Wendy- I just wanted to tell you that until I read and followed your botanical illustration book, I was one of those people who always WISHED they could draw, but couldn't draw to save my life. I did every exercise in your book, (Botanical Drawing in Color) and now I can draw! I still have a long way to go, but I feel like you turned a non-artist into a potential artist after 50 years of being a non-artist! I just wanted to thank you for that.
But, truly, you are the person who taught me to draw. And, I have bought a lot of other books since then and none of them teach you, they skip too many steps.

Julee Meltzer

"You are a very good teacher. Your words are as descriptive as your art work!

Alice Rotondi, student May 14, 2011

Hi Wendy,

I am trying to learn botanical art on my own (no lessons in my area). I've struggled for about a year..I purchased your book when it first came out and briefly looked through it. I then put it away for a time when I was ready to learn "colored pencils".

Lately, I've been really struggling with drawing. Never had an art lesson. I've been so frustrated. A friend suggested I take a look at your book. I realized that your book is more about drawing than colored pencils and it is absolutely wonderful!!! I am now so excited to work through your book and learn the basic foundations of flower drawing. You explain everything so well!

I just wanted to thank you for writing such an amazing book!

Debbie Crawford

This is a book that many of us who do Botanical Illustration in colored pencil have been waiting for- a real workbook for the pencil artist. Wendy is an experienced teacher and provides simple, clear lessons not only on colored pencil techniques but on basic nature drawing and creating form. There is also a good section on color theory. The book is packed with delicious colored illustrations of a variety of plants and fruits some wonderfully exotic. I was inspired by her section on dissections and creating compositions showing the reproductive parts of plants. The book is a great teaching tool with lots of step by step exercises. It is definitely very inspiring for the beginning artist and the experienced painter.

Nina Antze

I fell in love with botanical drawing in colored pencil when I discovered Wendy Hollender's article "City in Bloom" in the September 2009 issue of The Artist's magazine. Then I simply had to have her earlier book "Botanical Drawing." I am a volunteer at The NY Botanical Gardens, and an art student with a thirst for "how to" instruction on the transformation of living botanicals into works of art. In this regard Ms. Hollender's "Botanical Drawing in Color" is a must have! The drawing illustrations and techniques she shares with the readers make the reproduction of the botanicals seem possible even for students new to botanical art. Each of the book's pictured botanicals appears to have a personality of its own. The artist talented enough to capture this personality on paper ultimately produces colorful botanical portraits. The myriad drawing techniques sprinkled throughout this book unfold for the readers like a child's pop-up book...splashed with vibrant color and realism. It is a delightful book that will appeal to artists of all levels, or simply the reader with a deep love and passion for nature.

Jeanne P Stano

This is an excellent book on the basics of botanical drawing that is inspiring for beginners and contains good reminders for those with more experience. I particularly like the thoughts about the process of making botanical art and the importance of sketching/drawing from life. While the author's drawing style is 'looser' than what might be typically seen in botanical art, it is still based on observation and accuracy and seems especially encouraging for the beginning botanical artist.

baholmer