Billy Showell's Botanical Painting in Watercolour

Billy Showell graduated from St Martins School of Art with a B.A. in fashion design, but was irresistibly drawn to painting and illustration. She is now a renowned botanical fine artist and tutor. Billy works from her studio in Kent and teaches via her online school of botanical art. She also travels to teach throughout the UK, the USA and Australia.Billy has been awarded many awards for botanical excellence from the Society of Botanical Artists; a gold medal from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh; and a Royal Horticultural Society silver-gilt medal. She has written and illustrated four best-selling practical art books which have been translated into many languages. Billy's paintings are collected by her followers the world over and held in many prestigious botanical collections. Visit her website www.billyshowell.com.

Dec 2016Billy Showell has written a number of books on flower painting but these have so far concentrated on the less formal flower portrait. Where this one differs is that is approaches it entirely from the technical side. You'll look in vain for specific examples. As well as avoiding repeating what has already been said, this method fills the inevitable void left by the specimen-led way of working. It is not, however, a primer in flower painting. For all the attention given to negative shapes, brushwork and colour mixing, this is not a book for the complete beginner. In order to tackle the discipline of botanical illustration, you need to be competent and confident with your style and your materials. Informative, practical and rewarding, this meets a long-felt need.

• Introduction 6Materials 8Getting started 18Working from life 20Observation 22Drawing 28Using a brush 44Painting techniques 54Troubleshooting 82Painting detail 88Adding pattern 110Creating texture 118Painting multi-headed flowers 130Painting from enlarged photographs 136Colour and colour mixing 140Composition 178Stretching and finishing 186Glossary 190Index 191