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The Modern Flower Painter: A Guide to Creating Vibrant Botanical Portraits in Watercolour
Anna Mason's exceptional floral artwork has won awards from the Royal Horticultural Society, International Artist magazine and seen her elected to the prestigious Society of Botanical Artists. In this book, she shares her innovative watercolour technique so that you can paint flowers in her clean, crisp style.
The book covers every aspect of painting modern botanical-style portraits of flowers, from tips on gathering your reference to Anna's six stage watercolour process. There are instructions on setting up your studio and how to produce the detailed drawings. Each of the six step-by-step projects is accompanied by an outline drawing, tonal notes and useful colour swatches so that you can compare the tone and hue of your mixes to Anna's own. This all builds into a fantastic guide that will inspire and challenge the experienced watercolour artist, while drawing in and reassuring the complete beginner.
The book covers every aspect of painting modern botanical-style portraits of flowers, from tips on gathering your reference to Anna's six stage watercolour process. There are instructions on setting up your studio and how to produce the detailed drawings. Each of the six step-by-step projects is accompanied by an outline drawing, tonal notes and useful colour swatches so that you can compare the tone and hue of your mixes to Anna's own. This all builds into a fantastic guide that will inspire and challenge the experienced watercolour artist, while drawing in and reassuring the complete beginner.
128 pages, Hardcover
First published April 23, 2014
211 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 30, 2016
I love this book for no other reason than it introduced me to the Munsell Color Wheel. I checked out a large stack of Botanical Watercolor books from the library and this one is by far the best when it comes to step by step instructions.
Currently following one of the exercises and enjoying her building by layers explanations, I purchased this book for myself now.
Bonus: The artist includes sketches you can copy and then do the step by step instructions with on your own.
Currently following one of the exercises and enjoying her building by layers explanations, I purchased this book for myself now.
Bonus: The artist includes sketches you can copy and then do the step by step instructions with on your own.
October 3, 2023
This may very well be a really decent book, but the Kindle version is virtually worthless.
March 24, 2023
Terrible Conversion to Digital
I was so frustrated trying to read this book. I love Anna Mason’s work and I am certain she had very valuable information, but I gave up after a few chapters of trying to decipher it. Do better, Kindle!
Here is an example: “Some hues contain pigments made if you accidentally paint in the wrong place. It is the fact that ‘mistakes’ within the each layer is dry before I apply from very small particles. The smaller lightest areas of the composition can be tricky to rectify that gives watercolours a the next’. This is absolutely crucial, the particles, the more likely it is that reputation for being diffi cult to use. and at the heart of the technique. the hue will stain the paper.”
I was so frustrated trying to read this book. I love Anna Mason’s work and I am certain she had very valuable information, but I gave up after a few chapters of trying to decipher it. Do better, Kindle!
Here is an example: “Some hues contain pigments made if you accidentally paint in the wrong place. It is the fact that ‘mistakes’ within the each layer is dry before I apply from very small particles. The smaller lightest areas of the composition can be tricky to rectify that gives watercolours a the next’. This is absolutely crucial, the particles, the more likely it is that reputation for being diffi cult to use. and at the heart of the technique. the hue will stain the paper.”
March 3, 2024
Editing Would Be a Good Idea
I am sure this book is full of useful information, but the Kindle edition (the one I have) is practically unreadable. It is not uncommon to find partial words and sentences missing. I am also missing some illustrations. If I tried hard enough, I might understand some of it, but it is so difficult that I am not inclined to try. I suggest you take it off the shelf until you find a good editor.
I am sure this book is full of useful information, but the Kindle edition (the one I have) is practically unreadable. It is not uncommon to find partial words and sentences missing. I am also missing some illustrations. If I tried hard enough, I might understand some of it, but it is so difficult that I am not inclined to try. I suggest you take it off the shelf until you find a good editor.
September 11, 2025
scattered, unreadable format
I’ve been using the iPhone kindle app for years without issue. I decided to try this book after just finishing Anna Mason’s other watercolor book, which I can highly recommend. However “The Modern Flower Painter” was unreadable - huge formatting issues and half sentences. Disappointing and I hope it gets fixed, what a silly reason for a poor number of stars.
I’ve been using the iPhone kindle app for years without issue. I decided to try this book after just finishing Anna Mason’s other watercolor book, which I can highly recommend. However “The Modern Flower Painter” was unreadable - huge formatting issues and half sentences. Disappointing and I hope it gets fixed, what a silly reason for a poor number of stars.
April 13, 2023
Kindle edition very flawed
I have this book in hardback and love it. Its a very good book. However the kindle version has chunks of text that are jumbled up. The lovely and useful illustrations are also messed up, rendering this kindle edition uselrss.
The print edition is wonderful.
I have this book in hardback and love it. Its a very good book. However the kindle version has chunks of text that are jumbled up. The lovely and useful illustrations are also messed up, rendering this kindle edition uselrss.
The print edition is wonderful.
April 1, 2025
kindle edition impossible to read
The information in the book (that which I could read) was informative and interesting; however, the editing leaves a lot to be desired. Words are separated, sentences and paragraphs are jumbled, random numbers appear and the list goes on. A good editing of this material would probably result in a very good book.
The information in the book (that which I could read) was informative and interesting; however, the editing leaves a lot to be desired. Words are separated, sentences and paragraphs are jumbled, random numbers appear and the list goes on. A good editing of this material would probably result in a very good book.
October 15, 2022
Not Kindle Friendly
I love Anna Mason, however, this book is totally impossible to read on my Kindle. The sentences are nonsensical and the pictures are fractured.
So, 0 stars because of formatting issues which render this ebook impossible to read.
I love Anna Mason, however, this book is totally impossible to read on my Kindle. The sentences are nonsensical and the pictures are fractured.
So, 0 stars because of formatting issues which render this ebook impossible to read.
May 30, 2023
totally sad
Formatting created a mess. Many broken words, phrases, sentences, paragraphs and photos useless. I believe artist and instructor is probably good but can’t unscramble it.
Formatting created a mess. Many broken words, phrases, sentences, paragraphs and photos useless. I believe artist and instructor is probably good but can’t unscramble it.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews