ArtPlantae Books

When Robin Brickman graduated from Bennington College with a degree in graphic arts and botany, she began her career as a freelance illustrator of magazines, trade books and textbooks, medical illustrations, and even postage stamps. When she had children of her own, she turned her attention to children’s picture books and how they were illustrated. Little did she know that she was about to establish herself as an award-winning children’s book illustrator and respected paper artist.

Learn how Robin illustrates her books with paper sculptures.

While several books have been published about contemporary botanical art, both how-to books and books about international collections, there has never been a book highlighting the work of North American artists until the publication of Today’s Botanical Artists in 2008. Written by Cora B. Marcus and Libby Kyer, this book features 220 pieces of artwork by 65 contributing artists.

This book is about more than the traditional presentation of plant portraits. Contributing artists have demonstrated that plant portraits do not have to be comprised of plants suspended in the middle of the page on a white background. They have demonstrated that it is possible to uphold tradition and provide viewers with information about a plant through the use of digital imagery, colored backgrounds, creative borders, macro-photo flower portraits, and photorealism techniques. This is a refreshing and welcome approach to botanical art.

One hundred fifty of Australia’s native orchids are described in this colorful reference book. Each species is illustrated by Australian botanical artist, John J. Riley. Riley’s full-page illustrations consist of a life-size drawing of each featured species and magnified drawings of each species’ respective flower parts. Opposite each illustration is the following information about each plant: Type Locality, Etymology (the meaning behind a plant’s name), Distribution, Distinguishing Features, Habitat, Conservation Status, and Discussion (miscellaneous information). Riley used watercolor pencils to create his detailed botanical drawings.

In Stock: 4 copies, NEW, in publisher's shrink-wrap