Botanical Illustration in Watercolor

Rating:
Summary: Great book!
Review: I am very pleased with Botanical Illustration in Watercolor
by Eleanor B. Wunderlich. It is a beautifully illustrated book both in presentation and in demos. It combines both worlds of wc and botanical illustration in a clear and precise manor. I would highly recommend this book for both beginner and serious botanical illustrator and/or for a good reference book for your art library. It is a very pleasing book just to browse through.

Rating:
Summary: For everyone who loves to paint with watercolors
Review: If I had to sell all of my watercolor books except one, this is the one I would keep. Ms. Wunderlich takes the artist on a journey as if she understands that everyone needs to know both elementary and advanced techniques. Nothing is left out in her demonstrations as she easily SHOWS with wonderful pictures and TELLS with few words. I've been painting watercolors for two years, have borrowed or bought almost every book on the subject, have listened in classes, watched in seminars, and made every mistake possible until I got her book. Her simple demos gave me the greatest understanding of glazes/layering and texture application. I felt so confident with her guidance that my first painting was on a full sheet and became my favorite. The book's illustrations can be framed and referenced again and again. After I got this book, I sold and gave away half of my other watercolor books.

Rating:
Summary: Best book on the subject and beautiful, too
Review: Not only is this a comprehensive guide to painting botanical subjects, but the book is just gorgeous.

Drawings and paintings of wild flowers and fruits bring out their beauty in ways photographs cannot. So this book is a really good resource if you like to sketch and hike, or if you garden and want to make a beautiful record of what you see. This is also a great resource if you are getting into journal writing and want to put in pictures of plants and flowers (many people keep a garden record journal, for example.)

The instructions are very good, from how to draw and sketch plants to choices of color. There are good examples to copy to learn the technique. I don't think there is a better book on this subject, nor a more beautiful book.

Rating:
Summary: This is a book to love and cherish
Review: Since I started learning botanical illustrating I have seen many books on the subject but few have held me spellbound like this one. The intelligence, helpfulness and sensitivity of the instructions would make it a book worth having on their own, but the glorious illustrations will keep you referrring to the book again and again. Their complexity and detail will hold you enthralled.

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely the BEST BOOK on botanical illustration
Review: This is the best book on botanical illustration I have found. It is suitable for all levels including complete beginners like myself. Although some artistic talent is certainly an asset, closely following the instructions here will come as close as possible to teaching virtually anyone to paint. From drawing to painting, it offers everything you need to create your own beautiful botanical artwork.

The book starts out by helping you choose a subject with practical advice on fruits, vegetables, flowers, mushrooms, bulbs, roots, trees, ferns, vines and more. Then, creating a space to work in and selecting materials from brushes to paper is covered. I love the many excellent tips on mixing colors.

The next section focuses on the many aspects of drawing including setting up a still life, planning the picture and transferring your drawing to watercolor paper. There are detailed step-by-step instructions for drawing a huge variety of botanical subjects including orchids, tulips and foxgloves. I really liked how the author discusses the various shapes of flowers such as round, teacup and tubular and then shows you how to block them out.

The final section covers the painting process. Along with numerous step-by-step demonstrations on painting botanicals there are hints on correcting mistakes, protecting your paper and tips on painting white flowers. Creating the initial washes, adding shadows, shading, layering and highlighting are included as well. To finish your artwork the author gives advice on matting, framing, exhibiting and selling your artwork.

The finished illustrations throughout the book are so beautiful. Each one has information on the kind of paper they are painted on, size and title.