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Western Libraries

Botanical Illustration Resources: Technical Resources

A Selected Bibliography created for the 1999 Northwest Botanical Illustration Symposium (updated frequently) Compiled by Julene Sodt, of the Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA

Technical Resources

Illustrating Science: Standards for Publication. Bethesda, Maryland: Council of Biology Editors, 1988. (Q 222 .C68 1988)
        For the editor, author, publisher, illustrator, or production manager who must create, publish, or print scientific illustrations. It presents specific standards and guidelines for publication of illustrated scientific material and includes examples from all the life sciences. More than 120 illustrations, 32 in full color. 308 pages.

The Guild Handbook of Scientific Illustration. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1989. (Q 222 .C85 1989 Oversize)
        This is a Guild of Natural Science Illustrators sponsored publication with over 600 illustrations in black-and-white and color. This book promotes the techniques and philosophy needed to produce natural science illustration. Art materials, rendering techniques, specimen and equipment handling are all discussed in detail. 575 pages.

Jastrezebaki, Zbigniew T. Scientific Illustration: A Guide for the Beginning Artist. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1986. 319 pages.

Nickelsen, Kärin. The Construction of Eighteenth-Century Botanical Illustrations. Series: Archimedes , Vol. 15.

Papp, Charles S. Manual of Scientific Illustration. Sacramento, California: American Visual Aid Books, 1976. (Q222.P38 1976)
        A classic work by a professional illustrator and instructor. 336 pages.

Wood, Phyllis. Scientific Illustration: a Guide to Biological, Zoological, and Medical Rendering Techniques, Design, Printing, and Display. 2nd ed. John Wiley & Sons, 1994. (QH 318 .W66)
        A guide to the materials, methods, principles, and practice of creating medical, biological, and zoological illustrations than combine scientific accuracy with aesthetic appeal. Techniques covered include pen and ink, continuous tone wash, carbon dust, pencil, color pencil, watercolor, airbrush and sketching animals and plants in the field. The second edition reviews the computer graphics technology currently in use. 158 pages.

Zweifel, Frances. W. A Handbook of Biological Illustration. 2 nd ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1988. (QH 318 .Z97 1988)
        The intention of this book is to help the non-artist biologist produce useful illustrations. An emphasis is placed on black and white drawings, the most commonly used form of biological illustration. 137 pages.