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Modern Watercolor Botanicals: A Creative Workshop in Watercolor, Gouache, & Ink
Unwind and get creative as you learn all about watercolor painting--one of the fastest-growing activities for everyday adults who are looking for a hobby to easily relax and relieve stress!
Modern Watercolor Botanicals is a comprehensive guide for all skill levels--beginner to advanced--that teaches everything you need to know about watercolor using easy-to-follow diagrams, pictures, and instructions. Learn how to paint and advance your skills using pieces of beautiful, traceable artwork, including detailed wildflowers, shade tropical leaves, eucalyptus wreaths, and more.
Lessons in Modern Watercolor Botanicals • Instructions for every skill beginner, intermediate, and advanced • Easy-to-follow diagrams, pictures, and instructions • Each lesson builds upon skills learned in the previous lessons • 15 pieces of traceable artwork to paint, no drawing experience required! • Lessons that promote focus and mindfulness and help you reduce stress through the enjoyment of the artistic process • All you need to know to create frame-worthy masterpieces and thoughtful gifts • Prompts, challenges, and ideas to take your creativity to the next level
Author Sarah Simon (@themintgardener), a Seattle-based artist who leads sold-out watercolor workshops across the U.S., shares everything she teaches her students in this book. She also answers some of the most common questions from watercolor artists at all • What tools do I need? • How do I mix interesting colors? • How do I create shape, movement, and definition in my piece? • How do I find my own creative style?
Delve into Modern Watercolor Botanicals to develop your skills and form your own unique artistic approach to the world of modern watercolor!
Modern Watercolor Botanicals is a comprehensive guide for all skill levels--beginner to advanced--that teaches everything you need to know about watercolor using easy-to-follow diagrams, pictures, and instructions. Learn how to paint and advance your skills using pieces of beautiful, traceable artwork, including detailed wildflowers, shade tropical leaves, eucalyptus wreaths, and more.
Lessons in Modern Watercolor Botanicals • Instructions for every skill beginner, intermediate, and advanced • Easy-to-follow diagrams, pictures, and instructions • Each lesson builds upon skills learned in the previous lessons • 15 pieces of traceable artwork to paint, no drawing experience required! • Lessons that promote focus and mindfulness and help you reduce stress through the enjoyment of the artistic process • All you need to know to create frame-worthy masterpieces and thoughtful gifts • Prompts, challenges, and ideas to take your creativity to the next level
Author Sarah Simon (@themintgardener), a Seattle-based artist who leads sold-out watercolor workshops across the U.S., shares everything she teaches her students in this book. She also answers some of the most common questions from watercolor artists at all • What tools do I need? • How do I mix interesting colors? • How do I create shape, movement, and definition in my piece? • How do I find my own creative style?
Delve into Modern Watercolor Botanicals to develop your skills and form your own unique artistic approach to the world of modern watercolor!
- GenresArtNonfictionCrafts
218 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 18, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. If for anything, this book is full of a lot of beautiful watercolor eye-candy.
I'm approaching this as an advanced watercolorist. I picked up the book because I feel like I always have something new to learn. I do feel like I was presented with several new approaches to familiar techniques, such as the timing of dabbing/lifting color to create highlights and using gouache.
The main title of this book is a bit misleading because this really is a venture into mixed media. The subtitle clears that up, of course, but if you're picking up this book expecting to only use watercolors, then you'll be disappointed.
That said, I use watercolors pretty exclusively so it was nice to get a little introduction to gouache.
I feel like the lessons were clear. The author even provides traceable artwork on perforated pages at the back of the book so if you're not very confident with your drawing skills, you can trace her outlines.
For the advanced artists, she provides several suggestions on how to approach her lessons such as using different colors and coming up with your own compositions.
Overall beautiful book with great, quick, clear lessons.
I'm approaching this as an advanced watercolorist. I picked up the book because I feel like I always have something new to learn. I do feel like I was presented with several new approaches to familiar techniques, such as the timing of dabbing/lifting color to create highlights and using gouache.
The main title of this book is a bit misleading because this really is a venture into mixed media. The subtitle clears that up, of course, but if you're picking up this book expecting to only use watercolors, then you'll be disappointed.
That said, I use watercolors pretty exclusively so it was nice to get a little introduction to gouache.
I feel like the lessons were clear. The author even provides traceable artwork on perforated pages at the back of the book so if you're not very confident with your drawing skills, you can trace her outlines.
For the advanced artists, she provides several suggestions on how to approach her lessons such as using different colors and coming up with your own compositions.
Overall beautiful book with great, quick, clear lessons.
September 1, 2021
Beautiful! One of my favorite books.
May 24, 2022
The floral studies are beautiful, but the graphics and accompanying text are on the smaller side, which is not great for detailed work. The addition of templates is a good idea, especially as some of the studies are complex. The overall palette favors pastels and light colors so it can seem a bit bland. A highlight is the explanation of color washes. Good read.
September 1, 2021
Absolutely exceptional, a frontrunner in the crowded watercolor shelves. Splurge on the spiral-bound hardback, it's worth it. This is a gorgeous, sturdy book.
December 22, 2021
I found it very annoying that she kept calling paint "magic sauce".
January 16, 2023
Sarah is such a wonderful teacher. Her methods are easy to follow and so are her analogies. The projects in this book are so beautiful and I loved the traceable patterns in the back of the book too.
February 21, 2023
The book gave several helpful hints to help with my watercolor journey. Many hints I have heard previously in other books.
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January 12, 2025I'm not leaving a star rating on this one.... if I did, it would probably be a 2 ** book for me. The reason I'm not leaving stars is because I realize I'm not the intended audience for this book, and I don't want to drive down the average rating for anyone who might benefit from this. The author mentions "type A" painters in a light-hearted manner at one point.... I'm definitely, absolutely, very firmly in the type A painters camp, so keep that in mind if you're reading this.
I like that the book starts out with basics... like swatching, doing washes, etc. Play with your paints! I'm not a fan of using my watercolor wet straight from the tube onto a plate. I think this personal preference but also maybe related to the type of paint she's recommending. Nice paint works great dry.... it's also nice if you want to take your palette with you and paint on the go. The author's method will leave you studio-bound which for me eliminates the big appeal of watercolor (like personally, if I'm staying in the studio, I'll do gouache or oil. My watercolor travels in my back pocket). My biggest gripe with the book is that it comes across as an advertisement for Reeves paint. Reeves is just about the worst paint you can waste money on. It's barely a step up from Crayola. The paint mixes she goes with are based not on color theory but the very limited Reeves palette. If you want to paint, don't start off learning bad habits. Yes, Reeves is cheap up front, but in the long run, every penny spent on it is a waste.
I would not recommend gifting this book to anyone just starting out in painting. There are some fun exercises to download so that goes in the plus column. I did get some inspiration flipping through the book, and even though I was mildly annoyed when I finished, I felt like painting, so also a plus. It is a very pretty, nicely laid out book with lots of little bits of encouragement. I liked the mix of cheerleading from the author and quotes (specifically the Van Gogh one about silencing the voice that says you cannot paint by painting). I also like that this book includes gouache (Guh'wash, folks) because almost no one I run into knows what it is. For the record, I think the world would be a much better place if we all played with gouache (think about the lovely backgrounds in the old Disney movies.... that's gouache). I think the title of the book is gimmicky since this isn't really a watercolor book. I guess the name having watercolor in it instead of "mixed media" is a marketing choice to grab people who have had no exposure to mixed media? Anyways.... if you've always wanted to paint and haven't, try gouache. You need 4 tubes and a brush to start. It's cheaper than therapy and less mess than murder. Back to this book... there's a section that talks about painting for yourself not for sales or social media. Bravo. Good message. I liked that part. ...However... I would have liked to see a little bit about what if you want to sell something. It seems like this book is aimed at people who have never painted.... so why not mention lightfastness and permanence? Even if you never ever plan to sell anything, if you paint (and you actually let anyone see your work), you will eventually sell something. Again, this might be related to the fact that this book is recommending really bad paint, but for anyone who doesn't know, not all watercolor colors are there for the long term. If you sell something and it fades over time, will that be a problem for you?
What I didn't like:
*student paints? Nah, fam. You don't need 24 colors of crap. Skip Reeves. For $20usd, you can start building a limited professional palette. For my first palette, I started with 6 carefully chosen 5-ml tubes of holbien. You can go with 3 colors and learn a ton. Do any professional brand. Using student materials is a great way to get frustrated. You do not need lots of super cheap colors.
*paynes grey from a tube? No, no, no! OK, I confess, I have paynes grey (used constantly in this book) and Davies grey... what can I say... I like to paint nerdy character art, and it's not bad for shadows on ninjas. But no, please don't recommend pre-mixed grey for painting flowers. Paynes grey is all over this book. It's lazy, and you won't get the results you want. There are better colors for botanicals, and I HATE mixing premixed paynes grey with anything else. Most brands use black in their paynes grey, which doesn't play nicely with a lot of colors (any colors. It hates every single paint you have). If you want to use paynes grey, mix it. It's yellow ochre, Prussian blue, and crimson.
Who this book is for:
*if you're completely brand new to painting and get anxiety looking at a blank page, this is a gentle introduction to painting, but beware the material recommendations and spend a few minutes on YouTube learning to mix whatever brand of paint you choose (please not Reeves).
I like that the book starts out with basics... like swatching, doing washes, etc. Play with your paints! I'm not a fan of using my watercolor wet straight from the tube onto a plate. I think this personal preference but also maybe related to the type of paint she's recommending. Nice paint works great dry.... it's also nice if you want to take your palette with you and paint on the go. The author's method will leave you studio-bound which for me eliminates the big appeal of watercolor (like personally, if I'm staying in the studio, I'll do gouache or oil. My watercolor travels in my back pocket). My biggest gripe with the book is that it comes across as an advertisement for Reeves paint. Reeves is just about the worst paint you can waste money on. It's barely a step up from Crayola. The paint mixes she goes with are based not on color theory but the very limited Reeves palette. If you want to paint, don't start off learning bad habits. Yes, Reeves is cheap up front, but in the long run, every penny spent on it is a waste.
I would not recommend gifting this book to anyone just starting out in painting. There are some fun exercises to download so that goes in the plus column. I did get some inspiration flipping through the book, and even though I was mildly annoyed when I finished, I felt like painting, so also a plus. It is a very pretty, nicely laid out book with lots of little bits of encouragement. I liked the mix of cheerleading from the author and quotes (specifically the Van Gogh one about silencing the voice that says you cannot paint by painting). I also like that this book includes gouache (Guh'wash, folks) because almost no one I run into knows what it is. For the record, I think the world would be a much better place if we all played with gouache (think about the lovely backgrounds in the old Disney movies.... that's gouache). I think the title of the book is gimmicky since this isn't really a watercolor book. I guess the name having watercolor in it instead of "mixed media" is a marketing choice to grab people who have had no exposure to mixed media? Anyways.... if you've always wanted to paint and haven't, try gouache. You need 4 tubes and a brush to start. It's cheaper than therapy and less mess than murder. Back to this book... there's a section that talks about painting for yourself not for sales or social media. Bravo. Good message. I liked that part. ...However... I would have liked to see a little bit about what if you want to sell something. It seems like this book is aimed at people who have never painted.... so why not mention lightfastness and permanence? Even if you never ever plan to sell anything, if you paint (and you actually let anyone see your work), you will eventually sell something. Again, this might be related to the fact that this book is recommending really bad paint, but for anyone who doesn't know, not all watercolor colors are there for the long term. If you sell something and it fades over time, will that be a problem for you?
What I didn't like:
*student paints? Nah, fam. You don't need 24 colors of crap. Skip Reeves. For $20usd, you can start building a limited professional palette. For my first palette, I started with 6 carefully chosen 5-ml tubes of holbien. You can go with 3 colors and learn a ton. Do any professional brand. Using student materials is a great way to get frustrated. You do not need lots of super cheap colors.
*paynes grey from a tube? No, no, no! OK, I confess, I have paynes grey (used constantly in this book) and Davies grey... what can I say... I like to paint nerdy character art, and it's not bad for shadows on ninjas. But no, please don't recommend pre-mixed grey for painting flowers. Paynes grey is all over this book. It's lazy, and you won't get the results you want. There are better colors for botanicals, and I HATE mixing premixed paynes grey with anything else. Most brands use black in their paynes grey, which doesn't play nicely with a lot of colors (any colors. It hates every single paint you have). If you want to use paynes grey, mix it. It's yellow ochre, Prussian blue, and crimson.
Who this book is for:
*if you're completely brand new to painting and get anxiety looking at a blank page, this is a gentle introduction to painting, but beware the material recommendations and spend a few minutes on YouTube learning to mix whatever brand of paint you choose (please not Reeves).
March 22, 2024
2.5 stars, from my perspective. Yours may differ. I thought this would be more about line and wash, but it consists of exercises for beginners. That could be good if you're an absolute beginner who doesn't own paint yet. Not necessarily so good if you have all your paints with no intention of buying another set (although you might still like the exercises). She constantly uses specific colors, such as "peach," from a specific set without saying how to mix them from standard colors. Additionally, several exercises require colors mixed from the non-standard ones in her set, such as her go-to "peach," so people with standard paint colors aren't going to be able to follow along easily. You'll either have to decide what to substitute or go to the trouble of constantly trying to mix enough of that first ingredient color before mixing the recipe, taking away from the convenience of following an exercise to get an expected result, which might not best serve raw beginners. There are also non-standard descriptors, such as referring to the fluidity of a paint and water mix as "soy sauce with wasabi." Maybe that doesn't bother you, so now you know and can choose accordingly. More on color: the palette throughout is very drab, and you will probably enjoy this book more if you vibe with that style vs. feeling those colors make you sick to your stomach. There is a "privileged white woman" vibe (in more ways than just the color choices) that could be triggering for some readers. There are traceable drawings in the back, including one for the pretty cover image, that could be appreciated by painters new and old who want to give florals a try but get impatient with complicated petal patterns. Lastly, "Ink" in the title refers to drawing/tracing with Micron pens. If you're looking for more, this might not be the book for you. But if you're looking for what the book does offer, you might love it.
May 22, 2026
This is a great book for anyone who wants to learn to watercolor! The book covers all the fundamental skills, including water control, paint consistency, and brush strokes in an easy-to-understand way. It contains thoughtful step-by-step exercises modified for beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels designed to create art while further developing skills. The instructions are very thorough, with the absolute beginner in mind, even detailing what mistakes might happen at each point and what to do about them. The photographs are extremely helpful, as well. Each exercise builds on the one before and culminates in a project that utilizes all the skills and exercises covered in the book. Interspersed between exercises, Sarah Simon talks about her own art journey and offers so much encouragement. It could easily have been titled "The Joy of Watercolor." I didn't know it was possible to feel uplifted from reading an instructional book! I had never heard of Sarah Simon before this book, and if I'm being honest, I'm not drawn to her style of watercolor (though it's beautiful in its own right -- just not what I want to paint), but it's probably the best learn-how-to-watercolor book I've ever picked up.
April 12, 2026
This beautiful book features long instructions to read through; however, I must say that I've learned more about watercolor from this book than any of the others. Why? Because Sarah Simon's voice is like she's teaching right next to you. Some of the little details and techniques she mentions are game changing. Like her method of "priming" and cleaning your brush.
Some of the watercolor projects are too small and detailed for me. Still the lessons are what keep bringing me back. So the reading is worth it, even though you can't wait to pick up your brushes!
Some of the watercolor projects are too small and detailed for me. Still the lessons are what keep bringing me back. So the reading is worth it, even though you can't wait to pick up your brushes!
March 15, 2026
My watercolor paintings improved significantly from the beginning to the end of this book. I genuinely loved most of the projects and ended up creating pieces I’m really proud of. I’ve worked through several watercolor books by now, and Sarah’s are by far my favorites. It definitely helps that I love florals as much as Sarah does. I’d absolutely recommend this book to anyone new to watercolor. 🎨🌸
September 8, 2024
Straightforward and detailed with very nice projects.
Was looking for something to push me in the right direction with projects that I would actually like. Just a great all around book, was not disappointed.
Was looking for something to push me in the right direction with projects that I would actually like. Just a great all around book, was not disappointed.
October 7, 2024
I didn’t finish this one. It’s beautiful and I really like the author—she seems to genuinely want to help people feel capable and confident in watercolor painting—but the book feels too dense. The instructions are extremely verbose and so detailed that it feels hard to work through the projects.
April 16, 2024
I don't love the very very loose style and barely hints of color
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews