Botanical Portraits with Colored Pencils Hardcover – April 1, 2010

Great combination of plant anatomy and drawing techniques

I loved this book, it is a great book to understand the craft and how to get good at it. I would recommend to anyone who wants to learn. Excellent information on pencils, what they do, how they work and how to use them. Strictly plants and flowers only. I love flowers but now I am into all botanicals, even fruit and veggies!For any Artist:Color Mixing Bible, by Ian SidawayVibrant Flowers in Watercolour by Soon Y. Warren is just off the hookColour Pencils and Graphite:Ultimate Guide to Colored Pencil, Greene, which also comes with a DVD, excellent step by step instructions and lessons, this book is invaluable!!Colored Pencil Secrets for Success, KullbergColoured Pencil Solution Book, Gildow and NewtonMasterful colour, SteinbergColored Pencil Painting Bible, NickelsenPaint Radiant Realism in Watercolour, Ink and colored Pencil, RossDrawing Realistic Textures in Pencil, HillberryFor Watercolour:Water Colour in motion, O'ConnorPainting Watercolour that dance with light, KincaidPainting flowers with Impact in Watercolour, CollinsJean Haine's Atmosphere WatercoloursWatercolour from the Heart, NechisThose are just my favorites so far, I have a ton as I believe that you need to keep learning to stay fresh._____________________________Also, if you want to know about Color theory to get even better....COLOR WORKS, the crafter Guide to Color by Deb MenzFOR ANYONE who wants to knwo about Color Theory this test breaks it down so that ANYONE can understand this subject. I learnt more about color theory in this book than all others put together because I now "Understand" the concept.While this book is for the textile artist, ALL artists should get it and is also has cut outs to use when choosing your colour palette whether it be for Fashion Design or Art.

Unfortunately, as with all "How to ...!" books, this one has a couple pages of instructions and the rest, again as usual, is a "Look how good I am!" book. The author does do beautiful work, or I suppose someone else would have written the book?Perhaps the basics are really so simple all it takes ishours and hours, plus years and years of practice? Assuming also that somewhere along the line you showed some aptitude and artistic talent. After three quarters of a century I have failed in both respects. Being aware of this, this is not why I chose to attempt drawing; sticking to black and white because there is always a pencil available somewhere and a piece of paper of some sort. No closet full of dried up paint tubes for me!This was for the very practical purpose of seeing more of what I was looking at and in that manner actually getting more out of life. It has worked admirably. You should try it! You will be amazed at how much you don't see when you just look.As the author points our, we as humans are not very adept at spotting colors. We think we are picking out a matching color for instance and when we get home and compare it, it isn't even close. Well, I figured I would just give it a try, put a little color in my life - and so I shall. I'll at least give it a try and not be put off by the fact that my renditions don't come close to the beautiful illustrations in the book. Perhaps I'll just have a better understanding and appreciation of how she got them that way. That's enough for this life time.

I’ve been drawing with colored pencils for one year. Prior to that I gave graphite one year. Next will be watercolor for one year and then finally painting for at least one year. I have developed some facility and have to say for my friends who are learning at a different level than I am now you just have to draw every single day without fail. Draw everything you see, Draw pictures draw everything you can even when it intimidates you. That’s the only way you get past your current level is to intimidate yourself. Don’t have too much of your self-worth tied up into your net results because you’re early and you will get better. So give it a go and draw like a demon!

I cannot say that this book was written and developed for beginners but on the other hand beginners will get a tremendous about of information from it and by reading it you will only improve your skills with the colored pencils.The instructions were plentiful and exact and I SO appreciate (like others here) the fact that the author has listed the specific pencils used. I draw – black and white; pen and ink, and working with colored pencils in a bit new to me...this work was extremely helpful.Do keep in mind that this work includes examples of all botanical and not just flowers which was precisely what I wanted.I own and use dozens and dozens of book covering this subject (granted most of them are drawing and not coloring) but for both drawing and coloring this book is beyond a doubt in the top five I own – I have found it quite useful. As a matter of fact I ran across a copy of this one in our local library, used it a bit, and found I had to have my own copy. Being prudent (cheap) I want to be sure I my monies worth...with this one I did.

I purchased this book from a third-party seller on Amazon and am extremely happy with both the book and prompt shipping by the seller. The book was used, but in like-new condition (even better than described). With that said, the book is beautifully illustrated, and I can wait to begin my botanical illustration adventure using colored pencils. I wish there had been a few more tutorials showing work in progress of some of the more elaborate illustrations, but this isn't necessarily a criticism - rather simply a wish that the author can publish another book on this subject in the future.

Fine botanical books in watercolor are plenty.This one is for those who like using color pencils.It’s the only book that covers this medium, so it is a very useful book.