Botanical Drawing in Color: A Basic Guide to Mastering Realistic Form and Naturalistic Color

As an artist, I always encourage my students to look at the real object, if possible-- be it a flower, leaf, plant, bird, or animal. I do want them to use their "artistic eye" and really study what they are seeing. This gives them a scientifically accurate frame of reference on which to base their drawings. Author, illustrator Wendy Hollender does the same thing in her book, Botanical Drawing in Color: A Basic Guide to Mastering Realistic Form and Naturalistic Color. She is the coordinator of botanical art and illustration at the New York Botanical Garden, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and the National Tropical Botanical Garden. In her book, she gives readers step-by-step instructions. Each lesson increases in complexity to build your skills. She describes form first, color second. She wants the reader to feel comfortable with the use of color before she introduces color theory. She wants the reader to feel comfortable with the process of drawing before she introduces perspective. She has many lessons marked with a green art nouveau style leaf. The lesson will require you to do something other than just reading the text. Each lesson is like an exercise to warm the reader/artist up. She starts out with the very basic--how to sharpen your pencil! She shows examples of historic botanical prints as well as the modern Vera textile designs. She suggests, "Do not strive to copy my illustrations, but rather learn my techniques and use them to create a realistic version of the plant...in your own style." She encourages her students to slow down, observe closely, learn step-by-step. A very well-written and beautifully illustrated book. A must for every artist.

I purchased two books on Botanical art (the other was Ann Swan's Botanical Portraits with Colored Pencils) and I must say that, while both books are excellent, Wendy Hollender's book really hit the mark for me. I especially like that Botanical Drawing in Color is just what it says it is - only more! If you are interested in developing your skills in this medium, you need look no further. Wendy gives you clues and secrets she has obviously learned over her lifetime...she is a valuable resource. This book is a full course that will develop your talent and deepen your interest in this beautiful and creative work. I am working (slowly, as Wendy says) and not skipping anything! The financial investment is minimal; some colored pencils some watercolor paper (the best 100% cotton, of course) and a place to work and you're good to go! Well, it's a little more than that, but you couldn't have a better workbook than Wendy Hollender's book. If you want to learn this art, buy this book. Look her up at her website, [...], where she also sells some of the tools of the trade.

This is a book that many of us who do Botanical Illustration in colored pencil have been waiting for- a real workbook for the pencil artist. Wendy is an experienced teacher and provides simple, clear lessons not only on colored pencil techniques but on basic nature drawing and creating form. There is also a good section on color theory. The book is packed with delicious colored illustrations of a variety of plants and fruits some wonderfully exotic. I was inspired by her section on dissections and creating compositions showing the reproductive parts of plants. The book is a great teaching tool with lots of step by step exercises. It is definitely very inspiring for the beginning artist and the experienced painter.

A very good grounding for the beginning coloured pencil botanical artist. Wendy Hollander's style is masterful and grounded yet surprisingly expressive and unique. To have another book in my small collection dedicated fully to coloured pencil in botanical art is fantastic. Any coloured pencil enthusiast will gain from reading this book, as will any aspiring botanical artist. The text is easy to read, the exercises are well thought out and illustrated, and the full page colour prints throughout the book (the authors art) provide great visual entertainment. Much can be learned just from studying the artwork alone. Overall I found it to be informative, but also a gentle, relaxing read that has definitely enhanced my relationship with Nature.

Wendy Hollender does beautiful work, and she is also a wonderful teacher. I love how she really starts with the basics, and gives great advice to beginners. This book really makes botanical illustration accessible, and does a great job of explaining her process. Sometimes books by experts can seem preachy. She manages to write about her process and technique without coming off that way. I have learned so much by reading this work and working through some of the exercises. I have departed from her techniques somewhat, but still find this book extremely useful. I'm sure I will refer to it over and over.

I was thrilled when I opened the box for this book...the book itself is beautiful. I absolutely love the way the author explains how to draw shapes with tone for the 3-D effect as opposed to flat drawings. For the first time I'm beginning to understand the drawing aspect of flowers. I purchased all the pencils and supplies she suggested so I could do the lessons which have been very amazing so far. I was amazed how beautiful my 3-D balls with shading and shadows turned out...my cylinders and other shapes also turned out beautiful. If you want to master drawing flowers this books is an excellent start. My desire is to draw like author so I know I will need lots more practice and learning...it's a long term goal.

I fell in love with botanical drawing in colored pencil when I discovered Wendy Hollender's article "City in Bloom" in the September 2009 issue of The Artist's magazine. Then I simply had to have her earlier book "Botanical Drawing." I am a volunteer at The NY Botanical Gardens, and an art student with a thirst for "how to" instruction on the transformation of living botanicals into works of art. In this regard Ms. Hollender's "Botanical Drawing in Color" is a must have! The drawing illustrations and techniques she shares with the readers make the reproduction of the botanicals seem possible even for students new to botanical art. Each of the book's pictured botanicals appears to have a personality of its own. The artist talented enough to capture this personality on paper ultimately produces colorful botanical portraits. The myriad drawing techniques sprinkled throughout this book unfold for the readers like a child's pop-up book...splashed with vibrant color and realism. It is a delightful book that will appeal to artists of all levels, or simply the reader with a deep love and passion for nature.

This is a really beautiful description of not only how to create beautiful botanical images, but also an inspiring story about becoming an artist, working hard and passion for ones craft. Although my hobbies have wandered (piano these days) I still keep this book by my bedside so I can periodically browse the images. One of my favorite things was that the author included some of her early works and we get to see that great art does not just happen. It takes years of honing the craft. Very inspiring reminder that time will pass so we may a well practice and if we work hard, we WILL get better. Enjoy this book!

Me perfecto, mi mucha auda para impesar dibujar

This is a fine, small book on drawing botanical portraits in color. It is quite technical and thus it is directed to a readership who wants to start really using pencils for botanical drawings. The author guides us step by step through a matter, which is not simple and requires patience and dedication. In this sense, she is very effective. In summary, buy this booklet if you are really interested in learning techniques and acquiring skills.

I found the explanations and details on drawing botanical subjects really good for me personally depending on your level of experience in this subject matter, still reading the book

Donne envie de reprendre les crayons de couleurs. Superbes illustrations et plein d'explications pour progresser en s'amusant. Simple et bien documenté.

For my painitng hobby