Review
------
August 2015 This is undoubtedly one of the publisher's
best books of the year in association with Kew. Brilliant
botanical and scientific illustration. You can see all aspects of
this art from study, magnification, looking under a micro,
dissecting s, sketching, drawing and portraying s in
different mediums. See how to draw all parts, beautifully
illustrated throughout with many popular flowers such as roses,
daylilies, tulips and geraniums. All the classic stages such as
observation, composition, light, transfer and materials are
included. There are a few step-by-step stages and much
information on flower shape, leaf types and colour, which lends
an in into botanical illustration. This book is a
masterpiece. www.yarnsandfabrics.co.uk * Karen Platt
Yarnsandfabrics.co.uk/crafts * Christabel's work is outstanding
for its combination of beauty and scientific accuracy; her lovely
paintings have been mainstay of Curtis's Botanical Magazine for
many years, and she has been taught a generation of young artists
who have achieved their highest awards for their paintings. *
Curtis's Botanical Magazine * July 2015 This, as far as botanical
illustration is concerned, is pretty much the s of stone,
the Authorised Version. Kew do not hand out their imprimatur
lightly and want to approve every stage of the production. If
they sign off, it's a guarantee that everything is absolutely
right. Having a book like this, and having Kew in the title, is
therefore quite a coup, especially for an independent publisher.
On top of that, Christabel King is one of a very select band of
illustrators who works at Kew itself and can therefore be
regarded as absolutely top flight. I really can't emphasise too
much how good this is getting. Botanical illustration at this
level is respected and used by botanists around the world for
identification purposes. The work produced is better than
photography as, rather than show an individual example of a
specimen, it can create a typical one, with all the likely
characteristics included. As well as a section on using a
micro, there is also advice on preserving specimens and
showing spots and markings. At this level, detail is everything
and it gets very minute indeed. For all this technicality, the
book is surprisingly accessible. I don't mean for a moment that
the casual reader will become a fully-fledged professional as
soon as they've read it but, if this kind of work interests you,
you won't feel swamped. There's a nice sense of progression to
the chapters and Christabel explains everything clearly and,
above all, with worked examples. If you do get serious, the
chapter on Curtis's Botanical Magazine, with sample pages and a
template for laying out a plate, will give you an idea of what to
for. Despite the weight of its authority, this is not a book
solely for the expert, but is accessible to anyone who is
reasonably serious about flower painting. You may never reach its
dizzy heights, but you'll enjoy the journey and the attempt. *
Artbookreview.net * September 2015 With 40 year's experience of
botanical illustration working with the Royal Botanic Gardens,
Kew and providing illustrations for Curtis's Botanical magazine.
Christabel King is ideally placed to share with us her attention
to detail when it comes to painting s. Not only is she able
to portray them with enviable accuracy but she also gives them
what she describes as their 'poetic element'; something often
lacking in scientific botanical illustrations. Here she shows us
how to do it, from the materials we need, to choosing a subject
where to work, drawing from life to using a micro and
working from pressed flowers. The book is packed full of
practical advice to help you achieve lifelike botanical paintings
and drawings. * Leisure Painter, The * August 2015 If you are an
admirer of those beautiful plates in books on botany then here is
a book that shows you how to produce them. The author is a
celebrated botanical artist at Kew and has submitted work to
Curtis's Botanical Magazine. I am used to books on art talking
about using "artistic license" and your imagination to produce
works that hold up a mirror to the real world, but do not exactly
reflect it. In this book s are copied exactly and are
scientific illustrations as much as they are "art" in the purest
sense. This is not a book for the novice painter, but rather for
somebody who is proficient in their chosen field and wants to try
their hand at botanical illustration. Several types of paint are
looked at, including watercolors, pen and ink and pencils and a
suggested palette is given, along with suggestions for brands.
There are sections on deciding what materials to use, choosing a
subject and working from life, as well as working with a hand
lens or micro, correcting mistakes and what not to do if you
want to be a good botanical illustrator (rather than just an
artist). Full review can be found at: http://myshelf.com *
Myshelf.com * October 2015 This is not the first book to have the
imprimatur of Kew, but they have high standards, so it's not only
worthwhile, but hard to achieve. This is botanical illustration
at the highest level. Christabel King is not just the
practitioner in the field but one of those selected to work at
Kew itself. This is flower painting for the purpose of
identification and the results will be used and trusted by
botanists the world over. Such work is not for including advice
on the use of a micro, preserving specimens and observing
spots and markings. The instruction as a result, is of the
highest quality. * The Artist * This, as far as botanical
illustration is concerned, is pretty much the s of stone,
the Authorised Version. Kew do not hand out their imprimatur
lightly and want to approve every stage of the production. If
they sign off, it's a guarantee that everything is absolutely
right. Having a book like this, and having Kew in the title, is
therefore quite a coup, especially for an independent publisher.
On top of that, Christabel King is one of a very select band of
illustrators who works at Kew itself and can therefore be
regarded as absolutely top flight. I really can't emphasise too
much how good this is getting. Botanical illustration at this
level is respected and used by botanists around the world for
identification purposes. The work produced is better than
photography as, rather than show an individual example of a
specimen, it can create a typical one, with all the likely
characteristics included. As well as a section on using a
micro, there is also advice on preserving specimens and
showing spots and markings. At this level, detail is everything
and it gets very minute indeed. For all this technicality, the
book is surprisingly accessible. I don't mean for a moment that
the casual reader will become a fully-fledged professional as
soon as they've read it but, if this kind of work interests you,
you won't feel swamped. There's a nice sense of progression to
the chapters and Christabel explains everything clearly and,
above all, with worked examples. If you do get serious, the
chapter on Curtis's Botanical Magazine, with sample pages and a
template for laying out a plate, will give you an idea of what to
for. Despite the weight of its authority, this is not a book
solely for the expert, but is accessible to anyone who is
reasonably serious about flower painting. You may never reach its
dizzy heights, but you'll enjoy the journey and the attempt. *
Artbookreview.net * March 2018 This is a very comprehensive book,
full of details of how to get started, the materials you will
need for both drawing and painting, the best techniques to use
and packed with beautiful inspiring paintings and drawings. * Hot
Brands, Cool Places *
About the Author
----------------
Kew's chief botanical artist, and one of Kew's elite
band of practitioners, Christabel King has been working as an
illustrator at Kew for 40 years. In 1975 she began painting for
their prestigious Curtis's Botanical Magazine (the longest
running botanical magazine - first edition 1787), after achieving
a degree in botany and scientific illustration. She runs
successful workshops and courses at Kew and is highly skilled and
accled for her work. This will be her first book.
