Contemporary Botanical Illustration

the long version

"Fantastically illustrated with drawings, stunning finished paintings and many step-by-step demonstrations, Contemporary Botanical Illustration with the Eden Project guides the reader through every aspect of capturing living plants on paper." "There are useful tips on selecting materials, from choosing papers, brushes, pencils and paints to building a colour palette. The book moves on to sketchbook practice, and is full of helpful advice for working on site, collecting specimens and recording information to use in your paintings. The practical and inspirational advice on composition covers a range of ideas for laying out your work, many of which draw on unusual but effective ideas for flower arranging." "The book goes on to explain how to build up tone using pencil, painting techniques and colour theory. More advanced techniques, such as using a limited palette, produce paintings with an underlying harmony while still revealing a variety of unusual shades. Some of the striking examples include 'black' flowers. Finally, the book demonstrates how to tackle more challenging textures, patterns and colours - from the soft fuzzy skin of a plump peach to the deep crimson of dulse seaweed. The final chapter explores unusual subjects not often seen in traditional botanical art, with delicate portraits of onions sitting alongside bright tomatoes and sweetcorn."--BOOK JACKET.