Botanical Art - Art Book Reviews for Artists

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 3 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #358 in Books, #28,236 overall

Introduction to Botanical Art Book Reviews for Artists

Find botanical art boks. Read my book reviews of botanical art, first published on my blog Making A Mark plus reviews by other people (in due course).

I've also included reviews of books by or about famous artists who have been interested in the structure and patterns of flowers.

Two more sites of interest are:
- A History of Botanical Art - Resources for Botanical Art Lovers
- Botanical Art - Resources for Artists

Bookmark This Resource 

New links are being added to this site on a regular basis.

If you like this site please feel free to add a link to it on your website.

If you enjoyed reading this resource, then why not share it with your friends? You can create a bookmark or link within various social network sites and/or e-mail this site

Add this to your lens »

Bookmark and Share

Do you prefer historical or contemporary botanical art? 

Loading poll. Please Wait...

Book Reviews: Creating botanical art 

Making a Mark reviews......: Book Review: The Art of Botanical Painting
A definitive and practical guide to creating botanical art. This book is the basic text book used by the SBA's Distance Learning Diploma Course

An essential book for all artists contemplating the SBA's Diploma Course. An excellent introduction to botanical art for all experienced artists interested in developing their knowledge of and skills in botanical art
Making a Mark: The Society of Botanical Artists is 21!
Last year I bought Margaret Stevens' excellent book and practical instruction guide "The Art of Botanical Painting" (produced in association with the SBA) without realising that this is now set as the basic text for the Diploma course. It's a truly comprehensive and very impressive volume covering.....
Making a Mark: NEW: The Botanical Palette: Colour for the Botanical Painter
The Botanical Palette, subtitled 'colour for the botanical painter', by the Society of Botanical Artists in association with Margaret Stevens. Published on 1st October 2007 by Harper Collins

It provides a very authoritative and helpful guide to this topic - and will doubtless be welcomed by all those seeking to develop and improve the quality of their botanical art.
Making a Mark reviews......: Book Review: Botanical Illustration
A Manual for those who like their botanical illustration with a strong botanical and practical slant. It includes an introduction to basic botany; preparation of plant material for drawing; use of pencil, watercolour, coloured pencil and pen and ink. Also included are suggested topics for further study; how to correct mistakes and finishing touches. Includes over two hundred colour illustrations by over fifty artists on 192 pages

An excellent manual for anybody who wants to learn more about botanical illustration - very detailed and very helpful. Very well illustrated in terms of both the range and the quality of reproduction
Making a Mark: Flowers in Art: what's on my bookshelves?
I love books about flowers in art and floral art-making. This post sets out the candidates for a book review this month.

BOOKS: The Society of Botanical Artists 

The Society of Botanical Artists has developed a Distance Learning Diploma Course in Botanical Art. It's also developing a suite of books which support the course. Both the books below are used as recommended textbooks for the Diploma Course.

The Botanical Palette: Colour for the Botanical Painter

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
The second book produced by the Society of Botanical Artists with Margaret Stevens. I've just got this and it looks absolutely splendid - a real asset for anybody who is serious about developing their skills in botanical art

Amazon Price: $41.46 (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now
List Price: $41.46
Used Price: $41.98

Temporarily out of stock. Order now and we'll deliver when available. We'll e-mail you with an estimated delivery date as soon as we have more information. Your credit card will not be charged until we ship the item.

The Art of Botanical Painting

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - Read my detailed review - Book Review: The Art of Botanical Painting
I own this book by one of the founder members of the Society of Botanical Art. Margaret Stevens holds numberous RHS medals including the prestigious Gold Medal. This book provides a complete course of instruction in how to develop botanical art and is used as a reference by the Society's own distance learning course. It includes techniques for using coloured pencils.

Release Date: 11/01/2005

Amazon Price: $22.76 (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now
List Price: $29.95
Used Price: $13.55

Usually ships in 24 hours

BOOKS: Creating botanical art - the Eden Project 

Rosie Martin and Meriel Thurstan are two leading figures in the Art School associated with the the internationally renowned Eden Project-home of the only jungle in captivity. They have produced a series of books created in conjunction with the Eden Project and using beautiful works from its students.

Rosie Martin holds a Gold Medal from the RHS for her botanical watercolour painting. She is an elected member of the Society of Botanical Artists and teaches a variety of art-based subjects, including botanical illustration in both.

Meriel Thurstan joined the Eden Project at its creation; she helped to create the Eden's Friends organization and produced its very first magazine. Meriel organizes the extremely successful annual Eden diploma course in botanical illustration.

Botanical Illustration Course: With the Eden Project

This is a complete course in botanical illustration. Each chapter is a self-contained class. Artists and plant lovers will find a wealth of practical information, with easy-to-follow exercises and case studies.

The advice encompasses everything from honing observational skills and plant dissection procedures to color mixing and applying watercolor. Building blocks include: adding highlights, producing a pleasing composition, and developing a personal style.

Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

Natural History Painting: With the Eden Project

NEW BOOK - DUE TO PUBLISH SOON from the same authors
For artists who want to create lifelike and accurate portraits of plants, flowers and wildlife. This book offers ideas on finding an inspirational subject, from natural outdoor settings to local zoos and museums; advice on composition; and techniques for using a range of materials. Every step in the creative process is explained through color photographs and illuminating text.

Amazon Price: $18.45 (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

Contemporary Botanical Illustration: Challenging Colour and Texture

The authors of the bestselling Botanical Illustration Course with the Eden Project are back with new sources of inspiration for professionals and amateurs interested in creating scientifically accurate illustrations of flowers and plants.

This time they focus on solving two difficult challenges: depicting texture in pencil or paint, and painting subjects with unusual colors-from black flowers and plants (such as seaweed) to species that feature eye-catching greens, blues, or pink. There's also an exploration of new ideas in the field, including combining botanical art with traditional Japanese flower arranging. Illustrations appear throughout, many shown step-by-step just as they were created, plus practical advice on commercial opportunities for botanical artists.

Amazon Price: $18.45 (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

BOOKS: Creating botanical art - Billy Showell 

Watercolour Fruit & Vegetable Portraits

This guide for botanical and amateur artists of all skill levels shows how to capture the individuality of blossoming artichokes, the smooth contours of eggplants, the sumptuous reds of glossy peppers, the cool yellows of bananas, and much more.

Using traditional methods that include overlaying washes, dry brush techniques, glazing, and masking-sometimes with an unconventional and amusing twist-the amazing paintings and vibrant palette showcased here clearly explain how to create a terrific selection of shapes and textures, each accompanied by detailed, step-by-step instructions.

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $19.77 (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

Usually ships in 24 hours

Watercolour Flower Portraits

Billy Showell's technically brilliant watercolour flower portraits are beautifully presented in this highly informative, lavishly illustrated book.

Packed with information on drawing and painting techniques, colour mixing and composition, it is an invaluable source of ideas and inspiration for anyone who wants to develop their flower painting skills, whether or not they have any previous experience.

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $23.10 (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

Usually ships in 24 hours

BOOKS: Creating botanical art 

Botanical Illustration

My view: An excellent manual for anybody who wants to learn more about botanical illustration - very detailed and very helpful. Very well illustrated in terms of both the range and the quality of reproduction

Synopsis: A Manual for those who like their botanical illustration with a strong botanical and practical slant. It includes an introduction to basic botany; preparation of plant material for drawing; use of pencil, watercolour, coloured pencil and pen and ink. Also included are suggested topics for further study; how to correct mistakes and finishing touches. Includes over two hundred colour illustrations by over fifty artists on 192 pages

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Temporarily out of stock. Order now and we'll deliver when available. We'll e-mail you with an estimated delivery date as soon as we have more information. Your credit card will not be charged until we ship the item.

Beautiful Botanicals

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Botanical Illustration: Painting with Watercolours

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Usually ships in 24 hours

Botanical Illustration in Watercolor (Practical Art Books)

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Usually ships in 24 hours

 

How to Draw Plants: The Techniques of Botanical Illustration

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

Usually ships in 24 hours

Drawing and Painting Plants

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $19.77 (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

Usually ships in 24 hours

Botanical Art Techniques: 19 Step-by-step Projects in Watercolour and Other Media

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

Painting Plant Portraits: A Step-by-Step Guide

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

BOOKS: Botanical Art and Plant Evolution / Botany 

The Art of Plant Evolution

This publication is based on an 'art meets science' exhibition in the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in 2009/10 to celebrate Kew's 250th anniversary and Darwin's bicentenary.

The exhibition provides an overview of plant relationships based on contemporary scientific discoveries and DNA test. 136 botanical paintings from the Shirley Sherwood Collection, by 84 artists, cover 50 orders of plants in 118 families, and a total of 133 species, providing a sweeping overview of the evolution of plants on earth. The paintings display a sampling of the plant world from fungi to daisies, including algae, mosses, ferns, conifers and flowering plants arranged in the most up to date evolutionary sequence, determined by recent DNA analysis. The text accompany each image of paintings in the exhibition comments on the artist's background, and the artist's observations in the context of modern plant classification.

Publishes in the USA in February 2010

Amazon Price: $41.00 (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

Book Reviews: Compendia of Botanical Art 

These are all books which provide an overview of botanical art produced by different artists - and some cover both historical and contemporary botanical art
Making a Mark: Treasures of Botanical Art - a recommended read
Treasures of Botanical Art by Shirley Sherwood and Martyn Rix has been published by Kew Publishing to mark the inaugural exhibition of the The Shirley Sherwood Gallery in Kew Gardens, the first gallery in the world to be dedicated to year round exhibitions of botanical art.
Making a Mark: Gardens in Art: The Painter's Garden
I have been delighting all month in reading - very slowly - "The Painter's Garden" a monumental catalogue of nearly 400 pages produced by Sabine Schulz and published by Hatje Cantz. I'd go so far as to say I've been enjoying it that much that I've been slowing down to avoid finishing it.
Making a Mark: Amazing Rare Things: The Art of Natural History
The strapline for the exhibition "Amazing Rare Things" is The Art of Natural History in the Age of Discovery. You can order and buy the exhibition catalogue from the Royal Collection online shop (or Amazon)
Making a Mark reviews......: Book Review: The Art of Plant Evolution
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED This book emphasises the scientific aspects of botanical art and provides all botanical art lovers with a comprehensive education in the botany of plant groups and families alongside numerous excellent examples of botanical art.

BOOKS: Compendium of Botanical Art 

Treasures of Botanical Art: Icons from the Shirley Sherwood and Kew Collections

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $32.67 (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

Usually ships in 24 hours

New Flowering: 1000 Years of Botanical Art

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $29.16 (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

Usually ships in 24 hours

A Passion for Plants: Contemporary Botanical Masterworks

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

Contemporary Botanical Artists: The Shirley Sherwood Collection

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

The Art of Flowers: A Celebration of Botanical Illustration, Its Masters and Methods

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

 

The Painter's Garden: Design, Inspiration, Delight

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $60.00 (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

Usually ships in 24 hours

Amazing Rare Things: The Art of Natural History in the Age of Discovery

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $24.75 (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

Usually ships in 24 hours

Which is your favourite botanical art book by Dr Shirley Sherwood? 

New Flowering: 1000 Years of Botanical Art by Shirley Sherwood

New Flowering: 1000 Years of Botanical Art by Shirley Sherwood

The magnificent old, the masterful new, this is th more...0 points

Treasures of Botanical Art: Icons from the Shirley Sherwood and Kew Collections by Shirley Sherwood

Treasures of Botanical Art: Icons from the Shirley Sherwood and Kew Collections by Shirley Sherwood

Provides and overview of the origins, history and more...0 points

A Passion for Plants: Contemporary Botanical Masterworks by Shirley Sherwood

A Passion for Plants: Contemporary Botanical Masterworks by Shirley Sherwood

"International interest in this distinctive a more...0 points

Contemporary Botanical Artists: The Shirley Sherwood Collection by Shirley Sherwood

Contemporary Botanical Artists: The Shirley Sherwood Collection by Shirley Sherwood

Dr. Shirley Sherwood toured the world over a perio more...0 points

Book Reviews: Historical Botanical Art 

my book reviews on Making A Mark

Making a Mark: Book Review - 1001 Plant and floral illustrations from early herbals
1001 Plant and Floral Illustrations: From Early Herbals (Dover Pictorial Archive Series) - Richard G Hatton
In reality there's very little text and an awful lot of engravings and illustrations used in early herbals. I find the herbals to be very attractive in their simplicity......I think I can now well understand why William Morris was such a fan of herbals. I'm also trying to remember which other artists liked and collected herbals - and Monet and Mackintosh spring to mind
Making a Mark: Flowers in Art: William Morris - herbals, flowers and making patterns
This post identifies William Morris's use of herbals and sources.
Making a Mark: Plant Motifs and Art #3
One of the books I bought was "The Flowers of William Morris" by Derek Baker published for the centennial....What I found extremely interesting, apart from the images of hand drawn designs where you can clearly see the process from pencil sketch more cetain deign lines through pen to colour washes, was that William Morris apparently also studied the flowers of Islamic art - and in particular the tulip - at the Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington.
Making a Mark: Book Review: Besler's Book of Flowers and Plants
Besler's Book of Flowers and Plants: 73 Full-Color Plates from Hortus Eystettensis, 1613
(Dover Pictorial Archive Series) - by Basilius Besler

In my opinion, this is the sort of book which will appeal to a real fan of the history of botanical art. It's certainly very interesting from the point of view of studying classical portrayals of plants and flowers. I also found it really interesting to see the difference between the woodcuts seen in the book reviewed yesterday and how the nature of the illustrations changed as they started to use (1) copper engraving and (2) colour.
Making a Mark: Book Review: Merian's Antique Botanical Prints
Merian's Antique Botanical Prints CD-ROM and Book (Pictorial Archives) by Maria Sibylla Merian and published by Dover Publications
All the engravings in the Merian book are taken from Erucarum Ortus, Alimentum et Paradoxa Metamorphosis published in Amsterdam in 1718. This was a book published by her daughter after Merian's death and concerns the transformation of caterpillars in butterflies - and the plants associated with that process en route. The book is literally crawling with caterpillars
Making a Mark: Flowers in Art... and Charles Rennie Mackintosh
"Mackintosh Flower Drawings" by Pamela Robertson and published by the Hunterian Art Gallery. I managed to get hold of a very good second hand copy using Amazon. It was first produced as a catalogue in 1988 to accompany an exhibition of Mackintosh's flower drawings held at the Hunterian Art Gallery - as its contribution to Glasgow's Garden Festival. It contains large images and detailed notes of all the flowers in the collection.

BOOKS: Early Herbals and Florilegia 

200 Illustrations from Gerard's Herbal CD-ROM and Book (Dover Electronic Clip Art)

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $14.95 (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

Usually ships in 24 hours

Medieval Herbals: The Illustrative Traditions (The British Library Studies in Medieval Culture)

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $32.26 (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

Usually ships in 24 hours

Leonhart Fuchs: The New Herbal of 1543 (Klotz)

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

BOOKS: Historical Botanical Art by Basilius Besler 

The Book of Plants: The Complete Plates (Taschen 25th Anniversary Series)

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $21.89 (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

Usually ships in 2 to 4 months

Besler's Book of Flowers and Plants: 73 Full-Color Plates from Hortus Eystettensis, 1613 (Pictorial Archive Series)

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

Usually ships in 24 hours

Botanical Prints from the Hortus Eystettensis: Selections from the Most Beautiful Botanical Book in the World

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

Hortus Eystettensis

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

Besler Florilegium

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $157.50 (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

Usually ships in 24 hours

BOOKS: Historical Botanical Art by Maria Sibylla Merian 

Maria Sibylla Merian and Daughters: Women of Art and Science

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

Merian's Antique Botanical Prints CD-ROM and Book (Pictorial Archives)

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

Usually ships in 24 hours

Flowers, Butterflies and Insects: All 154 Engravings from "Erucarum Ortus" (Dover Pictorial Archive Series)

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $11.21 (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

Usually ships in 24 hours

BOOKS: William Morris & Charles Rennie Mackintosh 

The Flowers of William Morris

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $19.00 (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

Usually ships in 24 hours

Flowers: Charles Rennie Mackintosh

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

Book Reviews: Contemporary Botanical Art 

my book reviews on Making A Mark

Making a Mark: Volume 1 of The Highgrove Florilegium is published
The Highgrove Florilegium (Volume 1) published on behalf of the Prince of Wales by Alecto Publications. Painting and horticulture are two major interests of the Prince of Wales which are combined in The Highgrove Florilegium. This started as a project in 2000 to mark the Prince's achievements in his garden and to provide a historical record of the plants. The first volume was published this week after six years work - in his 60th birthday year.

In this post I'm looking at

* the definition of a Florilegium,
* the publication of the first volume of the Highgrove Florilegium
* Historical Florilegia
* Contemporary Florilegia in the making
Making a Mark: Flowers in Art...and Dame Elizabeth Blackadder RA RSA
The Royal Academy Masterclass book "Elizabeth Blackadder".
This book is a total bargain at £4. For anybody interested in her work, I very much recommend you buy this book as it's rich in content and comment by the artist - it very much lives up to the notion of a masterclass. Plus of course it has a lot of illustrations of her work - including close-ups of her painting as the work progresses.
Making a Mark: Georgia O'Keeffe Month: Learning about Notan #1
I'm trying to get to grips with Notan - using "Composition" the book by Arthur Wesley Dow, first published in 1899, which was Georgia O'Keeffe's bible when she went through the same process.
Making a Mark: Georgia O'Keeffe month: Two white irises (and three buds)
As you know I've been hunting down useful books for my Georgia O'Keeffe month. On Friday, I bought "Georgia O'Keeffe Museum Collections (Volume 2)" by Barbara Buhler Lynes at Kew Gardens. Having now had a chance to look through this book - which is the right way to describe a book which is mainly full page plates of colour images of her work - I've come to a few conclusions.

BOOKS: Elizabeth Blackadder 

Elizabeth Blackadder: The Artist at Work in Her Studio (Royal Academy Masterclass)

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

Elizabeth Blackadder Prints

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $58.40 (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

Usually ships in 24 hours

Elizabeth Blackadder: Paintings, Prints and Drawings, 1956-89

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

Elizabeth Blackadder: Orchids and other flowers

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

BOOKS: The Flowers of Georgia O'Keeffe 

Georgia O'Keeffe Museum Collections

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $40.95 (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

Usually ships in 24 hours

Georgia O'Keeffe Museum: Highlights of the Collection

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $13.22 (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

Usually ships in 24 hours

Georgia O'Keefe and the Calla Lily in American Art, 1860-1940

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $31.58 (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

Usually ships in 3 to 4 weeks

Georgia O'keeffe Two Volumes

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: (as of 12/05/2009) Buy Now

Resources for Botanical Artists 

Art Books - The Basics 

How to find a good art bookshop 

Making A Mark 

Katherine Tyrrell's blog about: - Making marks with pastels, pencils and pen and ink - Creating new drawings and paintings - Influences on developing both artwork and art careers - Interviews with artists - Information about resources for artists and art

Loading Fetching RSS feed... please stand by

Making a Mark reviews...... 

a consumer's guide to quality and value in art books, art supplies and services to artists

This blog highlights:
- book reviews (art instruction and art history)
- reviews of art media, art materials and art equipment
- reviews of places where you buy (art shops, online art suppliers and art bookshops)
- reviews of other products or services used by artists
- summaries of good quality and relevant reviews by other practising artists

Making a Mark reviews......

Loading Fetching RSS feed... please stand by

Love This Resource? 

If you would like to rate this lens, then you can do so here (Squidoo members only)

Add this to your lens »

Comments and Suggestions 

Let me know what you think but please do not spam

Please note:
* Anybody can comment BUT
* All comments are moderated before publication
* All html is stripped out of comments. Spam is not published.
* All suggestions about the inclusion of websites relating to contemporary artists will be reviewed but will only be published if the website is added.
* Please do not ask me to rate your lens (see Squidoo FAQs)

submit

Who is makingamark? 

and finally....... 

New links are being added added on a regular basis.

See the right hand column if you want to create a bookmark or link to be able to check back to this site and/or e-mail this site to a friend who is interested in this topic.

by makingamark

I'm an artist, author and member of the Giants 100 Club who enjoys sharing information about art. Find out more about me in Who is Making A Mark?" or... (more)

Explore related pages

makingamark Recommends...

Create a Lens!