Draw Like an Artist: 100 Flowers and Plants by Melissa Washburn (Quarry Books, June 2019) is the latest release in a new series designed for those of us who wish to develop our realistic drawing skills. Each book in the series has two taglines, “A Sourcebook for Aspiring Artists and Designers,” and “Step-by-Step Realistic Line Drawing,” and both are right on target in the case of 100 Flowers and Plants.
* Complimentary book received for review. This post contains affiliate links.
Aside from the introductory section with its very helpful and understandable discussion of techniques and tips for how to construct realistic pencil drawings of different types of plants, this is really more of a guidebook than an instruction book. In fact, the only text in the main part of the book is in the margins, simply naming the plant being depicted on that particular page. This book is described as a “visual reference book,” which makes perfect sense to me, since drawing is a visual medium. On each page, you’ll find six or more drawings of a specific plant, moving step by step from a basic starting shape to a detailed, complete line drawing of the plant.
The main part of 100 Flowers and Plants is divided into three sections, Flowers and Flowering Plants (e.g., Daisy, Strawberry, Iris, and Rose), Vines, Leaves, and Trees (e.g., Maple, English Ivy, Birch, and Dogwood), and Other Plants (e.g., Christmas Cactus, Bamboo, Hosta, and Parsley). Melissa Washburn has an amazing talent for recognizing the fundamental shapes and textures of her subject and then capturing those essentials with her pencil, but beyond that, she breaks down her process in such a way that even beginners can follow right along with her to produce recognizable, realistic drawings.
To see more of Melissa’s artwork, visit her website. Much of her illustration and design work is inspired by nature, and her appreciation of the natural world is clear. In addition to Draw Like an Artist: 100 Flowers and Plants, she is also the author of another book in the series, 100 Realistic Animals, scheduled for release later this year.
I also wanted to tell you about the publisher, Quarry Books, but they describe themselves better than I can: “Dedicated to providing instruction and inspiration to creative makers everywhere, Quarry Books offers authoritative, beautifully designed and illustrated inspiration and reference books for a wide range of enthusiasts including artists, illustrators, crafters, and cooks on subjects ranging from beekeeping and bread making to dog training and doll making.”
* This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, we may or may not receive a small commission which helps to support this site. Thank you!
Giveaway: One lucky winner is going to win a copy of Draw Like an Artist: 100 Flowers and Plants thanks to Quarry Books, an imprint of the Quarto Publishing Group.
Giveaway Details: This giveaway is open to residents of the US ONLY age 18 and over. Please read our Terms of Service & Disclaimer Policy before entering. This giveaway will close on June 24th, 2019 at 11:59 pm EST time. No purchase necessary to enter or win.
Disclaimer: A. Bailey received a complimentary product for review purposes & feature on The Classy Chics blog. No monetary compensation was received. A. Bailey’s thoughts, opinions and words are 100% her own. Your thoughts may differ. Please read the blog’s terms of service policy before entering any giveaways. The Classy Chics are NOT responsible for prize fulfillment or shipping of any items won from this blog. This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through an affiliate link, we may or may not make a small commission which helps to support this website. Thank you!!!
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