Originally developed in the 18th century as a visual supplement to
botanical nomenclature, botanical illustration and art uniquely fuse art
and science by documenting the parts, details, and life cycles of plant
species. In Drawing and Painting Botanicals for Artists, eminent
botanical artist and veteran workshop instructor Karen Kluglein reveals
her secrets for rendering leaves, flowers, berries, and branches both
accurately and beautifully.
The book begins with a brief history of the art form, followed by
guidance on developing observational skills for this genre, key
botanical terms and concepts, and the differences among botanical
illustration, botanical art, and flower painting. The chapters that
follow offer detailed guidance and demonstrations for drawing and
painting botanicals in a variety of mediums:
- Drawing. Explore loose gestural drawing, precise measuring and
rendering, and working from photographs with graphite, colored pencil,
finepoint markers, pen and ink, and silverpoint.
- Painting. Master color mixing, washes, layering, gradations,
values, and adding details in watercolor, gouache, and acrylic, plus
guidance on adding "personality" to your work and knowing when a
painting is done.
Drawing and Painting Botanicals for Artists shows artists at all skill
levels how to translate careful observations into stunning works of
art.
The For Artists series expertly guides and instructs artists at all
skill levels who want to develop their classical drawing and painting
skills and create realistic and representational art.
