Below you can find summaries of botanical art instruction and technique books published by
the American Society of Botanical Artists (September 2020); and
the Society of Botanical Artists (2004-2013)

NEW Book by the American Society of Botanical Artists (ASBA)

This is the first comprehensive guide to the production of botanical art across a number of different media - and as a result it's VERY BIG!

This is not the first book produced by the American Society of Botanical Artists but it is the first one dedicated to botanical art instruction in various techiques and media used for botanical art including
  • graphite, pen and ink, watercolor on paper and vellum, and colored pencil
  • further tutorials on the use of egg tempera, oils, acrylic, gouache, silverpoint, etching, and more.
The mission of the American Society of Botanical Artists is to provide a thriving, interactive community dedicated to perpetuating the tradition and contemporary practice of botanical art.

Like the SBA before it, this book has been pioneered by two leading members with experience of teaching. Led by Robin Jess, the Executive Director of ASBA who also developed the botanical illustration certificate at the New York Botanical Garden and complemented by Carol Woodin, a very experienced artist and teacher using watercolour on vellum.
I'll be back with a detailed review - on a dedicated page - once I've read it from cover to cover!
NEW BOOK: Botanical Art Techniques
​- A Comprehensive Guide to Pen and Ink, Watercolor, Colored Pencils, Etching, Egg Tempera, Oils, Casein, and More
by the American Society of Botanical Artists.
​Edited by Carol Woodin and Robin Jess
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: This is A VERY BIG BOOK given it has over 400 pages and over 900 images - and a huge amount of content! ​It's also very impressive. 

​READ MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS in ASBA's Botanical Art Techniques: first impressions +  who contributed?​
this is a "best botanical art instruction book" and, in my opinion, the NEW standard reference book for botanical art instruction - soon to be found on every bookshelf of everybody who wants to learn more about botanical art. It sets a very high new standard...
Katherine Tyrrell | Botanical Art and Artists
Picture
Cover of the new ASBA Book
SCOPE
Botanical Art Techniques is a comprehensive instruction guide to botanical art and illustration techniques used for drawing and painting plants in different media.

From the experts at the American Society of Botanical Artists, it features:
  • how-to tutorials of all the major techniques and media. The tutorials move from basic and introductory to advanced, so the reader can choose whatever level of difficulty they are most comfortable with and build on their skills as they progress.
  • Major media: graphite, pen and ink, watercolor on paper and vellum, and colored pencil
  • Minor media: egg tempera, gouache, casein,  silverpoint, etching, acrylic and oil
  • Additional information - includes overview of necessary materials, basic information about principles of composition, and advice on how to develop a personal style.

EDITORS
  • Robin Jess has been a freelance botanical illustrator and teacher since 1976. She developed the botanical illustration certificate program at NYBG in 1984 and was the Executive Director of ASBA from 2003 to 2016 (and has stepped up again as required since her retirement).
  • Carol Woodin has been making botanical art for nearly 30 years. She is an award-winning international botanical artist who specialises in painting rare plants in watercolour on vellum. She has been the Director of Exhibitions for ASBA for a number of years and knows the artwork of very many members extremely well.
In addition, many of the contributing artists are also instructors and know how to demonstrate their techniques.
Over 50 ASBA artists have contributed materials to the book, from start-to-finish tutorials to individual spot tutorials on a single aspect of their working method.
ASBA Journal March 2020
COMMENTARY
I've now received my Review Copy and predict that
​this book will sell very many copies because
  • it will become the NEW standard reference book for instruction in botanical art techniques across a wide range of media
  • it is the FIRST book of instruction techniques created by the American Society of Botanical Artists. It follows the very successful model pioneered by the Society of Botanical Artists in the UK which led to very many global sales.
  • it provides something for everybody. It is
    • accessible for those new to botanical art - with excellent attention to "the basics" that all need to know
    • advanced techniques for improvers
    • new media for those who are already leading artists.

​I like the idea of a distinction being drawn between different skills levels which provides readers with more realistic expectations of what they can achieve and how development progresses. It's also good to see the number of hours for every artwork displayed - which is a FIRST in any book of botanical art instruction I've seen

It is also very good to see more attention given to
  • composition which is often missing from instruction books about botanical techniques.  (See my commentary on books which provide instruction about composition on my Composition page)
  • less common media - egg tempera, etching, silverpoint

​The finished works of art included in the book are generally of a very high standard. The colour reproduction is also excellent.  

Beware the shipping weight of this VERY big book and be sure to check delivery charges if ordering from overseas and not using Amazon!
BASICS:
  • Hardcover: 416 pages
  • Publisher: Timber Press (OR)
  • Publication Date: 18 September 2020
  • Language: English
  • Shipping Weight: 1.7 lbs | 770g
  • ISBN-10: 1604697903
  • ISBN-13: 978-1604697902 
  • Product Dimensions: 21.6 x 27.9 cm
Average Customer Rating out of 5 stars:
  • in USA: 4.8 based on 355 customer reviews
  • in UK: 4.8 based on 265 customer reviews​
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Books by the Society of Botanical Artists (SBA)

One of the unique aspects of the Society of Botanical Artists in the UK is that:
  • It has developed and delivers a very popular Distance Learning Diploma Course in Botanical Painting which attracts students from all over the world.
  • It commissioned a set of books to support the course - which were all authored or co-authored by Margaret Stevens, the Past President of the Society of Botanical Artists who developed and was also the first Director of the Distance learning Diploma Course in Botanical Art. 
  • All the drawings and paintings included in the books are by members of the Society of Botanical Artists

The audience for these books extends far beyond the students on the diploma course. For example the very first books is one which is bought by many prospective students to see if they have the interest and aptitude to commit themselves to the serious study of botanical art
BELOW you can find SUMMARIES about the first four SBA books. The first three also have much more detailed BOOK REVIEWS on dedicated seperate pages. (Links are embedded in the titles)
I'm NOT a fan of the fifth SBA book - Botanical Painting - although some sections are good - see blog post for my comments)

Note the covers and sometimes the titles vary between the UK and the USA. ​
​The Art of Botanical Painting by Margaret Stevens
(illustrated by by artists of the Society of Botanical Artists)
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED | DETAILED BOOK REVIEW ​- press button
This book provides a complete course of instruction in how to develop botanical art and is used as a core reference manual by the SBA's Distance Learning Diploma Course. 
​​This is a book for the serious botanical art student. It's used as the basic text book by the students of the Society of Botanical Art's Distance Learning Diploma Course (DLDC).

Note: This book is the basic text for all all SBA Diploma Students. It's also bought by those who aspire to do the DLDC - and others. Its popularity means it periodically goes OUT OF PRINT and used copies have to be sourced. 
This is NOT a book for beginners.
If you want a very basic step by step "how to" book, then this is NOT the book for you. It assumes you have skills and can benefit from the Diploma Course (which has a proficiency assessment before you can be accepted as a student).

This is the book for you IF:
  • EITHER you have good basic skills in drawing and painting and want to take your flower painting to the next step - and develop botanical artwork
  • OR you want to understand more about the proficiency skills for acceptance onto the course.
It includes structured techniques for developing botanical art while using watercolour paints, graphite and coloured pencils.

The author Margaret Stevens holds numerous RHS medals including the prestigious Gold Medal. It also includes artwork by a number of SBA members.
​Hardcover: 144 pages
Publisher: Collins in UK / Smithsonian in USA
Publication date: 1 Nov. 2004

RATED 4.6 out of 5 stars by 118 global ratings on Amazon​

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BUY The Art of Botanical Painting from Amazon UK
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The Botanical Palette: Colour for the Botanical Painter 
by Margaret Stevens
(illustrated by by artists of the Society of Botanical Artists)
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: ​Detailed BOOK REVIEW ​- press button
How to achieve the right colour in botanical art is the focus of this second SBA book.
One of the major issues for botanical artists is making sure they get colours correct when painting botanical specimens. Understanding colours - and how to create the correct colour shade, tone and mix - and understanding colours - are ESSENTIAL competences for  every botanical artist.

This book 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 - and improve their mastery of the colours found in plants.
It includes an overview of the colour issues which crop up time and time again at the beginning and throughout the book. This was informed by a survey of students on the SBA Diploma course - in which they identified problems they had with colour.
Katherine Tyrrell - see link to my detailed review above
This book is out of print - and difficult to obtain in the USA. However you can still get hold of copies second-hand. Check out the offers under "used" books.
​
I recommend you use a supplier who has a very high satisfaction score. I'm a big buyer of second hand books and have rarely been disappointed when buying from those rated above 95% on Amazon.
Hardcover: 144 pages
Publisher: Collins (2007) / Smithsonian in USA (2008)

RATED 4.6 out of 5 stars by 32 global ratings on Amazon​

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Botanical Sketchbook 
by Mary Ann Scott with Margaret Stevens
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: ​to read my detailed BOOK REVIEW ​- press button
This continues to be an enormously popular book as it is virtually unique in focusing on how to keep a botanical sketchbook. Also now available on Kindle. If you'd like to know more about the book and how it came about
​One of the things the SBA Diploma students are encouraged to do is keep a sketchbook.  This book provides both an inspiration and a guide. You can follow Mary Ann Scott's progress through her different Diploma assignments and also read the detailed comments from the then Course Director Margaret Stevens.​​
This book provides a masterclass for all aspiring botanical artists and is highly recommended. It will become an essential buy for all students of the Society of Botanical Artist's Diploma in Botanical illustration. It's also a recommended buy for all other aspiring botanical art students and artists and many of their tutors. 
Katherine Tyrrell - see my review above
Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Batsford Ltd (5 Mar. 2015)

​RATED 4.6 out of 5 stars by 225 global ratings on Amazon
​
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Handbook of Plant Forms for Botanical Artists
By Margaret Stevens (Author), Ernest E. Clark (Author)
​SUITABLE FOR INTERMEDIATE & EXPERIENCED FLOWER PAINTERS AND BOTANICAL ARTISTS 
- and particularly those aspiring botanical artists who are following the Society of Botanical Artist's Diploma Course!

​DID YOU KNOW? When the original book was written there was a government examination paper in Plant Form.
Margaret Stevens's 4th Botanical Art Book - written while Course Director for the Diploma Course offered by the Society of Botanical Artists - is very different from her previous books.

This time the book is a completely revised and expanded version of an old book.

This book might appear to disappoint on first look as it's so VERY different from the previous three books. However, keep reading - this one is much more focused on developing the botanical knowledge of plant forms that all excellent botanical artists need to have.
Margaret Stevens has extensively revised and updated the original book. It now
  • highlights more than 60 favourite flowers and plants plus a special section on leaf forms for all those who find leaves a bit of a challenge!
  • Each flower has detailed botanical drawings and a painting, along with background on technique and composition. 
  • Updated images have been supplied by contemporary botanical artists and students from the SBA's Distance Learning Diploma - and are of course in colour as opposed to the black and white plates of the original.

Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Batsford Ltd;
Reprint edition (22 April 2013)
This book is out of print and is now expensive to buy

RATED 4.3 out of 5 stars by 22 global ratings on Amazon

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NOTE: The original book was written by Ernest Ellis Clark (1869-1932). He started as an an artist for Royal Crown Derby - painting flowers on china - and became Arts Master at Derby College of Art, winning many prizes for art and becoming a National Silver Medallist in Ornament and Design in the National Art Competition