BOTANICAL ILLUSTRATION - COPPICE AGROFORESTRY
Botanical illustration bringing the science of coppice agroforestry to life.
This botanical illustration project brought Coppice Agroforestry: Tending Trees for Products, Profit and Woodland Ecology, by Mark Krawczyk, to life. Over four months, I collaborated closely with the author to visually represent the book’s core concepts across more than 60 technical illustrations. The challenge: create clear, informative artwork — in grayscale and black and white, within a limited size format — to showcase the biology of woody plants and the intricacies of coppice agroforestry practices. This involved illustrating unprecedented elements like branch and stem growth patterns, requiring collaboration with other biologists to ensure accuracy. Working on a tight schedule with the publisher, New Society Publishers, demanded efficiency and a focus on clear communication within a limited visual space.
Curious about the book itself? Visit Coppice Agroforestry to learn more. This kind of technical botanical illustration is one part of the illustration and branding services I offer.
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client
mark krawczyk
date
January 2022
categorie
book illustration
Review
"This book would not be what it has become without the remarkable talents of my close friend and colleague William Bode. He is responsible for creating all of this book’s illustrations. I thoroughly enjoyed our back and forth for the last four months of this project. Your ability to turn ideas and concepts into beautiful clear graphics left me proud and deeply impressed. I am so grateful for our friendship and the parallel paths we've followed over the past decade and beyond. I am so astonished by your artistic skill, your patient listening, the open, understanding way you respond to comments and accept feedback, and the beautiful simplicity of the lives you and Corinne lead. I hope this is just another step in many more collaborations and that readers fully appreciate the elegant clarity of the works of art you've contributed."
Questions About This Project
What's involved in illustrating a technical book?
Close, ongoing collaboration with the author — for Coppice Agroforestry, that meant four months of back-and-forth to make sure every illustration was both visually clear and scientifically accurate, sometimes working directly with biologists to get growth patterns right.
Do technical illustrations need to be in color?
Not always — this project required grayscale and black-and-white artwork within a limited size format, since that’s what worked for the book’s print layout and budget.
Can botanical illustration work alongside a publisher's schedule?
Yes — this project was completed on a tight timeline set by New Society Publishers, which meant staying efficient without sacrificing the clarity each illustration needed to carry on its own.