Anna Mason grew up surrounded by the lush English countryside and has always been inspired by the intricate detail and colourful beauty in the natural world. Completely self-taught, Anna has developed a true-to-life watercolour 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.

This engaging guide to painting a wide variety of natural subjects is packed with information and inspiration.Anna's illustrations are particularly clear and enlarged images allow you to see the individual brushstrokes that make up the shading on a single blackberry or the detailing the feathers of a blue tit.This is an intriguing, enthralling and thoroughly enjoyable book.

• Welcome to my world 6How I got here 8The Inspiration 10Being in nature 12Being in gardens 14The act of gardening 16The experience of painting 18The Approach 20Detail and impact 22Small subjects painted big 24Painting from photographs 28Photographing tips 30Composing with your camera 32It has to click for you 34Realism 36Understanding colour 38Form and texture 40‘Tuning in’ to see visual textures 42The PaintingMethod 46My method: a 5-stage process 48Drawing 50Drawing process 52Painting: my paints 54Consistency and colour mixing 56Brushes 62Paper 63Brush techniques 64Transitions 68The Projects 70Blackberry 72Maple Leaf 84Sunflower 92Blue Tit 102Keys to Improving 116Practice right 118 Exercises for practice 120Making practice happen 124Trust the method 126Taking a strategic break 130Sharing 134Where you’re heading: flow 136Outline drawings 140Index 144

Anna Mason grew up surrounded by the lush English countryside and has always been inspired by the intricate detail and colourful beauty in the natural world. Completely self-taught, Anna has developed a true-to-life watercolour 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.

This engaging guide to painting a wide variety of natural subjects is packed with information and inspiration.Anna's illustrations are particularly clear and enlarged images allow you to see the individual brushstrokes that make up the shading on a single blackberry or the detailing the feathers of a blue tit.This is an intriguing, enthralling and thoroughly enjoyable book.

• Welcome to my world 6How I got here 8The Inspiration 10Being in nature 12Being in gardens 14The act of gardening 16The experience of painting 18The Approach 20Detail and impact 22Small subjects painted big 24Painting from photographs 28Photographing tips 30Composing with your camera 32It has to click for you 34Realism 36Understanding colour 38Form and texture 40‘Tuning in’ to see visual textures 42The PaintingMethod 46My method: a 5-stage process 48Drawing 50Drawing process 52Painting: my paints 54Consistency and colour mixing 56Brushes 62Paper 63Brush techniques 64Transitions 68The Projects 70Blackberry 72Maple Leaf 84Sunflower 92Blue Tit 102Keys to Improving 116Practice right 118 Exercises for practice 120Making practice happen 124Trust the method 126Taking a strategic break 130Sharing 134Where you’re heading: flow 136Outline drawings 140Index 144

Anna Mason grew up surrounded by the lush English countryside and has always been inspired by the intricate detail and colourful beauty in the natural world. Completely self-taught, Anna has developed a true-to-life watercolour 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.

This engaging guide to painting a wide variety of natural subjects is packed with information and inspiration.Anna's illustrations are particularly clear and enlarged images allow you to see the individual brushstrokes that make up the shading on a single blackberry or the detailing the feathers of a blue tit.This is an intriguing, enthralling and thoroughly enjoyable book.

• Welcome to my world 6How I got here 8The Inspiration 10Being in nature 12Being in gardens 14The act of gardening 16The experience of painting 18The Approach 20Detail and impact 22Small subjects painted big 24Painting from photographs 28Photographing tips 30Composing with your camera 32It has to click for you 34Realism 36Understanding colour 38Form and texture 40‘Tuning in’ to see visual textures 42The PaintingMethod 46My method: a 5-stage process 48Drawing 50Drawing process 52Painting: my paints 54Consistency and colour mixing 56Brushes 62Paper 63Brush techniques 64Transitions 68The Projects 70Blackberry 72Maple Leaf 84Sunflower 92Blue Tit 102Keys to Improving 116Practice right 118 Exercises for practice 120Making practice happen 124Trust the method 126Taking a strategic break 130Sharing 134Where you’re heading: flow 136Outline drawings 140Index 144