BOTANICAL ART & ARTISTS
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      • About Leonhart Fuchs
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    • Hunt International Exhibition of Botanical Art & Illustration
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        • ARCHIVE: Past Botanical Art Exhibitions in the UK
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        • ARCHIVE: Scotland - Botanical Art Exhibitions
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    • ARCHIVE: World Wide Exhibition of Botanical Art 2018
  • Education
    • Best Botanical Art Instruction Books >
      • Best Instruction Books by Botanical Art Societies >
        • The Art of Botanical Painting - review
        • The Botanical Palette - review
        • Botanical Sketchbook - review
      • Best Instruction Books about Botanical Illustration >
        • Botanical Illustration - Books by Bobbi Angell
        • Botanical Illustration (Oxley) - review
      • Best Instruction Books by top Artists / Teachers >
        • Books By Billy Showell
        • Books - the Eden Project
      • Best Botanical Drawing Instruction Books (Pencils) >
        • Botanical Painting with Coloured Pencils - review
      • e-Booklets / digital guides
      • NEW Books about Botanical Art & Illustration (2020)
      • NEW Books about Botanical Art & Illustration (2019)
      • NEW Books about Botanical Art & Illustration (2018)
    • Tips and Techniques >
      • Tips from RHS Gold Medal Winners
      • Preparation and set-up
      • Botanical Sketching and Sketchbooks
      • Design and composition
      • Colour
      • Pen and Ink
      • How to draw and paint trees and leaves
    • Botanical Art Video Tips >
      • Video Tips: Watercolour Painting
      • Video Tips Coloured Pencils
      • Video Tips: Pencil drawing
      • Video Tips: Painting Flowers
      • Video Tips: Painting Leaves & Trees
    • Online Botanical Art Instruction >
      • CHECKLIST: FAQS about Online Learning
      • ONLINE TIMELINE
    • International Directory: Botanical Art Teachers
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Book Review: The Botanical Palette

by Margaret Stevens
Picture

The Botanical Palette - Colour for the Botanical Painter
​

Synopsis

​This book focuses solely on the subject of how to achieve the right colour in botanical art using different mixes of watercolour paints. It provides a very authoritative and helpful guide to this topic.
  • Issues addressed are those considered challenging or just plain scary by a questionnaire sent by the author to 100 students on the SBA Distance Learning Diploma Course
  • Includes 17 step-by-step demonstrations by members of the Society focused on different colours and shades.
  • Each colour frequently used by botanical artists is considered in turn.​
  • ​The book is of most use to artists working in watercolour paint.
Summary

Getting the colour right is one of the main challenges for a botanical artist. Consequently it can also be one of the aspects of which causes the most worry to aspiring botanical artists.

​​This book focuses solely on the subject of how to achieve the right colour in botanical art. 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.

Note: The Book is out of print but can still be purchased new or used from specific book dealers online

"Deep and bright colours were just plain scary to many people"
Margaret Stevens - commenting on questionnaire results
Highlights:
  • ​an overview of colour issues which crop up time and time again - identified via a poll of Diploma students
  • ​charts of colour comparisons of artists' quality watercolour paints 
  • a very authoritative book written by an extremely well qualified author ably assisted by contributions demonstrations by fellow members of the Society of Botanical Artists.
Think Again?
  • ​More limited contributions in relation to coloured pencils.  Most of the book is about watercolour.
  • Brands have updated watercolour colours and changed recipes so the colour information by brand will have dated (It's a problem experienced by any book which comments on specific colours and brands)
"The aim of this book is to provide guidance through the rainbow of the botanical palette and to help the aspiring artist and student to gain confidence"
Margaret Stevens - Introduction 
Author

This book was written by Margaret Stevens GM, PPSBA. She worked professionally as a botanical artist for many years. She received 13 medals from the RHS including the Gold and Silver Gilt Lindley medal for work of special educational interest.

She is a Past President of the Society of Botanical Artists  - the first botanical art society in the world, At the time of writing the book she was also Founder and First Course Director of the SBA's unique Distance Learning Diploma Course in Botanical Art and had worked as a tutor in the field of botanical art / adult education for over 20 years.  
The book was written in association with the Society of Botanical Artists - many of whose artists contributed botanical artwork for the book.  This was the second book in a series of four written by Maragaret in association with members of the SBA.

Another essential read is my 2009 interview with her - A Making A Mark Interview with Margaret Stevens - in which she discussed the Diploma Course.
Who should buy this book?:
  • botanical artists
  • botanical art students
  • teachers of botanical art and illustration
  • floral painters
  • natural history painters
  • anybody who likes drawing and nature
  • anybody investing in good quality botanical art books

Who should not buy this book?
  • painters who don't have any affinity with the natural plant world

​My initial assessment is that this book is likely to provide lots of helpful advice for the beginning or intermediate artist. Those who are much more experienced are likely to find sections of the book - such as the colour comparisons - extremely interesting.
Picture
This is now OUT OF PRINT. Consequently it is a VERY EXPENSIVE book in both the UK or the USA, even when purchased as a used book.
Hardcover: 144 pages
​UK Publisher: Collins | 1st edition: 1 October 2007; 
​USA Smithsonian | 1 edition: Sepetember, 2008

Average Customer Rating out of 5 stars:
  • in UK: 4.6 based on 9 customer reviews
  • in USA: 4.3 based on 18 customer reviews​

BUY THIS BOOK
The Botanical Palette: Color for the Botanical Painter from Amazon.co.uk
The Botanical Palette: Color for the Botanical Painter from Amazon.com

More about the book...
​

Features of the book

It includes an overview of the colour issues experienced by botanical artists 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.

​These include:
  • how to achieve clean strong colour
  • transparency and lightfastness
  • the differences between colours of the same name by different manufacturers. Pigments, binders and fillers may all vary.
  • lighting of subject and artwork
  • mixing greys
  • finding shadow tones for different colours
Gallery of Botanical Art 

The book includes a gallery of botanical art by members of the SBA - including 18 subjects given full colour pages plates at the end of the book.
Projects include...

Eight projects which include:
  • a simplified ink drawing for tracing and copying the step by step
  • a chart of suggested colours to use
  • plus a demonstration of the artist's working method.
Chapters cover...

The books contains chapters and 17 step-by-step demonstrations by members of the Society on each of the following colours. All demonstrations provides details about the colours used.
  • White -  Lily demo by Margaret Stevens PSBA + mixing greys exercise by Valerie Wright
  • Yellow - Rhododendron demo by Kay Rees-Davies SBA + Sunflower demo by Paul Fennell SBA + Day Lily demo in coloured pencils by Ann Swan
  • Green - Plantain Lily - demo by Janet Wood SBA + Madagascar Jasmine demo in coloured pencils by Ann Swan
  • Blue - Himalayan Poppy demo by Brigitte M Daniel SBA + Delphinium demo by Vicky Mappin SBA ) Iris siberica demo by Susan Christopher-Coulson in coloured pencils
  • Purple - Columbine Acquilegia demo by Valerie Baines SBA + Clematis demo by Brenda Watts SBA (which starts off vivid pink!)
  • Red - Cyclamen demo by Jennifer Jenkins SBA + Poppy Papaver Orientalis demo by Sandra Wall Armitage SBA + Peony demo by Susan Hiller SBA + Red Rhododenron by Susan Martin Assoc SBA
  • Brown - Bearded Iris Iris germanica demo by Barbara McGirr SBA 
  • Black - Tulip 'Queen of the Night' demo in coloured pencils by Susan Christopher Coulson SBA

​For coloured pencil artists, demonstrations are provided by Susan Christopher-Coulson SBA (using Derwent Artists) and Ann Swan SBA and Susan Martin ASBA (both using Faber Castell Polychromos) .

The book includes charts of colour comparisons of artists' quality watercolour paints from Daler Rowney, Schminke, Sennelier, Winsor and Newton.​
  • These place colours with very similar names side by side so you can see the differences in colour.
  • Each colour is also described and designated according to whether it is transparent, semi-transparent, opaque or semi-opaque.
At the time I felt sure that this particular section will be pored over by those keen to understand better how individual brands and colours can contribute to

That was 10 years ago and I now feel it is more likely that people will now use the charts of colours and pigments as a baseline for developing their own charts as they develop their own knowledge about how different pigments and branded colours behave.
This was based on a book review (not in this format) which was first published on Making A Mark on 12 November 2007.

GO TO: The Best Botanical Art Instruction Books

​
GO TO: The Best Botany Books for Botanical Artists and Illustrators
​
GO TO: The Best Books about Botanical Art History, Artists and Illustrators

Other In-Depth Book Reviews

  • The Art of Botanical Painting by Margaret Stevens
  • Botanical Sketchbook by Mary Ann Scott and Margaret Stevens
  • Books by Billy Showell - four very popular books of relevance to botanical artists
  • Books with the Eden Project (Martin & Thurstan)
  • Botanical Illustration (Oxley) by Valerie Oxley
  • Botanical Painting with Coloured Pencils by Ann Swan
  • Botany for the Artist by Sarah Simblet
Resources about  Botanical Art and For Botanical Artists
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  • Home
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  • HISTORY
    • What is Botanical Art?
    • What is Botanical Illustration?
    • Botanical Art History Books >
      • The Art of Botanical Illustration (Blunt)
      • Book Review: Treasures of Botanical Art
    • Herbals
    • Florilegia and Flora
    • Patrons of Botanical Art >
      • About Leonhart Fuchs
      • About Basilius Besler
    • Past Masters - Botanical Art and Illustration >
      • About Maria Sibylla Merian
      • About Elizabeth Blackwell
      • About Georg Dionysius Ehret
      • About Franz Bauer
      • About Sydney Parkinson
      • About Pierre-Joseph Redouté
      • About Marianne North
    • Famous Asian Botanical Artists (600-1900)
    • 20th & 21st Century Botanical Artists >
      • About Arthur Harry Church
      • About Margaret Mee
      • About Mary Grierson
      • About Raymond Booth
      • About Rory McEwen
      • About Pandora Sellars
    • Botanical Photographers
    • Botanical and Herbal Art Online
  • ARTISTS
    • Botanical Artists in the UK
    • Botanical Artists in North America
    • Botanical Artists in Europe
    • Botanical Artists in Australia and New Zealand
    • Botanical Artists in Asia
    • Botanical Artists in Africa
    • Botanical Artists in Latin America
    • Botanical Printmakers, Photographers, Sculptors et al
    • The Jill Smythies Award
    • Botanical Artists on Facebook
    • Botanical Art Blogs
  • Exhibitions
    • Calls for Entries - OPEN exhibitions
    • Online Exhibitions >
      • ARCHIVE: Online Botanical Art Exhibitions
    • RHS Botanical Art & Photography Shows >
      • ARCHIVE RHS Botanical Art Shows 2007-2021
      • Exhibit Titles at RHS Botanical Art Shows
      • RHS Portfolio Photography (Botanical / Horticultural)
    • Hunt International Exhibition of Botanical Art & Illustration
    • UK >
      • Permanent Collections (UK)
      • Botanical Art Exhibitions at Major UK Galleries & Museums >
        • ARCHIVE: Major Gallery Exhibitions
        • ARCHIVE: Shirley Sherwood Gallery Exhibitions
      • Botanical Art Exhibitions in England and Wales >
        • ARCHIVE: Past Botanical Art Exhibitions in the UK
        • ARCHIVE: Reviews of Annual Exhibitions by the Society of Botanical Artists
      • Botanical Art Exhibitions in Scotland >
        • ARCHIVE: Scotland - Botanical Art Exhibitions
    • North America >
      • Permanent Collections (USA)
      • ARCHIVE Past ASBA Exhibitions in the USA
      • ARCHIVE: Past Botanical Art Exhibitions in the USA
      • ARCHIVE: Past Botanical Art Exhibitions in Canada
    • Europe >
      • Permanent Collections (Europe)
      • ARCHIVE: Past Botanical Art Exhibitions in Europe
      • ARCHIVE: Past Botanical Exhibitions in Germany
      • ARCHIVE: ​Past Botanical Art Exhibitions in Ireland
      • ARCHIVE: Past Botanical Exhibitions in Russia
    • Australasia >
      • Margaret Flockton Award
      • ARCHIVE: Past Botanical Art Exhibitions in Australasia
    • Asia >
      • ARCHIVE: Past Botanical Art Exhibitions in Asia
    • Africa
    • ARCHIVE: World Wide Exhibition of Botanical Art 2018
  • Education
    • Best Botanical Art Instruction Books >
      • Best Instruction Books by Botanical Art Societies >
        • The Art of Botanical Painting - review
        • The Botanical Palette - review
        • Botanical Sketchbook - review
      • Best Instruction Books about Botanical Illustration >
        • Botanical Illustration - Books by Bobbi Angell
        • Botanical Illustration (Oxley) - review
      • Best Instruction Books by top Artists / Teachers >
        • Books By Billy Showell
        • Books - the Eden Project
      • Best Botanical Drawing Instruction Books (Pencils) >
        • Botanical Painting with Coloured Pencils - review
      • e-Booklets / digital guides
      • NEW Books about Botanical Art & Illustration (2020)
      • NEW Books about Botanical Art & Illustration (2019)
      • NEW Books about Botanical Art & Illustration (2018)
    • Tips and Techniques >
      • Tips from RHS Gold Medal Winners
      • Preparation and set-up
      • Botanical Sketching and Sketchbooks
      • Design and composition
      • Colour
      • Pen and Ink
      • How to draw and paint trees and leaves
    • Botanical Art Video Tips >
      • Video Tips: Watercolour Painting
      • Video Tips Coloured Pencils
      • Video Tips: Pencil drawing
      • Video Tips: Painting Flowers
      • Video Tips: Painting Leaves & Trees
    • Online Botanical Art Instruction >
      • CHECKLIST: FAQS about Online Learning
      • ONLINE TIMELINE
    • International Directory: Botanical Art Teachers
    • International Directory of Botanical Art Courses >
      • UK: Botanical Art Courses
      • North America: Botanical Art Courses
      • Europe: Botanical Art Courses & Holidays
      • Australasia: Botanical Art Courses
    • Diplomas and Certificates >
      • SBA Diploma Assignments
    • Distance Learning Courses
    • Talks, Lectures & Tours
    • Botanical Education on Facebook
    • Fellowships, Scholarships, Bursaries and Residencies
  • Materials
    • Paper
    • Vellum
  • Groups
    • National & Regional Botanical Art Societies
    • Florilegium Societies & Other Groups
    • Botanical Art Groups on Facebook
  • Botany
    • Why botany matters to artists
    • Botany Books for artists >
      • Botany for the Artist (Simblet)
      • The Art of Plant Evolution
      • The Concise British Flora in Colour (1965)
    • Scientific botanical illustration
    • Plant Forms and Anatomy
    • Plant Evolution and Taxonomy
    • Plant Names and Botanical Latin
    • Botanical Dictionaries
    • How to Identify Plants
    • Recording a Plant / Sketchbooks >
      • Plant Pressing for your own Herbarium
    • Botanic Gardens & Herbaria >
      • Global and National Networks
      • Herbaria, Seed Banks and Fungaria
      • Botanic Gardens in the UK >
        • Old Botanic & Physic Gardens in London
      • Botanic Gardens in Ireland
      • Botanic Gardens in Europe
      • Botanic Gardens in the USA
      • Botanic Gardens in Canada
      • Botanic Gardens in Asia
      • Botanic Gardens in Australia
    • Blogs about Plants and Flowers
  • Contact
    • About Katherine Tyrrell
    • About Reviews
    • Privacy Policy