Amazon.com.au:Customer reviews: The Modern Flower Painter: Creating vibrant botanical portraits in watercolour

A lovely book with lots of educational and interesting tips for Anna's techniques. In fact, she is very generous information-wise. I teach watercolour painting as a well known Art College, and I found the ideas innovative and enlarging to my repertoire of the types of projects I can set students.
I do love Anna's big flower paintings, they are marvellous in theur own way. However, if you are a watercolourist rather than a botanical watercolourist, do be aware that the techniques of application are limited to a particular method, very controlled and neat. In particular, the method of applying paint, is more like 'drawing' with paint, rather than allowing the free flowing of colour to describe the form, colour is applied in short strokes which are gradually built up. The backgrounds are always white, in keeping with the style of botanical illustration and are rather like photographic iterations of flowers etc. However, I like the apparent simplicity of the technique and the method of applying a dark tone every now and then to allow the eye to see the mid tones.It is skillful.
I really love this book, I like Anna and the fact she has presented and marketed her work so well. Just be aware that watercolour can also flow and run to describe form which is equally magical and maybe a bit more expressive. I teach both a tight method and a loose expressive style which is more my own. I find Anna's way is great for those times when you just want to lose yourself in a painting which you build up in layers... kind of mistake proof. However, I do skip on a bit and use stronger and bolder tints much earlier and mix some of the methods in with my own style. Also. I paint from life, rather than photos, I love painting from life and interacting with fruit or flowers, and I only use a photo if I really cannot finish in one sitting. I also paint shadows and backgrounds, I am not convinced that it is always better for a subject to float on white paper, although it does look very stylish and is totally in keeping with the botanical arts.

36 people found this helpful

Holly

Brilliant

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 July 2018

Verified Purchase

I really like this book for the step by step projects to try. It really got me into the mindset of 'layer' and mindful of what mixes make what colour.

Now I have followed a few projects its given me the patience to try a piece on my own with my own subject.

One side note I would want is maybe more projects in the book like some veg or diferent flowers and leaves as I cant really afford the £15 a month on her website. Though now I have the jist from the book I may be ok?

13 people found this helpful

A great book from a great tutor

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 July 2021

Verified Purchase

The book is full of wonderful photos and clear instruction on how to complete projects. Is full of useful tips and insights into the problems affecting budding and accomplished artists. A treasure

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