for this eARC in return for an unbiased review.

[Beas Chattaraj · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG, this book! A must! An absolute must for artists, budding or expert and even for students of Botany. And full five stars because why not!
This is a guide on making detailed and botanical sketches and paintings in all sorts of mediums, be it graphite, oil, colour pencils, water colours, pen & ink or acrylics and even techniques like etching, using water colours on vellum, gouache or metalpoint (which I wasn't even aware of). Did I leave anything out? Probably.
I tried some of the techniques using water colours and colour pencils because those are the only things I have with me now. The amount of detailing was amazing and at times I wonder how can one possibly copy nature on paper like that! The pictures of the step by step progress of the artworks were really useful.
The ebook was a little difficult to read and zoom into. Considering that this is an art guide, you will need the physical copy but rest assured, this is an important book to have on your desk if you do detailed sketching and painting, especially of plants.
More than 50 artists have contributed to the compilation of this book - each with their unique techniques and tips. More range for you! Now this is what I call a proper guide!
Highly recommended!

[Flora · Rating 5 out of 5]

I tend to look at an artist's work to see if I even want to take their art courses or buy their books. Are their masterpieces beautiful? Is the usage of colour striking? Realistic?

Because of that I can heartily recommend this giant book on botanical illustrations. A quick look at the paintings inside the book shows nothing but gorgeous creations. And look at that long long list of contributors! Award winners, artists who exhibit locally and internationally, people whose paintings are in collections all over the world. People who have painted for a long long time and seem to live and breathe botanical painting.

Really all you need to know if you want to go into botanical illustrating. There are also lots of step-by-step illustrations for you to try out.

The American Society of Botanical Artists have put together an excellent book.

One thing possibly missing which I say about most painting books are videos to go together with those step-by-step. Some things are just better seen than read. At least that's how I feel as a visual learner.

Thank you Netgalley, ASBA and Timber Press for the ARC. This is my honest review.

[Penny Henry · Rating 3 out of 5]

BOTANICAL ART TECHNIQUES was sent to me by Net Galley, free of charge, in exchange for my honest review. It was published by The American Society of Botanical Artists, and edited by Carol Woodin and Robin A Jess. It is a non-fiction teaching manual for botanical art.
This book is not for the faint hearted!! It starts with a history of botany. While this book is interesting – especially if you’re into botany, I believe it more advanced than the average artist. It does show step by step drawings if you have the time and interest to draw intricate plants and flowers. This botanical manual teaches:
Watercolors, graphite, colored pencil, vellum, pen & ink, egg tempera, oils, and print making. There are over fifty artists sharing their techniques…some basic, and some extremely advanced. And, if you have the time and interest, this book does show step by step how to draw intricate plants and flowers. It is a way to take your work to the next level.
This is a book with gorgeous pictures of loads of plants and flowers. If you are interested in botany, furthering your talent in botanical art, or just looking at beautiful pictures, I would recommend this book for you.

[bookventures_of_a_wildflower · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ebook copy via @netgalley for an honest review. I am not an artist but I do enjoy creating art-doodles as a hobby. I wanted to learn more about drawing and watercoloring and this book seemed like the perfect tutorial for it.

I really enjoyed the division of this book with an introduction to each technique in the chapters. It was well thought out to have introductory/basic tutorials followed by more advanced ones for each medium mentioned in the book. The stunning and detailed graphics helped with understanding each step in the creation proccess. It was also a huge plus that for each segment there was a comprehensive list of all the materials needed for that specific artwork.

We also receive some tips on how to look after our real plant babies, which i think was a very cute bonus.

My only negative comment about this stunning book is that it is not for complete beginners. Even with all the extensive detail that was put into this large edition there is a certain extent of basic knowledge required for you to be able to understand and follow the guides.

I am definitely thinking about purchasing the physical copy of this book since it was so helpful and stunning :)

[Lucy Anne Holland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, this is totally outside of the realm in which I usually review, but I saw this one on Netgalley and I couldn’t resist (Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an ARC). For the past couple of months I have been playing around with watercolor painting and I thought it would be fun to look through this book.
First off, I was blown away by the gorgeous examples in this book. They are absolutely stunning. I especially loved being able to see the steps that the artist took to get to the finished product. The final piece may seem nearly impossible to achieve, but by breaking it down into steps that are paired with explanations, the pieces seem more attainable. On that note, though, I would recommend this book for intermediate or advanced painters. I think it would be rather overwhelming for those who have not had time to experiment and become comfortable with their paints and brushes.
Lastly, I would recommend getting a paperback copy of this book. While the e-book was nice, I would have much preferred flipping through real pages.

[Witch-at-Heart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is visually stunning the cover I mean just wow it is absolutely beautiful!!

This is a book I must have so the price gave me pause but you know what... Sometimes you get what you pay for and this book has just everything! 420 glorious pages of stunning beautiful art. And people the book even tells you how to care for your flowers so they last longer while you draw them... what??? Yes please!!

The content is practical, teaching the artist drawing and painting techniques with a wide variety of tools and environments from studio to field applications it covers everything. Roots, leaves, stems anything relating to botanical's is meticulously detailed.

This book is an absolute must have for any serious artist. It is the perfect gift for anyone who loves to draw or paint.

I received this book from NetGalley and Timber Press for an honest review.
#BotanicalArtTechniques
#NetGalley

[alailiander · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, this book is definitely beyond my skill level as an artist, as a bontanist, etc. That being said, it was a delight to peruse. The artwork is stunning and informative, the guidance given is wide-ranging, clear, and concise. They cover more subjects than it had even occured to me there are in the subject. Of particular use to me (as a novice) were cut flower preservation, pencil carriage (I've been drawing since childhood and taking art classes since grade school, but I've never read a better synthesis on how to achieve various and effective pencile strokes), and water color wash techniques.

This is a book that will take you from 0 to 100 in creating botanical artworks and in the interim you'll be able to absolutely gorge yourself on the incredible artworks gracing each page. I'm not sure I've ever seen a specialist art book so well worth it for the subject enthusiast.

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the arc to review.