"The Insect Artist: How to Observe, Draw, and Paint Butterflies, Bees, and More" by Zebith Stacy Thalden is a gem of a book that beckons readers into the enchanting world of entomological artistry. Thalden, an accomplished artist and naturalist, serves as a knowledgeable guide, offering a comprehensive yet accessible roadmap for aspiring insect artists.

At its core, "The Insect Artist" is both a manual and a celebration of the intricate beauty of insects. Thalden's passion for her subject matter shines through on every page as she gives great advice on observing, sketching, and painting a diverse array of insect species. Whether you're a seasoned artist or a beginner, Thalden's clear and concise instructions are sure to give confidence and creativity.

One of the book's standout features is its emphasis on the importance of careful observation. Thalden encourages readers to cultivate a keen eye for detail, urging them to study insects in their natural habitats and capture their essence with precision and authenticity. Through step-by-step demonstrations and insightful tips, she simplifies the process of insect illustration, empowering readers to translate their observations into captivating works of art.

The book is full of stunning illustrations that serve as both inspiration and instruction. Thalden's own artwork is breathtaking in detail, showcasing the immense beauty of the insect world. From the iridescent wings of butterflies to the intricate patterns of beetles, her illustrations capture the essence of each species with incredible accuracy and grace.

In addition to practical techniques, Thalden provides readers with a wealth of fascinating insights into the biology and behavior of insects. By deepening their understanding of insect anatomy and ecology, she enables artists to imbue their illustrations with a sense of scientific accuracy and authenticity. This interdisciplinary approach not only enriches the artistic process but also fosters a deeper appreciation for the natural world.

Book Review: The Insect Artist: How to Observe, Draw, and Paint Butterflies, Bees, and More by Zebith Stacy Thalden

Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you're seeking a delightful blend of artistry and nature, "The Insect Artist" by Zebith Stacy Thalden is a must-have addition to your collection. This book serves as a vibrant guide for budding artists and nature enthusiasts alike, offering step-by-step instructions on drawing and painting fifteen fascinating insects, from ladybugs to butterflies.

Thalden's expertise shines through as she expertly breaks down the process of observing, drawing, and painting these creatures in a way that is accessible to beginners and engaging for more experienced artists. The progression of lessons from basic shapes to intricate details ensures a gradual skill development that keeps readers motivated throughout their artistic journey.

What sets "The Insect Artist" apart is its thoughtful design and presentation. The visually stunning graphics and abundant photos not only inspire creativity but also serve as practical guides for replicating the techniques demonstrated in the book. Additionally, the inclusion of comprehensive supply lists before each project streamlines the preparation process, making it effortless for readers to gather the necessary materials and dive into their artwork.

Beyond its instructional value, "The Insect Artist" fosters a deeper connection with nature through nature-based projects and outdoor explorations. Thalden's emphasis on anatomical accuracy and detailed illustration underscores the importance of observation in art, encouraging readers to appreciate the beauty and intricacies of the natural world.

In conclusion, "The Insect Artist" is a gem of a book that not only educates but also inspires creativity and a profound appreciation for nature. Whether you're a budding artist, a nature lover, or simply in search of a new creative outlet, this book is a perfect companion. With its user-friendly approach and captivating content, it's sure to delight both beginners and seasoned artists alike.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

The Insect Artist by Zebith Stacy Thalden is a wonderful home study course which takes the artist from foundational to advanced studies of insects in a vareity of mediums and styles

The book is presented in a concise and immersive way, with a shopping list, hints and tips and step by step guidance that is easy to follow. It also describes the benefits of nature journalling, sketching and bringing the outdoors indoors

A really delightful guide

Thank you very much to Netgalley, Timber Publishing and the very talented author Zebith Stacy Thalden for this beautiful ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

At times I feel that some art instructions are better by video and I’m afraid this was one of those cases. As a visual learner, I was rather disappointed that the step-by-step photos were rather hard to see and figure out as there were not focused on the detailed work and were taken rather far away. Perhaps diagrams and line drawings would have worked better.

Still, more experienced artists may have little difficulty going by the instructions in text. It’s a beautiful book and the artist is more than competent.

3 stars.

The Insect Artist is a “home-study course” that can definitely offer beginners all the fundamentals of illustrating insects, but also I think has something to offer artists at any level.

I appreciated the sections before the projects which focused on how to approach the creative process, tools, and techniques, and even preserving your work. The topics covered there create a solid foundation before even beginning the projects. The chapters are ordered nicely, and as the book’s description notes, build on each other in terms of difficulty and skill proficiency. They cover everything from being able to measure accurately to creating textures and depth. The projects work in three phases, and I enjoyed the approach used. There are plenty of illustrations to guide the artist, and the projects are actually visually interesting and ones I actually wanted to create and would display.

In addition to the projects I really enjoyed the “nature break” activities included within. The book also contains the reference images used for each project as well as alternate poses, so I think you could easily replicate these projects with either the additional reference photos or your own observations in order to really master the skills or make the projects your own.

This is a really lovely book, and it would make a great gift for any artist, especially those new to insect illustration.

*Thank you to NetGalley, Timber Press, and Zebith S. Thalden for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review!*

A complex book for the experienced artist. The art is beautiful, but would be very hard to achieve. The most useful part of the book to me were the back reference photos.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

This book gives very detailed instructions for drawing/painting various insects using colored pencils and acrylic paint. I don't think my art skills are good enough to recreate these pieces, but this book gives me some encouragement to try. The artwork is really nice, and the photo references are included, which I thought was helpful.

Beautiful book! Great instruction for drawing and painting these insects, and it can be attempted by any skill level. The authors passion for nature shines through, you not only get the art lesson but information on that insect and prompts to just take in your surroundings prior to jumping into a project. Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC.

What I loved most about this book is that it includes all media, so you're not forced to just do coloured pencils or water colours or whatever. You can use any medium you want. I'd also say that it is accessible for beginners and intermediate artists, who want to explore the amazing world of insects. The layout is easy to follow and I love the attention to detail like the the colour and material lists at the beginning of each project. The author goes through different techniques in different mediums. The explanations are in my opinion easy to follow, but of course it's always nicer to see it done in real life or video.

A great addition to any artist library and lots of inspiration and ideas for projects.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. 5 out of 5 stars, because I couldn't find any issues with it. Beautifully made workbook!

This is an amazingly thorough, excellent guide to drawing and painting all kinds of insects. It’s full of photos and step by step instructions that are incredibly detailed. Well recommended.

I read a temporary digital version of this book for review.

This must have been the most amazing and informative drawing book I've read and seen this year so far. The intricate details when it comes to drawing these nature's beauties were just breathtaking. Made me want to get back into drawing all over again. Thank you netgalley for the ARC

If you like the Lilliput world of insects and like drawing and painting, this volume will be very useful. First an accurate pencil drawing, then acrylic paint, to finish with coloured pencils. Progressively more complex (three levels of difficulty, from foundation to advanced). Popular subjects like ladybug, bumblebee, butterfly and others. A lot of useful information on how to observe, tools and techniques, very detailed step by step tutorials. Too much text for my taste (having experience I have no patience to read it all), but a beginner might need all the information. Richly illustrated.

The Insect Artist: How to Observe, Draw, and Paint Butterflies, Bees, and More is a new tutorial guide with additional activities by Zebith Thalden. Due out 12th March 2024 from Hachette on their Timber Press imprint, it's 344 pages and format information is unclear from the publisher's data at the current time; but at least paperback and ebook formats will be included.

This is a very well written and beautifully illustrated guide to gaining skill and familiarity with surface rendering, shading, concept, linework, and finishing, all as they relate to realistic natural and insect subjects. The tutorials are written accessibly and encouragingly and include a wonderful amount of clarity from the author's viewpoint about creative process, design, and important lessons about subject choice, inspiration, shading, materials, and knowing when to stop overworking a project.

There are many tutorials included which utilize basic techniques such as geometric base shape sketching, blocking, shading, base working with colored pencils, blocking with dilute acrylics, and finishing by overlaying colored pencil for detail and line/shading. The drawing tutorials are species specific and tutorials include a base palette, materials and supplies, and very detailed photographic step by step procedure.

Although it's written one-on-one for home study use, this would be a great choice for public or school library acquisition, maker's groups, artist studio reference library, and gift-giving (perhaps bundled with some supplies).

Five stars. Well made and engaging.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Love this book, I have always found insects intriguing, such tiny creatures who can or no be beneficial to our outside space. This book covers butterflies, beetles, and lady bugs to name just a few.. The instructions and information is well written, and demonstrated to actually make the insect come alive.. All information on brushes, medium, and layering and material is very helpful and easy to understand. Thanks you NetGalley and the publishers for the DR

A fine book concerning art and technique, using insects to demonstrate the concepts discussed. Zebith discusses materials, tools, processes (three stages, drawing, painting and layering with color pencils). The book is divided into three levels representing basic, advance and expert skills. The importance of sketching, observation at each demonstration as well as the importance of learning composition, shadows and highlights, color interaction, shapes and transparency is stressed throughout the book.

I recommend that you buy and learn.

This book was a beautiful work of art in its own right; however, the techniques presented were more advanced than a novice artist. The book was detailed and explained in depth how to achieve said artistic approaches. I found the images comforting, even though this book was out of my league.

As an artist, this was a great instructional guide that I felt would do well for beginners who have fundamentals down with shapes, hand-to-eye measurement, a basic visual library etc. It would work really well for almost anyone who wants to get into drawing some of my favorite creatures - insects! Something that usually has no tutorials and forces people to improvise, with it this was made super super easy and I appreciated finally being walked through the basics. It would be great for ALL ages, and is also super informative about anatomy which has an added educational bonus.

The Insect Artist is a beautiful art book. The instructions for completing the drawings are very detailed, and there is great variety in the animals chosen to draw. Where I think this book falls slightly short for me are that it is also very limiting - exact colours are given to use, leaving little flexibility nor helping people learn how to mix for the shades needed. As this book does suggest it could be a beginners book, I think it is a real shame that specific shades were given, meaning people may end up spending more money than they need to buying individual tubes, rather than palettes that beginners tend to start up with.
As someone who is early on in learning to draw, it does feel a bit intimidating to begin with.

The Insect Artist : How to Observe, Draw, and Paint Butterflies, Bees, and More. This is a beautiful instruction book on illustration and life like drawings of insects for the nature and insect loving artists out there. The pictures and photography are superb, and the instructions are step by step and easy to follow, making it suitable for beginners and all levels of artist. The skills are transferrable to include many other insects, once the basics are mastered. This would make a great gift book.

This book is great whether you want to draw bugs or anything else. The tips and tools included will help all artists. It is explained so clearly, with clear steps. The images included are so beautiful. I will definitely use parts of this in my art class room.