BOTANICAL ART & ARTISTS
  • Home
    • Site Index
  • NEWS
  • 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 Raymond Booth
      • About Arthur Harry Church
      • About Margaret Mee
      • About Mary Grierson
      • 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
    • UK >
      • Permanent Collections (UK)
      • Botanical Art Exhibitions at Major UK Galleries & Museums >
        • ARCHIVE: Major Gallery Exhibitions
        • ARCHIVE: Shirley Sherwood Gallery Exhibitions
      • RHS Botanical Art Exhibitions >
        • ARCHIVE RHS Botanical Art Shows 2007-2018
        • Exhibit Titles at RHS Botanical Art Shows
      • Botanical Art Exhibitions in England and Wales >
        • ARCHIVE: Past Botanical Art Exhibitions in the UK
      • Botanical Art Exhibitions in Scotland >
        • ARCHIVE: Scotland - Botanical Art Exhibitions
      • Calls for Entries - UK
      • RHS Portfolio Photography (Botanical / Horticultural)
    • North America >
      • Calls for Entries - USA & Canada
      • Permanent Collections (USA)
      • Hunt International Exhibition of Botanical Art & Illustration
      • 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 >
      • NEW Books about Botanical Art & Illustration (2020)
      • 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 Botanical Drawing Instruction Books (Pencils) >
        • Botanical Painting with Coloured Pencils - review
      • Best Instruction Books by top Artists / Teachers >
        • Books By Billy Showell
        • Books - the Eden Project
      • 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
      • 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: Painting Flowers
        • Video Tips: Painting Leaves & Trees
        • Video Tips Coloured Pencils
        • Video Tips: Pencil drawing
    • Online Botanical Art Instruction >
      • CHECKLIST: FAQS about Online Learning
    • 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
    • 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 >
      • 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

Sketchbooks, Preparation
​and
Set-up

This page is about processes related to preparation:
  • sketchbook studies and working drawings;
  • burnishing paper
  • transferring drawings from studies to final art paper for painting​
​
Design & Composition can now be found on a separate page
This page is NEW and is currently being developed.

Preparation: sketchbook studies and working drawings
​

Keeping a sketchbook and doing studies and working drawings before you commence your final artwork is an essential process for all those who are serious about their botanical art.  This is the best way to work out how to represent the features of the plant and how best to represent these on paper.
 I always try to do a study or sketch page because it’s the best way to learn about the plant by deconstructing. 
Dianne Sutherland
The processes of working out:
  • recording how a plant grows in its natural habitat
  • illustrating how a plant works
  • defining its distinctive features
  • how to represent texture
  • what colours it includes
  • how best to present it
  • how best to draw or paint it
​are all best done in advance.
Picture
Flower Studies by Leonardo da Vinci. Metalpoint, pen and ink on slightly brownish paper
Picture
one of Ferdinand Bauer's annotated sketches for the "Flora Graeca" - the numbers relate to his colour swatches which meant he could record accurate colour without needing to paint
Botanical Sketchbooks by Helen and William Bynum
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: This book is about botanical sketchbooks which were created to record the natural world - between the 16th and 20th centuries. It attracted a lot of glowing reviews when published.
  • the contents provide a real insight into the firsthand experiences and adventures of the botanists, artists, collectors, and explorers behind them.
  • It's a unique book which all botanical art enthusiasts will treasure.
  • It's also a very special gift for a botanical artist or for a person who enjoys botanical art.​​

This book was published almost simultaneously in the UK and USA - hence the two different covers below and the two different publishers. The standard of publishing is absolutely first rate. (My copy is the Princeton edition)
What's unique about this book is that it provides an insight into the working methods and sketchbooks kept by various different important and/or famous names in botanical art - as well as a few who are less well known - what they recorded and how they chose to make and annotate their records.

It's an amazing collection of colour images - many of which have never been seen before - because they are in sketchbooks
Hardcover: 296 pages
Publisher: Thames and Hudson Ltd;
Publication date (1st edition): 13 April 2017


RECOMMENDED UK:
rated an average 5 out of 5* by 4 customer reviews

BUY IN THE UK
Botanical Sketchbooks from Amazon.co.uk
The sketchbooks cover:
  • sketches made on location - by adventurers, collectors, those pursuing botany and those undertaking imperial projects
  • by those serving science - as naturalists or botanists and in the botanical garden
  • by those making art - by artists interested in nature in art, as a job (eg for explorers), for their patrons
  • by those who sketched plants as a pleasing occupation
It also has a very useful listing at the end of how to find out more.
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press Publication date: May 9, 2017
Language: English
Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 1.4 x 10.9 inches
RECOMMENDED USA:
rated an average 4.8 out of 5* by 13 customer reviews
​
BUY IN THE USA
Botanical Sketchbooks from Amazon.com
Other processes also playing a role in developing a botanical artwork include:
  • photography - in situ and back in the studio
  • video - try doing a 360 degrees pan around the plant
  • collecting images of how other artists have approached the same plant
  • developing colour swatches for all the colours you can see - with notes as to what colours you used
  • using thumbnail sketches to work out shape and tonal values for the artwork
The third book (see below) produced for the Distance Learning Diploma Course run by the Society of Botanical Artists is based on a sketchbook developed by a student (Mary Ann Scott) who was awarded a Distinction at the end of the course. 
Botanical Sketchbook
by Mary Ann Scott with Margaret Stevens

One of the things the SBA Diploma students have to do is keep a sketchbook.  This book provides both an inspiration and a guide

If you'd like to know more about the book and how it came about
  • Read my  Book Review: Botanical Sketchbook
  • Read A Making A Mark Interview with Mary Ann Scott​​
Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Batsford Ltd (5 Mar. 2015)
BUY IN THE UK
UK: 4.7 out of 5* by 43 customer reviews
Botanical Sketchbook: Inspiration and Guide to keeping a Sketchbook from Amazon UK

​BUY IN USA
USA: Rated 4.4 out of 5* by 36 customer reviews
Botanical Sketchbook from Amazon.com
Sketchbook Tips: REFERENCE:
  • Georg Ehret's sketchbooks - botanical illustration | Making A Mark - about the Ehret sketchbooks in the Images of Nature exhibition at the Natural History Museum.
  • Botanical Illustration - Painting a sketchbook study of Broom - June 7th 2013 - Botanical Illustrator Lizzie Harper records how she uses a sketchbook for her work as a professional illustrator
  • Sketchbook studies by Lizzie Harper
  • Botanical Sketchbook Course, Artist Collective | Dianne Sutherland - How and  why Dianne keeps a sketchbook
  • Garden sketching kit – with a blackbird for company | Sandrine Maugy 
  • Student sketchbook coursework | Botanical Sketchbook collective - This blog displays the work of a collective of artists currently developing sketchbooks with tutor Dianne Sutherland.
  • ​Drawing Nature - Susan Frei Nathan comments on the sketchbooks kept by Beverly Duncan and Lara Call Gastinger while documenting plants (for a commission) on a property month by month
Sketchbooks allow artists to research their subjects and to fine tune observational skills.  They facilitate drawing and painting practise without the pressure of producing a finished work. They allow compositional ideas to be formulated. A large body of study material can be created without the commitment of a final piece. 
Dianne Sutherland
Stillman & Birn: Zeta Sketchbook
Recommended: I like this sketchbook a lot. It provides a heavyweight smooth natural white paper (270gsm) inside a quality heavyweight binder. The paper is ph neutral and lignin and chlorine free. It works well with both dry and wet media eg pencils and coloured pencils, pen and ink and watercolour or inks. It would also work well with water based marker pens.

It's very suitable for pencil drawing, pen and ink drawing and studies in watercolour. The bound book also lies flat making it easy to work across a double page spread.

​This is a link to an example of a study of daffodils painted by Shevaun Doherty in a Zeta Sketchbook
Metric Dimensions of the A4 size: 30.7 x 21.6 x 1.8 cm

There's also a smaller version. Plus you can also get in a spiral bound version if you prefer to tear pages out of your sketchbooks.

BUY NOW
Stillman & Birn : Zeta Sketchbook 8.25 x 11.75in (A4) Hardbound 270gsm - Natural White Smooth from Amazon UK
Stillman & Birn : Zeta Sketchbook 8.25 x 11.75in (A4) Hardbound 270gsm - Natural White Smooth from Amazon.com

Burnishing the paper
​

In the quest for a very smooth paper and total control of paint, it can be very educational to learn about the traditional methods used for burnishing paper.
Burnishing is a process by which the surface of the paper is rendered less fibrous and spongy in appearance. This is accomplished by means of pressure applied by rubbing sized paper. This can be accomplished by machines, but was historically done by hand. Dry sheets of sized paper are placed on a flat surface and pressure is applied by rubbing a smooth, hard object across the surface of the paper. Typical objects that are used for burnishing include agate, glass, bone, and horn. Burnished paper is typically used for manuscripts or stationary work, where bleeding inks are a concern.
​​Burnishing | AIC Wiki
I use an agate burnisher, after the main tonal washes and before I add fine details. I only burnish the painted areas, not the whole page. This suits my technique, which is lots of washes and detail dry-brushed on afterwards.
Elaine Moore Mackey (portfolio website)
Burnishing is a traditional method for preparing paper for calligraphy. A smooth polished non-absorbent surface allows writing implements and ink to move smoothly across the paper. This enables the creation of a smooth line of ink that flows across the support. This can be achieved through burnishing.

Burnishing is also a technique used by watercolour painters who want a very smooth plate surface on which to paint.

Burnishing works by compressing the fibres of paper. In paper manufacturers this happens when the paper fibre is run between rollers. 

The effects of burnishing are threefold. The paper becomes:
  • thinner - because the paper fibres have been compressed due to the pressure used
  • smoother - ink and paint flow more easily across the surface and flow is easier to control (i.e. no unintentional feathering of edges)
  • less absorbent - the paint tends to sit on top of the paper rather than sinking in - much as happens when painting on vellum. This means it's not suitable for wet in wet approaches in watercolour painting which rely on the paper being absorbent.
​
Tools used for burnishing include anything very hard, without edges and completely smooth. Examples include:
  • an agate
  • a round glass paperweight or muller (usually used for grinding pigments)
  • Bone and horn can also be used if smooth.
A video about Glazing, Burnishing and Polishing Paper through time - a lecture given by Jane Colbourne, Conservation Department, Northumbria University. It's nearly an hour long and is about the history of and context for methods used for preparing paper in the past.
REFERENCE:
  • Burnishing | AIC Wiki of the the American Institute for Conservation of Art and Historic Works 
  • ​Griffin Mill Visit | Adbentures in Paper Conservation
  • Preparation and burnishing of Ahar Paper | Mohamed Zakariyar
Professional Glass Muller

Agates are fine if you are burnishing a small area. However if you want to burnish a larger area, this glass muller measures 7cm across and also provides an ergonomic grip. These two features help make the whole process easier and speedier. 

It's designed for grinding pigments but works just as well smoothing paper.
Weight 360g
Robersons : Professional Glass Muller 7cm for mixing and grinding pigment from Amazon UK
Roberson : Professional Glass Muller : 7cm : For Mixing and Grinding Pigment from Amazon.com

Prepare to transfer your image - from studies to final art paper

Getting a study from initial paper to fine art paper is a challenge for many artists.
​
Transferring the Image
  • Transfer the minimum needed to make sense of the image
  • Use a lightbox (or a sunlit window) to transfer an image.
  • Trace your studies onto tracing paper. Cut them out and them move them around (and/or flip them) to arrive at a suitable composition
  • Create a master copy of your composition as a reference - and in case anything goes wrong!
  • Draw the line to copy just inside the outline 
  • Lighten the traced image on the paper until it is just visible before starting to paint
  • Tips on transferring drawings by Katie Lee (go to Tips and the see the menu of articles)
  • Tracing to art paper by Gaynor Dickeson - a step by step demo
  • Alternatively use a product such as Tracedown paper that provide a clean way to transfer drawings to final paper.
I know the thought of transferring seems an utter waste of time, but think of it as another chance to check the drawing, go at the process with a peaceful heart, do it slowly, thoughtfully, and NEVER lose sight of what the image is. 
Katie Lee

​How to transfer a drawing. One of the things that nobody ever told you!
​

Dianne Sutherland provides a quick guide to transferring a drawing to paper from you preparatory study.

This is one of those things that we often assume that everybody knows! but it's not always the case.

How to Create Transfer Paper for Artists
​

This is a How-to video by Mindy Lighthipe on transferring drawings and sketches onto watercolor paper. Learn to make your own transfer paper with step by step instructions. 

The subject matter is natural history rather than botanical art but the principles are the same.

Plus comments on commercially available transfer papers
Tracedown Paper

This is very good quality wax free tracing paper. The sort of product where paying more really pays off in practice.

You can do several tracings from one sheet. The tracing is also easily erased without smudging or making a mess of the paper.
This is the graphite version but you can also get it in assorted colours if you prefer.

Recommended: rates and average of 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon UK

BUY NOW
Tracedown A3 Graphite - Pack of 5 Sheets from Amazon.co.uk

Tracing and transferring images to art paper
​

How to trace an image to art paper - without creating indentations by Gaynor Dickeson 

Tracing using a Lightbox
​

Many artists use a lightbox for ease of tracing.

​
The major change in recent years is that boxes have got a lot slimmer and are now more like iPads in terms of thickness.
Huion® Tracing Light Box L4S 
17.7 Inches A4 Size LED Adjustable Light 

Lightboxes of old used to be quite chunky affairs making them difficult to find space for.
Now they are powered by LED lighting and have become super slim
- making them much easier to accommodate.

This particular lightbox has the following features:
  • The L4S has a diagonal length of 17.7inches.. In overall terms it's larger than A4 and smaller than A3 - but also comes in other sizes (eg A3)
  • The actual working surface is acrylic and 12" x 8"
  • It's extremely slim - being only 5.1mm in thickness
  • It's also light and portable due to only weighing 0.61kg (about 1.3lbs)
  • Power is supplied via a micro USB cable meaning it can be powered by your computer
  • The light can be very bright (1100 Lux) and will shine through 300gsm paper - but it also can be adjusted to a level that's comfortable for you to work with. The adjustment for the light is by holding the on/off switch.
  • The only downside is that the USB Cable Length 1.2m. You can however buy a separate power supply.
Picture
Dimensions: 36 x 0.5 x 27 cm

BUY NOW

Huion® Tracing Light Box 17.7 Inches A4 Size LED Adjustable Light L4S from Amazon UK
Huion L4S LED Light Box from Amazon.com

BACK TO: EDUCATION
​BACK TO: TIPS & TECHNIQUES
Go to: 
  • Classes, Courses and Tutors 
  • Diplomas & Certificates
  • The Best Botanical Art Instruction Books 
  • Fellowships, Scholarships and Residences
  • Paper 
  • Vellum
Picture
Working on a painting
Resources about  Botanical Art and For Botanical Artists
ABOUT: About the Author | Contact | Testimonials | Privacy Policy                  COPYRIGHT 2015-20: Katherine Tyrrell  all rights reserved.
NEWS 
News Blog about artists, awards, exhibitions etc.
​​FEEDBACK 
Please send me . 
- news to share
- info. about exhibitions
- any suggestions for what you'd like to see on this website 
HISTORY
- Best Books about Botanical Art History
- History of Botanical Art 
- Herbals
- Florilegia
- Botanical Art Online
ARTISTS
- Botanical Artists around the world 
- Famous Past Masters
EXHIBITIONS
- Exhibitions around the world
- RHS Exhibitions
- Hunt Exhibitions
ORGANISATIONS
- Botanical Art Societies
- 
Florilegium & Groups

BOTANIC GARDENS & Herbaria
LEARN 
- Tips and Techniques
- Best Botanical Art Instruction Books
- Directory of Teachers
- Directory of Courses
- Online Botanical Art Courses
- Diplomas and Certificates
​- ART MATERIALS

BOTANY FOR ARTISTS
​ADVERTISE
Contact me if you'd like to promote workshops and courses on this site.

​AFFILIATION 
This website is free to you but not for me! (See Affiliate Income below)

Cookies, Personal Data & Privacy tells you how this site relates to and impacts on you and your privacy - and your choices.
​

Product & company names may be trademarks of their respective owners
About Affiliate Income: This website has been created to share information not to make a profit. I am an Amazon Associate and earn from qualifying purchases (e.g. books from Amazon) which helps offset costs associated with maintaining this very large website.​
  • Home
    • Site Index
  • NEWS
  • 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 Raymond Booth
      • About Arthur Harry Church
      • About Margaret Mee
      • About Mary Grierson
      • 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
    • UK >
      • Permanent Collections (UK)
      • Botanical Art Exhibitions at Major UK Galleries & Museums >
        • ARCHIVE: Major Gallery Exhibitions
        • ARCHIVE: Shirley Sherwood Gallery Exhibitions
      • RHS Botanical Art Exhibitions >
        • ARCHIVE RHS Botanical Art Shows 2007-2018
        • Exhibit Titles at RHS Botanical Art Shows
      • Botanical Art Exhibitions in England and Wales >
        • ARCHIVE: Past Botanical Art Exhibitions in the UK
      • Botanical Art Exhibitions in Scotland >
        • ARCHIVE: Scotland - Botanical Art Exhibitions
      • Calls for Entries - UK
      • RHS Portfolio Photography (Botanical / Horticultural)
    • North America >
      • Calls for Entries - USA & Canada
      • Permanent Collections (USA)
      • Hunt International Exhibition of Botanical Art & Illustration
      • 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 >
      • NEW Books about Botanical Art & Illustration (2020)
      • 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 Botanical Drawing Instruction Books (Pencils) >
        • Botanical Painting with Coloured Pencils - review
      • Best Instruction Books by top Artists / Teachers >
        • Books By Billy Showell
        • Books - the Eden Project
      • 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
      • 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: Painting Flowers
        • Video Tips: Painting Leaves & Trees
        • Video Tips Coloured Pencils
        • Video Tips: Pencil drawing
    • Online Botanical Art Instruction >
      • CHECKLIST: FAQS about Online Learning
    • 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
    • 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 >
      • 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