ArtPlantae Books

Margaret Stevens and fellow members of the Society of Botanical Artists (SBA) in England have created an invaluable reference. Artists are sure to benefit from instruction in drawing techniques, colored pencil techniques, watercolor techniques, and gouache painting techniques. Stevens and SBA contributors also provide instruction on the painting of fruit, vegetables and foliage. Artists will find the leaf library and the flower library of particular interest. Not to mention the step-by-step explanations of how some SBA members completed plant portraits featured in this book.

Sherlock provides instruction in the painting of a variety of flowers and instruction in how to create a variety of effects. She describes the color choices she made for each featured painting and describes how she approached each painting. Sherlock also offers many helpful tips throughout the book. Sherlock discusses wet-in-wet technique and how to achieve color & form in flowers, foliage, and fruit. She shares time-saving techniques and advice on how to paint details such as the center of flowers and petal markings.

Mary Ann Scott's Botanical Sketchbook is an open journal in which she describes her experiences as a student in the Distance Learning Diploma Course administered by the Society of Botanical Artists in the UK. Scott presents actual assignments, as well as the marks she earned for each assignment. Readers are given a front row seat to Scott's insecurities, decisions, mistakes and successes. This book's format is unique and provides a level of insight into the SBA diploma program that is not available anywhere else.

Watercolour Fruit & Vegetable Portraits is a comprehensive resource for all artists. Billy Showell provides how-to instruction addressing the colors, shapes, textures and patterns observed in fruits and vegetables. This book is for anyone who has ever wanted to paint the fruit and vegetables in their home garden.

Right from the start Billy teaches readers how to observe patterns and how to think about the placement of various botanical elements. In her discussion of the drawing process, she does away with drawing's "mythical status" and ensures readers that everyone is capable of learning how to draw. Billy takes the anxiety out of composition and patiently offers detailed instruction on how to mix browns, greens and dark washes. In a 4-page section that all painters will appreciate, Billy shares color combinations that will enable readers to mix the unique colors of 28 fruits and vegetables.