Introduction to Botanical Art Book Reviews for Artists
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
You can find out about......
......just click a link to go straight to that topic
- Do you prefer historical or contemporary botanical art?
- Book Reviews: Creating botanical art
- BOOKS: The Society of Botanical Artists
- BOOKS: Creating botanical art - the Eden Project
- BOOKS: Creating botanical art - Billy Showell
- BOOKS: Creating botanical art
- BOOKS: Botanical Art and Plant Evolution / Botany
- Book Reviews: Compendia of Botanical Art
- BOOKS: Compendium of Botanical Art
- Which is your favourite botanical art book by Dr Shirley Sherwood?
- Book Reviews: Historical Botanical Art
- BOOKS: Early Herbals and Florilegia
- BOOKS: Historical Botanical Art by Basilius Besler
- BOOKS: Historical Botanical Art by Maria Sibylla Merian
- BOOKS: William Morris & Charles Rennie Mackintosh
- Book Reviews: Contemporary Botanical Art
- BOOKS: Elizabeth Blackadder
- BOOKS: The Flowers of Georgia O'Keeffe
- Resources for Botanical Artists
- Art Books - The Basics
- How to find a good art bookshop
- Making a Mark reviews......
- Comments and Suggestions
- and finally.......
Bookmark This Resource
New links are being added to this site on a regular basis.
Do you prefer historical or contemporary botanical art?
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 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
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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
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BOOKS: Creating botanical art - the Eden Project
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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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
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.
How to Draw Plants: The Techniques of Botanical Illustration
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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
Book Reviews: Compendia of 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
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New Flowering: 1000 Years of Botanical Art
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The Painter's Garden: Design, Inspiration, Delight
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Amazing Rare Things: The Art of Natural History in the Age of Discovery
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Which is your favourite botanical art book by Dr 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
Provides and overview of the origins, history and more...0 points
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
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)
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Medieval Herbals: The Illustrative Traditions (The British Library Studies in Medieval Culture)
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BOOKS: Historical Botanical Art by Basilius Besler
The Book of Plants: The Complete Plates (Taschen 25th Anniversary Series)
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Besler's Book of Flowers and Plants: 73 Full-Color Plates from Hortus Eystettensis, 1613 (Pictorial Archive Series)
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BOOKS: Historical Botanical Art by Maria Sibylla Merian
Merian's Antique Botanical Prints CD-ROM and Book (Pictorial Archives)
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Flowers, Butterflies and Insects: All 154 Engravings from "Erucarum Ortus" (Dover Pictorial Archive Series)
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BOOKS: William Morris & Charles Rennie Mackintosh
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
BOOKS: The Flowers of Georgia O'Keeffe
Georgia O'Keeffe Museum Collections
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Georgia O'Keeffe Museum: Highlights of the Collection
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Georgia O'Keefe and the Calla Lily in American Art, 1860-1940
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Resources for Botanical Artists
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Maria Sibylla Merian - Resources for Botanical Art Lovers
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Maria Sibylla Merian was a Naturalist and Botanical Illustrator and is rated as being one of the greatest ever botanical artists. This site will be of interest to all botanical artists and all those who enjoy botanical art and natural history. This...
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Flowers in Art - Resources for Artists
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Do you love looking at flowers in art? Do you want to know how to learn to draw or paint flowers? Do you want to improve your flower drawings or flower paintings? Or do you just love flowers? If you do then consult the resources in this lens to find...
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Botanical Art - Resources for Artists
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This site shares information about botanical art - societies, collections, books and other resources which support the development of botanical art. It also links to leading botanical artists in the past and present. Its subject matter will interest...
Art Books - The Basics
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Reference Books for Artists
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Do you want to find out more about art and artists? Do you find 'artspeak' just plain confusing? Do you want to know what that art term means? Do you need a dictionary of artists? Find out about reference books for artists which fill in the gaps in...
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Colour - Art Book Reviews for Artists
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This site identifies leading art books about colour and includes art book reviews - for books about understanding colour, using colour, mixing colour. It was created out of The Colour Project on Making A Mark and book reviews on the blogs of partici...
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The Best Books about Drawing and Sketching
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Do you want to learn how to draw? Do you want to find out which which are the best books about drawing and sketching? This site covers books - and book reviews: for people wanting to learn to draw about creativity and creative drawing about dr...
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Favourite Art Books - Resources for Artists
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These are the favourite art books of people who read my blog - as suggested in January 2009. Readers were asked: (1) Do you have a favourite art book? (What is is it and why?) and (2) Is there one book which had a huge impact on you and your work? R...
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Composition and Design - Art Book Reviews for Artists
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This site identifies leading art books about composition and design and includes reviews of art books about composition and design. It's linked to Composition and Design - Resources for Artists This is a work in progress. New reviews and new links...
How to find a good art bookshop
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Art Bookshops - Resources for Artists
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This site is developing a list of good art bookshops. Starting with bookshops in London, the intention is to identify other good bookshops in the UK and other countries Naturally it's a work in progress and new links will be added from time to time....
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
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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)
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- Treasures-By-Brenda Treasures-By-Brenda May 19, 2009 @ 9:25 am
- Nice collection of information for fans of botanical art books!
Brenda
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- ElizabethJeanAllen ElizabethJeanAllen Jul 26, 2008 @ 7:16 am
- Nice lens. I like to read and I like to write book reviews. You did a nice job of it.
Lizzy
The Weekend Reader
Who is makingamark?
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Who is Making A Mark?
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I'm an artist with a very wide range of interests who enjoys learning about art, making art and sharing information about art. I've combined all my information sites with sections of my other websites and blogs to highlight my main interests and acti...
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