Buying Options
Kindle Price: | $33.67 |
includes tax, if applicable |
The Modern Flower Painter: Creating vibrant botanical portraits in watercolour [Print Replica] Kindle Edition
Anna Mason (Author) Find all the books, read about the author, and more. See search results for this author |
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.
- Print length128 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherSearch Press
- Publication date23 April 2014
- File size148391 KB
Product description
Review
This is an utterly gorgeous book! Based on her tried and tested six-step approach Anna has designed her book to be a manual on technique, a source of inspiration and also as she describes; ‘the voice of kindness encouraging you to keep practising so that you too can enjoy painting to the full’ The beautiful full colour illustrations are incredibly detailed and with step-by-step instructions to help you create your own versions. We absolutely loved it! Highly Recommended!
― Hot Brands Cool PlacesOctober 2014
Anna Mason is an award winning artist and is a board member of the Society of Botanical Artists. Here she shares her methods for painting modern, botanical-style flower portraits and the book gives detail of Anna's six stage watercolour process. The included six step-by-step projects had an outline drawing, tonal notes and colour swatches. The book is a good guide that is an asset to a complete beginner but also challenges the experiences watercolour artist.
― Cake Craft & DecorationApr 14
This really rather attractive book is pitched somewhere between the basic guides to flower painting and the more technical botanical illustration works. Anna Mason’s technique involves a six-stage process that starts with the highlights, which are normally in the centre of the flower, and works outwards, adding details, tints and contrasts so that shapes and depth are built up progressively while preserving the main form. There is also plenty of information on painting methods and the use of colour, but these assume a reasonable amount of basic knowledge, so that you don’t spend half the book wading through stuff you should know already. The overall approach is busy and varied and the concentration is on the painting rather than the flowers – that’s to say, it’s about creating a work of art rather than recording a specific species. There is, however, plenty of variety (more than varieties) and examples of different flower types, shapes and colours. If you’re looking for a book that takes you on from the basics but isn’t obsessed with botanical details, this would be perfect. The demonstrations, while working within the aforementioned six-stage process, have a reasonable number of steps so that while you’re not shown every brushstroke, neither are you pitched from one completed section to another and wondering how you got there.
― Artbookreview.netNovember 2014
This comprehensive book provides a little more detail in the method of painting than some previous guides to botanical illustration. Anna's six-stage process starts with the highlights, which are usually at the centre of the main flower and works outwards from there, adding tones and contrasts before putting in the final details. In the demonstrations, each stage may have more than one step, so there are no large jumps that leave you wondering what happened in between.
There is a good balance between the basics of flower painting and the specifics of individual examples. The book is nicely placed between the introductory guides and the more advanced titles that assume a considerable degree of prior experience and sometime sacrifice detail for quantity of subjects an species.
― Artist, TheMay 14
As this is one of Search Press’ occasional hardcover books, expect a visual treat and something rather special. Flowers lend themselves to lushly illustrated large format books like this one and this book lives up to its subtitle of “creating vibrant botanical portraits in watercolour”. The book is in two halves, firstly getting to grips with the materials and secondly several staged paintings to work through. You can find some outlines at the back to trace so here is a nod to the popular Ready To Paint series that ought to work well with beginners, and those new to watercolor. The pictures here are well described as portraits, and combine the botanical appearance of old prints with a modern, vibrantly colorful approach. There are all the usual features in here from what you need to buy to color wheels, perspective, mixing colors etc, as well as intriguing sections on learning to see, getting the paint consistency right, laying out a palette and creating tone and hue. I don’t think I have seen such an in-depth look at the medium before and it certainly bears reading and having a go even if you think you are past that stage. The author then shows us her six stage method of painting and works though a picture of a rose, before going onto the six staged projects which are handily arranged in order of difficulty. If you can’t get onto a real course here is the next best thing.
― Myshelf.comMay 14
The first book from regular Artists & Illustrators contributor Anna Mason highlights her refreshingly contemporary approach to botanical painting, which sees many of the subjects appear to bloom before your very eyes. Anna begins by laying out her thoughts on paint consistency, brush techniques and mixing hues, giving newcomers the building blocks required to tackle a full painting with confidence. By the completion of the six step-by-step projects, you will be surprised at how far you have progressed.
― Artists & Illustrators, TheNovember 2014
This comprehensive book provides a little more detail in the method of painting than some previous guides to botanical illustration. Anna's six-stage process starts with the highlights, which are usually at the centre of the main flower and works outwards from there, adding tones and contrasts before putting in the final details. In the demonstrations, each stage may have more than one step, so there are no large jumps that leave you wondering what happened in between.
There is a good balance between the basics of flower painting and the specifics of individual examples. The book is nicely places between the introductory guides and the more advanced titles that assume a considerable degree of prior experience and sometimes sacrifice detail for quantity of subjects and species - Henry Malt.
― Artist, TheOctober 2014
This book covers every aspect of modern stye botanical flowers painted in watercolours, from tips on gathering materials to how to handle the paint. There are six projects in the book, each shown step-by-step with outline drawings, tonal notes and useful colour swatches. From delicate bluebells, exotic orchids, feathery tulips, papery poppies, and romantic roses, all build into a fantastic guide that will inspire and challenge the experienced watercolour artist, while also drawing in and reassuring the complete beginner.
― My WeeklyMay 14
The first thing you notice about this impressive book on watercolour flowers is the warm-hearted nature of Anna Mason. Anna has developed a six-stage process that really works. Plus this book is full of professional tips. There’s information for beginners but also a challenge for those with some experience. There are step by step projects and gorgeous finished work. This is a beautiful book and Anna’s warm personality and immense talent shines on every page. Highly recommended for any watercolour flower painter and botanical artists.
― Karen Platt Yarnsandfabrics.co.uk/craftsJuly 14
The Modern Flower Painter by Anna Mason reveals every aspect of the delicate world of flower portraits in watercolour. From gathering your reference material and holding the brush, to mixing colours and setting up your studio, nothing is left uncovered. Six step-by-step projects are each accompanied by outline drawings, tonal notes and colour swatches to help you mix the correct colour and tone. Anna is an award-winning botanical artist and experienced art tutor, so the instruction is clear, inspiring and challenging.
― Leisure Painter, The --This text refers to the hardcover edition.About the Author
Product details
- ASIN : B00OBP4916
- Publisher : Search Press (23 April 2014)
- Language : English
- File size : 148391 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Not enabled
- Enhanced typesetting : Not Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Not Enabled
- Print length : 128 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: 383,269 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- 90 in Art Reference
- 179 in Craft & Hobby Painting (Kindle Store)
- 428 in Watercolour Painting
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Anna Mason grew up surrounded by the lush English countryside and has always been inspired by the intricate detail and colorful beauty in the natural world. Completely self-taught, Anna has developed a true-to-life watercolor style that is accessible to the beginner and more advanced painter alike. It is her mission to help people develop their creative confidence and enjoy the therapeutic benefits of painting, as well as helping them get results they can be proud of. Anna's won several awards for her own work, including the Royal Horticultural Society’s Gold Medal in 2007. Her paintings are held in prominent public collections and she has taught and exhibited widely in the UK and US, including at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show. Anna lives in Surrey with her husband and young son. Her popular blog has inspired prospective painters from all over the world to pick up their brushes. Take a free video class and join Anna's online painting school at: AnnaMasonArt.com.
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
Customer reviews
Top reviews from Australia
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Top reviews from other countries

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.


Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 June 2018
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.


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?


Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 July 2018
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?



