Even though this book wasn't what I expected, I love it in it's own way. Instead of some general information about making illustrations followed by tutorials, I got something more in depth and professional and without tutorials.

The first chapter surprised me more: the history of botanical illustration. I don't believe there was enough of this information in other art books I've worked though to include a dedicated chapter. Fascinatingly, at a time when I have been pondering why I know of more female chemists and physicists than biologists, this chapter mention as many women botanical illustrators as men! I'm not sure if that was intentionally skewed because the author is female and personally preferred those individuals, or if there were that many of them.

Women include Elizabeth Blackwell; Mary Delaney; not an illustrator but patron, Margaret Cavendish Holles Harley, Duchess of Portland; Augusta Withers; Sarah Anne Drake; Beatrix Potter, indeed the one and only author of Peter Cottontail; Armitt sisters Sophia, Annie Maria, and Mary Louisa.

Chapter 2 was a proper botany primer. I had the chance to rehash terms I had forgotten from anatomical parts to those describing natural history and growth processes.

Chapter 4 was about preparing samples. This is something I'll have to reread when the time comes, because there's a lot to learn about collecting samples, storing them, making them last the drawing and painting process, and how to time for the best bloom. These kinds of things are merely generalized in other plant drawing books I've read so far, and another reason why this book feels more serious and professional.

For the rest of the book the author focuses on the actual art process. Not sure how to make a white flower pop on a white page? One particular part of the plant giving you trouble? Want to showcase your work and don't know how to network with the botanical illustration world? There's enough advice for a lot of things that I'll have to reference when the time comes. For now, I'm practicing the examples she used for tonal studies.

Botanical Illustration was a good read and for inspiration. I appreciate how it was designed like a crash course for someone serious in botanical illustration. I also can't complain about the visuals, which are frequent and large enough to make the book a good living room table top book for all to browse. ( )