References for Scientific Illustrators

About Using Art Materials and Techniques

The Artist's Handbook of Materials and Techniques
by Ralph Mayer, Steven Sheehan

A very thorough book, The Artist's Handbook is the bible of information about artists' materials and how to use them.

Art of the Pencil: A Revolutionary Look at Drawing, Painting, and the Pencil
by Sherry Wallerstein Camhy

From Ingram:
"Based on the premise that the realms of drawing and painting overlap, this book focuses on how pencil art can produce many painterly tonal and textural effects. Drawing materials and techniques used are reviewed extensively. Included are graphite carbon, and charcoal; water-soluble, erasable, and other colored pencils; and pastels, crayons, and other chalk- and wax-based media. 200 illustrations, 100 in color."

The Big Book of Painting Nature in Watercolor
by Ferdinand Petrie, John Shaw (Photographer)

From Ingram:
"Here, in one paperback, are 135 self-contained lessons from three highly successful volumes by this artist-photographer team: The Watercolorist's Guide To Painting Water, The Watercolorist's Guide To Painting Trees, and The Watercolorist's Guide To Painting Skies."

Chinese Painting Techniques for Exquisite Watercolors
by Lian Quan Zhen

Drawing Realistic Textures in Pencil
by J. D. Hillberry