Colour mixing is a key skill for the botanical artist. In this practical guide, Jackie Isard explains how to observe and use colour accurately. She shows artists how to make informed choices when selecting pigments, as well as how to learn about colour mixing and its application. Detailed instruction and advice are given on understanding colour and pigments. The author explains how to 'see' colour and tricky mixes, from greens and reds to the difficult botanical greys. Includes advanced colour application techniques - colour enhancement, shadow colours and colour temperature transition. Finally, step-by-step guides illustrate how to paint with layers, how to use underlaying colours to enhance, and colour and fine detailing.

Scissors and glue stick at the ready... inject a wealth of botanical beauty into your creative projects with this sumptuous collection of images from the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew archive. Whether you're looking for vintage botanical ephemera to enhance your journal or scrapbook pages, want to make your own collage art, or simply have a range of botanical elements at your fingertips for gift-wrapping, card-making, vision-boarding and more - this stunning collection will give you over 500 images to cut out and create with, in whatever way you choose. Featuring over 500 images, this book presents a wide variety of botanical art across a range of chapters - from flowers to cacti, fruit and vegetables, and even fungi. The images are printed on one side only so that all images can be used, and each page is backed with lovely botanical patterns that can also be used as paper elements, so no scrap is wasted. Botanical art is as popular today as it has ever been, perhaps even more so, as we all realise the importance of connecting with nature in an increasingly fast-paced world. It has been scientifically proven that even looking at pictures of plants can have a calming effect on the mind, lowering stress levels and supporting relaxation. The same is true of making things by hand - away from screens and digital distractions - and so combining the traditional craft of collage with botanical art is an immensely mindful activity that will benefit all who have a go. Alongside the 500 images, you will find guidance on how to use the book, with collage ideas and tips and tricks for getting the most from this absorbing art form. Cut it up, stick it down and watch your creative projects blossom before your very eyes with this bumper book of botanical illustrations from Kew.

This title is the IP Book Awards 2007 Gold Medal winner for Outstanding Book of the Year - Most Original Concept. Never before seen SEM images are unique to the book. It will appeal to scientists, artists and photographers alike. The extraordinary beauty and structure of pollen grains invisible to the naked eye. This book is the result of the shared fascination of an artist and a scientist with the perfect design of organisms too small to be seen without a microscope. Pollen is ubiquitous; its tiny forms have fascinated the scientifically curious since the seventeenth century. Its tiny grains are enclosed beyond the accessible beauty of the flower until the moment of release, when they are carried by wind, water or animal vectors to achieve their purpose, which is procreation. A clear explanation of the structure and form of pollen, the remarkable events from pollination to fertilization, and the many ways in which pollen impacts unseen on our lives is interwoven with a dazzling array of original images created especially for the book.

Take a fresh look at the world through the lens of a self-confessed nature-obsessed artist. Asuka Hishiki possesses not only a sense of profound awe and wonder at the intricacies of the natural world, but also the talent to communicate it through her paintings. Recalling the Wunderkammer (literally, 'wonder rooms') of 16th and 17th century European collectors, Asuka Hishiki's Botaniphoria: A Cabinet of Botanical Curiosities encompasses subjects as diverse as rotting vegetables, endangered species, mundane weeds and backyard insects - all treasures to her and transformed into objects of intense and fragile beauty through her skill with watercolour. Her work is held in prestigious collections such as The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens, California, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation, Pennsylvania. One of the first people to appreciate her work said about it, 'your work is not to hang upon a wall in a bright living room, but to put in a drawer in the study. Then, alone in the middle of the night, to take out and ponder upon.' In the best traditions of Wunderkammer, this book is an artfully arranged collection intended to be pondered upon. From the interactions of the objects within the paintings, to the quirky choice of subjects and the realism with which they are portrayed, they will bear revisiting again and again. As Asuka admits, painting is her language. She is an extremely adept communicator in it.

Discover a whole new realm of botanical painting - the natural life forms that coexist with flowering plants, revealed in exquisite detail. Traditionally, botanical art has focused on the flowers, leaves and form of plants. They are depicted in solitary glory on a page, divorced from the life forms that live alongside them in nature. But award-winning UK botanical painter, Christina Hart-Davies, believes passionately that flowers are only part of the picture and loves to explore the different stages, related species, habitats and associated creatures that provide their setting in the wild. She looks at plants and other life forms from all angles - scientific, aesthetic and cultural - to tell The Whole Story. Showcasing examples of her most popular works, The Whole Story draws on Christina's long and parallel careers in both art and illustration. Take inspiration from her enthusiasm for the details and beauty of all aspects of the natural world and benefit from her experience as she shares techniques for painting moss and insects as well as advice on composition and lettering. This book will transform your perspective and inspire you to look beyond the flowers.

"This beautifully produced book will be inspiring to botanical artists and all those who are captivated by the orchid." -Leisure Painter Orchids have long held a place of esteem and fascination in the horticultural world. In the 19th century, orchid collecting reached new fanatical heights, with explorers dispatched to every corner of the globe in search of new varieties that could be auctioned at extravagant prices, and orchids are still one of the most popular flowers to breed and buy to this day. These beautiful, diverse flowers are one of the two largest families of flowering plants, with over 30,000 species and over 181,500 hybrids and cultivars. The RHS Orchid Committee have commissioned watercolours of over 7,000 award-winning hybrids that demonstrate particular value in their fabulous array of colours, patterns, sizes and shapes. Through these paintings, stories of high stakes orchid breeding and exhibiting are explored, with a cast of characters who helped shape the horticultural world we know today, alongside the dedicated artists who still support their endeavours.

Get up close to the beauty and detail of nature through the artwork of award-winning UK artist, Julia Trickey. See how ordinary and sometimes overlooked subjects, such as leaves and fading flowers, can be centre stage and come to life in this beautiful showcase of some of Julia's best-loved botanical watercolours. Having been a tutor of botanical art for many years, teaching as far afield as Moscow and New York, Julia loves to help others explore the potential of watercolour and to discover the keys to a good botanical portrait. In this book she shares some of these insights as well as the motivation behind her favourite projects, together with some of the processes and watercolour techniques involved. Take inspiration from these glowing, contemporary watercolours in a book that is both beautiful and useful.

The Botanical Illustrator's Handbook takes a closer look at how to accurately portray the riches of the botanical world. It tackles and explains many of the difficulties that artists encounter so they can extend and expand their choice of subject matter. Written by a respected artist and drawing on her wealth of experience, it offers new insights and a fresh approach to the wonders of botanical illustration. Topics covered include: advice on the labelling and quality of paper, and choice of pencils, paints and brushes; techniques for the mixing and handling of greens; chapters on magnification, managing detail and using scale bars; and finally, instructions for using perspective techniques, and painting complex structures such as pine cones and umbellifers, and tricky details such as hairs.

Petite in size but packed with inspiration, Just Draw Botanicals presents 90 beautiful, contemporary botanical artworks in a range of media and styles. Each spread includes a stunning work of art paired with a discussion of the artist's approach to creating it, including the techniques employed. At the bottom of the page, find tips on the tools, materials and methods used to make the piece. A hyper-realistic blackberry, a watercolour sketch of a bunch of mint in a glass, a detailed scratchboard study of three pussy willow twigs, a tribal-style pattern inspired by different leaf shapes, an abstract image-transfer print of a milkweed plant... the techniques and subjects covered are diverse. With these and more artworks - created in a variety of media, including watercolour, coloured pencils, oil, pen and ink, mixed media and pencil - explore: Shape, form and light Harmonious colours Contrasting elements Fine detail Capturing movement Cropped compositions Using negative space Anatomical accuracy A visual index is included at the front of the book so you can easily skip to a style or colour palette that interests you. At the back of the book, find an overview of materials and tips for using them; a list of further resources, including books and websites; and two additional indexes, one by artist name and the other by subject. Whether you are an artist looking for fresh ideas for creating botanical art or simply enjoy looking at nature-inspired images, this portable volume is a rich resource.

Close-up photos of plump apricots, juicy mangoes, crisp lettuce ... these are familiar to us all through cookery books and garden guides. But seeing fruit and vegetables as detailed art, viewed through eighteenth-century eyes, is something very different - and more interesting. Thanks to intrepid explorers and plant-hunters, Britain and the rest of Europe have long enjoyed a wide and wonderful array of fruit and vegetables. Some wealthy households even created orangeries and glasshouses for tender exotics and special pits in which to raise pineapples, while tomatoes, sweetcorn and runner beans from the New World expanded the culinary repertoire. This wealth of choice attracted interest beyond the kitchen and garden. In the 1730s, a prosperous Bavarian apothecary produced the first volume of a comprehensive A to Z of all available plants, meticulously documented, and lavishly illustrated by botanical artists. 'A Cornucopia of Fruit & Vegetables' is a glimpse into his world. It features exquisite illustrations of the edible plants in his historic treasury, allowing us to enjoy the sight of swan-necked gourds and horned lemons, smile at silkworms hovering over mulberries and delight at the quirkiness of 'strawberry spinach' ... a delicious medley of garden produce and exotics that will capture the imagination of gardeners and art-lovers alike.

Sunflowers, roses, succulents, ferns, wildflowers - this rich bouquet of postcards features one hundred botanical postcards from ten celebrated artists from around the world. The colorful cards, in our popular postcard box format, are ideal for correspondence or display. A booklet about the artists highlights their creative processes, influences, and favorite houseplants.

The definitive, comprehensive guide to botanical painting, covering basic botany, plant groups and a scientific approach to the subject. Drawing on her experience as a botanical art teacher, Christina Brodie takes you on a holistic approach to botanical art and expertly covers botanical terminology, drawing and painting techniques in a wide range of media, dissection and examination of plants, fieldwork studies, microscope work and tips on presentation. Through step-by-step projects and with clearly explained techniques, learn to draw and paint flowers, fruit, leaves, stems and roots, trees, fungi, ferns and horsetails, seaweeds and other algae, mosses and lichens with remarkable precision and stunning detail.

Sold in packs of 6. Gorgeous, foiled, handmade greeting cards, blank inside and shrink-wrapped with a gold envelope. Themed with our art calendars, foiled notebooks and illustrated art books. Our greeting cards are printed on FSC paper and wrapped in biodegradable cellobag, and are themed with our art calendars, foiled notebooks and illustrated art books. Robert John Thornton's New Illustration of the Sexual System of Carolus von Linnaeus (1799-1807) was comprised of three parts: a dissertation on the reproductive cycle of plants, an explanation of Linnaeus' plant system, and 'The Temple of Flora'. This third and final part was the most ambitious and has become instantly recognizable in its sumptuous illustrations, such as Tulips, which is an engraving by Richard Earlom after a painting by Philip Reinagle.

This charmingly illustrated book is an ideal guide to the art of botanical drawing and painting. You should never hesitate to pull a flower apart to understand how it fits together, to turn the subject round until you are satisfied with its position, or to do pencil sketches of it in various positions. From sketching basic shapes and making volumes to creating textures and visualising the colour spectrum, this book is here to teach you how to look and observe, since you can only properly transcribe what you understand. Through step-by-step demonstrations and with colourful illustrations, Agathe Ravet-Haevermans teaches you how to recognise and draw a wide variety of flowers and leaves, and covers the textures and structural elements of a range of different plants including succulents, vegetables, trees and grasses. Practical as well as beautiful, The Art of Botanical Drawing is a necessary addition to the bookshelves of anyone interested in botanical art.

This beautiful book explores the world of colour in the plant kingdom and introduces the artist to effective practical methods of using colour in botanical painting. It focusses on the relevance of making accurate observations of colour in botanical specimens and recognizing the value and importance of using colour theory to achieve successful results. With over 500 images, this elaborately-illustrated guide uses the author's finished artwork, diagrams, and step-by-step tutorials to explain the important role of colour in this compelling genre. This book is a must for all aspiring botanical artists, illustrators and students.

The Flora Collection contains 50 stunning colour postcards selected from the vast collection of original botanical artworks held at the the Library of the Natural History Museum, London. Stored in a chunky keepsake box with an internal ribbon, this collection represents the fascinating history of plants and flowers through exquisite botanical prints to keep, send or frame. Printed on high quality card, the set showcases many of the best-loved plant families including cacti, daffodils, iris, magnolia, poppies, roses, tulips and waterlilies. Featuring the work of some of the greatest botanical artists and explorers of all time, The Flora Collection is a delightful box set to share or savour.

The characteristics of watercolour naturally complement botanical art and this beautiful book shows you how to make the most of this versatile medium. It starts by guiding you through the complexities of painting flowers, with advice on materials and colour mixing, using colour to achieve translucency and clarity, building confidence with step-by-step examples and the importance of observation and botancial accuracy. It then creates detailed and beautiful compositions for the more experienced botanical artist. This new book has ideas and tips on composition and how to include animal life and is structured by season to include a range of flowers and plants.

To study a plant in detail is to make a fascinating journey of discovery. Even plants we think we know well will often surprise us as we look at the intricacy of their structure and how they are put together. This fascinating guide explains what flowering plants are and their relationship to other groups of plants. With drawings, paintings and photographs throughout, it advises on how to carry out a botanical study and will prove essential reading for botanical artists, photographers and all those wishing to gain a greater understanding of flowering plants.

Brimming with over 300 botanical motifs, this wonderful resource will provide inspiration and instructions for embroidery artists and flower ladies everywhere. This collection features designs including flowers, ferns, succulents, leaves, bees and garden scenes. The books includes basic embroidery instruction for stitches and transferring designs onto fabric. Original designs and clear instructions make this book a must have for any embroidery enthusiast's library.

Throughout history flowers have been an integral part of human survival and culture - as food, for medicine, to express feelings, as symbols, to commemorate and celebrate, and to decorate. Their shapes, colours, scents and textures have always attracted us, as they do animals and insects. Flowers are used as luxury spices (saffron), and as colouring and flavouring agents - marigolds fed to chickens make eggs more yellow and lavender was Elizabeth I's favourite flavour of jam. Flowers are full of symbolic meaning: violets represent modesty, daises purity and daffodils unrequited love. And they have always played an important role in culture through myths and legends, literature and the decorative arts. This delightful new book brings together 100 of the world's flowers to tell their remarkable stories. Each flower is richly illustrated in colour and accompanied by facts about each species and what role it has played in our culture and history.

Find beauty and happiness in nature and create beautiful drawings and prints with this stunning guide to the mindful art of drawing floral patterns. Drawing can be a powerful tool to combat anxiety, stress and depression. In From Petal to Pattern, New York-based pattern designer and illustrator Michelle Parascandolo teaches us how the act of drawing repeated floral shapes can connect us to nature, reminding us to look around ourselves and notice the world which surrounds us. With step-by-step guides to 20 intricate patterns for us to recreate at home, this gifty how-to book helps us explore the meditative practice of drawing through the creation of repeating flower patterns. From bouquets to blocks of densely-packed flowers, the botanical patterns in this book cover all styles, from folk art to tropical, and also offers tips for creating your own original designs. With mindful affirmations as well as flower facts and lore, this book combines creative self-expression with art-therapy principles and an appreciation of the natural world. Accessible for all artistic abilities, from total beginners to experienced artists, this book teaches us how to make these colourful and bright designs into attractive prints, so you can apply them to materials of your choosing to fill your home with beautiful blossoms!

Part of a series of exciting and luxurious Flame Tree Notebooks. Combining high-quality production with magnificent fine art, the covers are printed on foil in five colours, embossed, then foil stamped. And they're powerfully practical: a pocket at the back for receipts and scraps, two bookmarks and a solid magnetic side flap. These are perfect for personal use and make a dazzling gift. This example features Chen Chun: Garden Flowers.

This beautifully illustrated book is the first practical step-by-step guide to using coloured pencils in botanical painting and is written by Ann Swan, one of the top exponents of the genre. Water-soluble and oil-based coloured pencils are becoming increasingly popular for botanical painting as they are easier to use than traditional watercolour and are more forgiving, yet they produce the same stunning effects. They are especially suitable for the accuracy needed to paint in the botanical style of illustration. In this book Ann Swan gives helpful advice on all aspects of working with coloured pencils, including the techniques you will have to master - underpainting, layering and burnishing. She also demontrates how to mix and build up colour, and how to add those finishing touches that will complete your painting successfully. Several full step-by-step demonstrations are included to show how these techniques are put into practice. The book concludes with a gallery of coloured pencil works by the author, students of botanical painting and other professional botanical painters, providing a wonderful source of reference and inspiration.

A beautifully designed organiser to keep all your information for contacts, co-workers, family and friends in one place. This stylish and elegantly designed address book has plenty of space to record names, addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses for everyone you need to stay in touch with. With colour-coded alphabetical sections, a silk ribbon marker and beautiful floral images throughout from the world-famous RHS Lindley Library, this decorative address book makes the perfect gift!