Two new book reviews: 'Botany for the Artist' and 'Botanical Illustration'

Today I've created two new pages on my website for in-depth book reviews of two books relevant to those who want to learn more about botany and the botanical illustrator - and highly recommended by me.

Both reviews were written some years ago shortly after the books were published - but the books haven't changed so nor has the value of the book reviews!

​However it occurred to me that it would be much more helpful to those wanting to learn about how to draw plants - or develop their skills - if the book reviews were with the rest of the information I've compiled. So today I've moved them from my review blog to this website.

I'll also be moving more in-depth reviews between now and the end of the year.

​The two books are as follows (click the links below the image to go to the dedicated page for each book and read the reviews)

Book Review: Botanical Illustration ​

Author: Valerie Oxley

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - This is an excellent manual for those who like their botanical art to lean towards illustration with a strong botanical slant.

This book differentiates itself by focusing on botany. It's very detailed and practical and consequently very helpful.

​It provides lots of detailed facts, useful information, tips and techniques - doubtless derived from the author's many years of teaching botanical illustration and developing a diploma course.

For example, it includes 

• a very detailed chapter about collecting, transporting and preparing to draw plant material.
• a chapter on finishing touches including tips about how to check for mistakes and tips about how to avoid making mistakes in the first place! 

It's a sub-page of The Best Botanical Art Instruction Books in the Education Section.

Botany for the Artist: An Inspirational Guide to Drawing Plants

Author: Sarah Simblet

​HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - This is the best rated book on the market for those who want to understand more about

• botany for artists and 
• how to draw plants 

The quality of the text and illustrations is first class and the whole book provides a fresh perspective on botany for the artist while losing none of the fundamental and enduring truths of what is required of botanical illustration.

The emphasis of this book is on:

• understanding the botany of plants and their different parts - roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, cones and seeds - and 
• how to draw the botanical aspects of plants. 

Its focus is on finding ways to unpick and illustrate the functionality of the plant - how it is constructed / how it works.

It's a sub-page of The Best Botany Books for Botanical Artists and Illustrators in the Botany section.

Interestingly both books highlight the value of learning through studying the botanical illustrators of the past.

​If you'd like to check out some of the best botanical illustrators and artists in history check out my section on Botanical Art History and in particular Past Masters of Botanical Art & Illustration​ ​(1500-1900)

Note: The links above go direct to the page which hosts the book review. The book reviews include associate links to Amazon. This site uses the pennies raised via book sales via those links to finance this website - which is not cheap to run. 

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