Book Description

Look over the shoulders of professional artists on location and be inspired in your own watercolour painting. Rediscover the value of sketching and learn about the different attitudes and approaches of ten experienced flower artists. Capture the changing seasons and the characteristics of each species. Explore your own style and record the beauty of flowers in delicate and translucent watercolour. This beautiful book features the work of ten leading international flower artists, led by Julia Rowntree, who also writes the introductory section. These artists generously open their sketchbooks to the reader, share their insights, and describe their methods and materials. The author describes what has inspired her to keep sketchbooks throughout the last twenty years, and she charts her artistic progress and development, from her art student days to the sketchbooks she uses today. A fascinating insight into the workings of a professional artist as revealed through her sketchbooks. Includes tips on finding your subject, coping with changing light and conditions, colour matching flowers, and advice on techniques such as brushwork, blending and building tone. Other tips and techniques include: Skills and logistics of keeping a sketchbook: * Learning to make decisions quickly * The art of the fast line * Shorthand sketches Keeping a materials kit, including; * Absorbent material such as paper towel or tissue * Small watercolour box * Various brushes, putty, scalpel, pencils, sketchbooks with different kinds of paper Techniques * Broken colour, blending, wet-on-dry, brush marks, glazing, dry brush, highlights, corrections.