Customer Reviews:
Flower painters bible.......2007-02-14
I first came across this book at our monthly flower painters class, and was so impressed with it I ordered it from Amazon straight away.It has become my Flower Painters Bible with good informative instruction on painting in stages and design. I often open the book for inspiration, and members of the class dive into it.
Review of Glorious Garden Flowers in Watercolor.......2007-01-12
This wonderful, beautiful book by Susan Harrison-Tustain was anticipated with great expectations. It did not disappoint. I have gone back and read, and re-read it all and passages that were of the most interest to me. Having begun a journey of painting watercolor florals, I attempted to get all the newest books about that. This one is one of the best I've ever seen. It seemed to surpass many of the older books that I have collected by far.
Cecilia Price
Techniques to Improve Your Floral Watercolors.......2007-01-10
This book provides the reader with practical tips on how to achieve real life floral watercolors. The author generously shares her techniques. There is enough basic information for the beginner to get value from this book. The more advanced watercolorist can improve their techniques. This book is excellent for the permanent library of a watercolorist.
Glorious Garden Folowers in Watercolour.......2000-04-01
I have always wanted to paint, specifically watercolours. I have have participated in classes but never really felt confident enough to move on. I purchased Susan Harrison-Tustain's book and was overwhelmed by the images I found within. Now I am working through the excercises and although previously my attempts were pretty rugged now they are not so rugged. I found the book so inspiring and easy to follow that my confidence has now improved greatly.
Harrison-Tustain/ Best flowers I've ever seen.......1999-12-23
When I show a friend Susan's book they can hardly believe it is in watercolor. Her flowers, leaves and backgrounds are exceptionally vivid and robust. There are a few step-by-steps in it but not enough for a beginner. I hope her next book will have more steps to each picture. I feel confident we will see more from her - if she's willing. This has inspired me more than any other watercolor book. And, I liked almost all the pictures in it enough to try myself, which is alot more than I can say for any other watercolor book I've ever found! Enjoy!
Book Description
This is simply the best and most complete course in botanical illustration ever produced, with each chapter a perfectly constructed and self-contained class. Created in conjunction with the internationally renowned Eden Project—home of the only jungle in captivity—it’s put together by two leading figures in the Project’s famed art school, and uses many beautiful works from its students. Artists and plant lovers will find a wealth of practical information, with easy-to-follow exercises and case studies. The priceless advice encompasses everything from honing observational skills and plant dissection procedures to color mixing and applying watercolor. Adding highlights, producing a pleasing composition, and developing a personal style—all the building blocks for achieving excellence are here.
Customer Reviews:
Botanical illustration.......2007-05-12
This is an in depth clear book about the process of botanical illustration. Well written and great pictures. Recommend highly!
Amazon.com
Award-winning artist Charles Reid wants his students to concentrate on three basic themes in his book Painting Flowers in Watercolor: "Keep it small. Keep it simple. Avoid overwashes." Economy is stressed throughout, as when Reid writes, "The fewer the strokes and the smaller the amount of color mixing, the fresher the painting." He explains how to get started with brushes, mixing paint, and the basics of composition and contour drawing, and provides exercises in these fundamentals. Reid then guides the watercolorist in painting fruit, vegetables, leaves, and flowers. He offers mini-demonstrations here, such as how to paint a bunch of carrots, an avocado, or slender leaf forms, and finishes with advanced, step-by-step demonstrations in composing still lifes with flowers. Experienced and beginning watercolorists will appreciate the wisdom in Reid's philosophy of "less is better." Somehow he manages to invest a bowl of yellow tulips and mixed flowers with a splashy, vibrant expressionism while expertly exploiting the blurry and translucent delicacy of the medium itself. --Mary Ribesky
Customer Reviews:
Patricia O.......2006-07-02
Looks great, haven't had time to read, but is similar to one he wrote (currently out of print) loaned to me by my art teacher.
Watercolour at its Best.......2005-07-20
I first met Charles Reid and his wife Judy in 1988 and it was the beginning of an endless learning process ever since. I have learnt so much about watercolour from his books over the years since then. Charles' books are amazing in that he holds nothing back and just discloses all his knowledge in a wonderful style that is easy to learn from. Invariably there are step by step demonstrations to illustrate his methods. Even if the reader doesn't particularly like his style but would rather paint in a more classic sense with lots of glazes and so forth you will still learn so much about how the colours interact with water and on the paper. Charles' workshops are a great delight and if you are fortunate to attend one you will find that he is a friendly man of great warmth and charm which is reflected in his books.
Fun and Skill-Improvement Are Possible!.......2001-12-25
I discovered Charles Reid at my local library and was smitten with his loose, colorful, gorgeous pictures. This book is a clear, helpful guide to making juicy watercolors of still lifes that sing with color. He has practical tips on brushwork, contour drawing and composition that are easy to follow and clearly explained. He also has step-by-step instructions for several of his pictures that show you how he goes about making his own pictures (often from everyday objects and flowers on his kitchen counter). I'm fairly new to watercolors and I found this book invaluable to improving my pictures and getting me to loosen up and feel creative and find beauty in simple objects.
Indispensable to the serious watercolorist.......2001-06-27
I wish I had had this book years ago. It contains exercises to enable the reader/student to experience and learn direct painting techniques that bring freshness, spontaneity, bright vivid color and realism to one's paintings--inspite of an "untidy" style. If you're serious about watercolor, Reid can take you where you really should go. Reid embodies the principles of the best of watercolor and painting teaching of the past (particularly Hawthorne, Henri, Manet). He puts it all together into what I call a meditative painting style (stroke on color and pause to consider, then soften, add other color wet-in-wet, and so on. Doing the exercises in this book can revolutionize your painting and will, at the very least, bring immediate and important improvements to your technique and approach to watercolor. If you like Reid's paintings--flower, figures, portraits, etc., do yourself a favor--get the book and the two corresponding videos.
Great book to help you "loosen up" in your painting style!.......2001-06-07
I have just purchased this book, as well as 2 instructional videos by Charles Reid. I would highly recommend the set to anyone who needs to "loosen up" his or her painting style. He shows you how to get the color right with a minimal amount of strokes, and how to keep from overworking a painting. He is an excellent instructor and author. You won't be disappointed!
Book Description
Flowers are an ideal subject for painters. They can be chosen to suit one's mood and arranged however desired. Even a garden of modest size can offer a profusion of subject matter. And watercolor is the ideal medium for painting flowers. This unique watercolor artist's guide offers easy to follow, plant specific information on how to paint over 50 of the most popular flower species. Along with step by step photographs, details and instructions for capturing the essence of each flower, the book includes information on the appropriate techniques and color mixes to use.
Customer Reviews:
Painting Flowers.......2007-06-08
I found this book to be very helpful in painting flowers with watercolors. Being new to the medium, this is a very valuable reference.
Adelene Fletcher is a true teacher!.......2007-05-12
Not all artists can teach, but Adelene Fletcher is definitely a teacher. One thing I like about this book is she tells you all the colours you will need to do each flower in the book, and then gives you some very good instructions in painting them. I have done the first two flowers in the book and thoroughly enjoyed her method of teaching. I am now looking to buy her Trees and Foliage A-Z book but Amazon cannot get it and the other suppliers I've looked at so far do not ship to Canada.
Flower Anatomy.......2007-04-06
This is a fabulous book for with accurate patterns for flowers & leaves & stems. However, ithe instructions are for oil & decorative painters. Watercolor painters can use it for patterns.
Best book for learning paint watercolour.......2006-12-12
This is a wonderful book. I have used it to learn flower painting with very good result. Now I send it to a friend, who has borrowed my book for so long time that she now feels guilty and wants one for herself.
The Watercolor Flower Painter's A to Z.......2006-08-25
I expect to enjoy this wonderful book for many years. It is the best instructional book on flowers I've purchased to date. It has easy to follow steps and photos to guide you along.
Book Description
This giant treasury of watercolor florals brings together a popular medium with a popular subject matter. With North Light's Big Book of Painting Watercolor Flowers, readers can:
* Paint all their favorite flowers in watercolor--everything from wild daffodils and gladiola to hollyhock and mums
* Brush up on the basics, including composition, wet-into-wet washes, mixing color and stretching watercolor paper
* Create finished pieces in no time with easy step-by-step demonstrations
Page after page of gorgeous artwork and clear instruction make this the perfect choice for artists of all levels. Painting flowers has never been easier!
Customer Reviews:
North Light's Big Book of Painting watercolor flowers.......2005-08-23
Very nice book,looked like a new book
nice book.......2005-04-15
Very instructive. Many different styles of painting demonstrated in a way easy to follow. Very well worth the money.
Book Description
It's hard to resist the beauty and simplicity of Jean Uhl Spicer's gorgeous floral paintings. In this book, she shares her secrets for clean, transparent color with the methods she's perfected during 15 years of teaching workshops.
Both beginning and intermediate painters will appreciate all the tips, tricks and techniques, including: -Color-mixing charts for clean, bright colors -Strategies for developing a great composition -Fun exercises for mastering shapes and negative painting -Complete step-by-step demonstrations for bright, bold florals -On every page, there's a strong emphasis on having fun. Readers are encouraged to get loose and creative within the good design boundaries set forth in the book.
Customer Reviews:
BRIGHT AND BEAUFIFUL FLOWERS IN WATERCOLOR.......2007-01-09
A BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN BOOK BY JEAN SPICER SHOWING EXQUISITELY COLORFUL ILLUSTRATIONS. MAKES A WONDERFUL GIFT FOR THAT BUDDING ARTIST FRIEND OR RELATION. I BOUGHT THIS FOR A DEAR FRIEND WHO LOVES COLOR. SHE WAS MOST PLEASED AND BEGAN PAINTING SOME OF THE EXAMPLES IMMEDIATELY.
great book and great instruction.......2006-07-06
this is a great watercolor how-to book. great demos and fabulous paintings. what a fabulous addition to my colection. any watercolorist would love this book!
Customer Reviews:
A great resource.......2003-08-19
I really don't think that any artist can survive with just one book on the shelf. This book is a great resource with beautiful step by step photographs. I recommend it to someone with a little experience and foundation. This book is not too intensive but also does not hold your hand at every step. A resource to add to your library. It helped me relax my style a bit.
Technical rendering...........2001-09-30
Ann Pember, author of PAINTING CLOSE-FOCUS FLOWERS IN WATERCOLOR has a BFA from the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston in fashion design and illustration. Before she became a free-lance illustrator, she worked as a commercial artist for many years. Photos in her book show the professional studio where she works. Technically, her work is nearly perfect. I don't particularly care for her rendering of her subject matter as it stikes me as too "commercial" and not very painterly at all, but much can be learned from her book if you have had no other exposure.
Ms. Pember's background in fashion design and illustration are apparent in her work. She takes the reader from photographs of flowers to watercolors of those photographed flowers in several steps. She reveals how the eye is attracted by asymetry (offsetting of the center) and the placement of elements; how backlighting and focused lighting affect the appearance of the subject; how surfaces and background affect the paint and matter in the execution of a watercolor. She spends some time addressing color, but Ms. Pember is not a colorist. She is more concerned with line and the arrangement of elements in a design.
The end result from my perspective are flowers that are somewhat overcontrolled, although she gives the unpracticed eye the exact opposite impression. In the end, her flowers are contrived and not original. The watercolorist can acquire some interesting tips for creating pleasing paintings, but if producing art for commercial purposes is not your goal you may find Pember's book less rewarding.
Capturing Flowers "Up-Close and Personal".......2000-09-08
I love looking at this book! For years I have been filing away myriads of floral photos with the hope that one day I might attempt to capture them in paint. I muse over these photos from time to time wondering just how a painter might do them justice. I need wonder no more. In Ann Pember's "Painting Close-Focus Flowers in Watercolor", she has been able to demonstrate a variety of step-by-fluid-step techniques to bring high drama to the world of simple blooms. Her close-ups of hollyhocks, gloxinias; and peonies float upon the pages which are jam-packed with carefully chosen, eye-pleasing colors. Thankfully, the vibrancy of Ms. Pember's palette has been well-reproduced in the printing process. There is so much valuable information packed into this book. One should read it from cover to cover initially to pick up all the helpful hints. What a wealth of knowledge Ms. Pember has shared with her readers including: preferences for specific papers, paints and brushes; how to avoid turning paints into "mud"; and my toughest assignment - how to see shapes and values as patterns; to mention a few. Ann Pember's close-up compositions are outstanding. Even if my attempts pale in comparison to this well-seasoned artist's, she is very encouraging. She reinforces the idea that given some degree of perseverence and practice, we too may develop our own means of capturing nature's beauties "up-close and personal".
Book Description
Anyone can learn these simple and fun methods for producing outstanding watercolor landscapes and flowers. One of the reasons that Roland's first book has been so popular (Fill Your Watercolors with Light & Color--over 65,000 copies sold) is that his techniques make watercolor fun and successful for a great number of otherwise frustrated artists.
Roland has a gift for simplifying the process of painting into a few readily understood steps. In this book, he expands the teaching of his pouring technique and goes into the underlying structure of a painting. He presents a unique way of teaching composition that will delight the reader. He then presents his three-step process of painting a landscape--masking to preserve the lights, pouring on the atmosphere and spattering the textures. Next, he shows two great techniques for painting flowers, a subject that does not appear in his first book. Also included is a chapter of fun experimental techniques that readers are sure to enjoy and another chapter that answers some frequently asked questions.
* Enables any artist to produce landscapes and flowers, two of the most popular painting subjects
* This author has a proven sales track record
Customer Reviews:
Fill Your Watercolor With Natures Light.......2007-05-25
Helpful well put together book, which encouraged trying new techniques
Great Service.......2006-08-10
It was a surprise when the book was delivered in a couple days, I had expected a week. It is in superb condition. Impressive seller and delivery.
Nice loose painting.......2003-08-19
This is a nice book for soft landscapes. However, I don't use it nearly as much as I thought I would. Check out the authors style first, and if you really like it...then the book is for you. I use some techniques, but the subject matter is a little soft for me. I didn't stay interested enought to use the lessons, but I did read it through and apply concepts to some of my own work.
These techniques are nothing short of fantastic!.......2001-12-24
I love these books by Roycraft. If you love painting landscape or natural subjects, you cannot go wrong reading this book. Roycraft's techniques look simple (a lot of splashing going on) but they are controlled and well thought out. If you love floral painting you should not miss his examples here of a peony and an iris. JUST Breathtaking. I picked up so many ideas from this book.
Not only are Roycraft's paintings beautiful to see, he knows how to communicate his techniques incredibly well. I'm glad I found this watercolor artist's books.
A power tool for watercolorists.......2001-08-09
Having read "enough" art technique books, I have learned that until one gets "down and dirty" trying out what is discussed in the book, then one does not actually spend the money wisely (on the book).
The same for this book. Beautiful artwork by the author. Did I say beautiful? No, BREATHTAKING, rather. However, to be able to generate beautiful artworks, the readers will need the following:
- An ability to SEE (light, dark, positive and negative space)
- Follow instructions from the book (which is PROBABLY the easy part, since it is rather well-written)
- A decent craftsmanship to finesse the final painting after the "mask and pour paints" phase of the process.
Briefly, I would think this is a power tool for watercolorists. How great the final products turn out to be will depend on the aforementioned factors.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Book Description
Learn how to paint exquisite flower portraits in watercolour, following Billy Showell's highly detailed, step-by-step instructions. Packed with stunning pictures and technical advice, this book is truly inspirational. Billy Showell's exquisite and technically brilliant watercolour flower portraits are beautifully presented in this highly informative, lavishly illustrated book. Packed with information on drawing and painting techniques, colour mixing and composition, it is an invaluable source of ideas and inspiration for anyone who wants to develop their flower painting skills, whether or not they have any previous experience.
Customer Reviews:
Surprise for Painter wife.......2007-04-11
My wife was thrilled with this book that was added to her resources. She has used it already.
It's all in the details.......2006-10-05
This book improves on many previous painting books by giving very specific step-by-step instructions. Each step is beautifully photographed and carefully explained. This makes it a must have for both the beginner and painter.
Billy's paintings bring a contemporary feel to botanical art. Her work is meticulous and detailed. The Artist's talks about all aspects of creating a painting including choosing paints, brushes and paper for the execution of your work. Her comments about composition and her approach to painting help guide you to develop your own approach.
I highly recommend this lovely book.
Book Description
This beloved artist and teacher shares her proven technique for painting vivid floral arrangements.
Helen Van Wyk's legacy lives on through her paintings. This guide reveals her secrets to painting flowers of all kinds in oil with easy-to-follow instructions and examples of her own work. Intricate floral anatomy is broken down into manageable shapes and lines that artists of any skill level can master.
Customer Reviews:
Painting Flowers the Van Wyk Way.......2007-04-02
Another great book from this author and painter. Again, a great variety of work and examples are shown, with excellent practical and easy to understand instructions.
Flower Painting.......2006-05-21
This book is really well organized in a step by step understanding on the basics of compostion, color mixing (the actual paint to obtain a certain color),color fundamentals, brushes, and background when painting flowers. If a person is new to painting, the basics are here. However, it does lack detailed step by step demonstrations that will guide a person from the start of a painting to the finish. Only brief general demontrations are in this book. If a person wants to know how to brush stroke a leaf, make a stem, and a pedal I would suggest in addition to using this book another book on brush stroke techniques. There are lots of beautiful paintings in this book. Just looking at the photos helped me to figure out the brush strokes but then I have some experience in painting, mostly portraits. Not having painting lots of flowers before, I wondered "do I start in the middle? or the outside of a flower?" I don't beleive it is mentioned in this book. I found in another book that I would start in the center when painting roses, and tulips are different, and so are poppies on where to begin. A rough outline on the sphere and anatomy of flowers is given in Helen's book which realy helps when painting.
exceptional book.......2000-06-10
As a lover of flowers and a painter I truly enjoyed this book. Readers will find a step by step guide into the world of painting and be guided into the specifics of painting flowers. Tha author gives a through and one of the most complete explanations of the basic components of a painting. Her explanations for the values Composition,Drawing, Motivation, Color, Harmony and Tone value are excellent and well worth the price of the book and make you feel part of an actual art class. Illustrations are magnificent and the authors personal experience and tips are nopt only helpful in the art of flower painting, amateur or professional, but become actual blessings. It is truly a book worth owning.
Books:
- Go Long!: My Journey Beyond the Game and the Fame
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Books Index
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General
| Instructional & How-To
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Paint Watercolors That Dance With Light
The Watercolor Flower Painter's A to Z: An Illustrated Directory of Techniques for Painting 50 Popular Flowers
Vibrant Flowers in Watercolor
North Light's Big Book of Painting Watercolor Flowers
Flowers: Wonders of Nature in Watercolor
