Price is in Canadian dollars. Approximate current equivalents: USD11.00; GBP8.50; EUR10.00; AUD16.00; SAR195.00

There’s much more to botanical art than art—there’s all the other stuff.

For this “survival guide” Michael has drawn on the experience gained from his years of life with a botanical artist and presented it with humour, insights, and anecdotes. He writes non-fiction in an informative and entertaining style.

Whether you’re a botanical artist or someone sharing life with a botanical artist, the topics are bound to prove helpful. They’re delivered as roles that deal with the peripheral activities necessary for, and supportive of, botanical art.

For instance, the various and diverse roles include specimen hunter, pest controller, caterer, housekeeper, handyman, business advisor, editor, beast of burden, exhibition analyst, and therapist, to name just a few. In short, it’s about wearing many hats.

“Michael’s guide strikes a delightful balance between light-hearted humour—often poking fun at his role in artist support—and nuggets of hard-won wisdom from many years in the art world. These insights alone are worth noting. Each section comes alive with anecdotes and stories that readers will recognize and relate to, and I guarantee you will walk away with a deeper appreciation for either the craft of botanical art or the behind-the-scenes world of artist support. For the tidbits of hard-earned knowledge Michael shares, this booklet is well worth the read.”

• Alex Hazlewood (sharing life with a botanical artist)