A-Z Of Flower Portraits

Product Description

Billy Showell is a well-respected contemporary artist whose watercolour flower portraits have earned her the respect of watercolour artists all over the world. Worked to the same degree of accuracy as traditional botanical paintings, Billy's compositions are given a more contemporary twist, combining her unique eye for design with her love of flowers. In this book, 40 flower portraits are presented, arranged in alphabetical order, each one accompanied by small studies, details, step-by-step instructions & the colour mixes used to accomplish the finished work. At the start of the book there are useful sections on the materials & equipment needed & the main techniques used, including wet-into-wet, colour blending, lifting out, layering glazes, dry brushing & colour mixing, & at the end of the book Billy gives her own unique slant on composition & discusses the importance of creating a sketchbook. Whether you love to paint, or simply love flowers, this book will delight & inspire you. About the Author Billy Showell graduated from St Martins School of Art with a B.A. in fashion design, but was irresistably drawn to painting & illustration. In 1993 she set course for a career as an artist & now paints, illustrates & teaches botanical painting at her studio & art clubs in the UK, USA & Australia. She lives in Tunbridge Wells, UK with her husband & two sons. Billy has been awarded five Certificates of Botanical Merit from the Society of Botanical Artists & her first book on watercolour flower portraits has been hugely successful in the UK & abroad. Billy's paintings are collected by her followers the world over & many are available as limited edition prints. Review from The Artist October 2010 Issue Lavishly & colourfully illustrated from start to finish, this book is a feast for the eyes. Its the third book by watercolour artist Billy Showell & in it she explains how she produces her detailed watercolour flower paintings with their unique, contemporary edge. Approaching her subjects with the same level of accuracy as botanical artists, Billys flowers are meticulous & realistic, but infused with her distinctive sense of design to give them a modern twist. She says that, for her, achieving the right design & composition are as important as attaining the true colours & shapes of every individual flower. The first part of this book gives information on materials & equipment needed, as well as clear instructions on the main techniques used, including wet-in-wet, laying glazes, dry brushing, lifting out, using body colour, masking & creating texture and pattern. There are details on colour mixing & on how to get the best out of brushes as well as insights into composition ideas & on keeping a sketchbook. Then, arranged in alphabetical order, are detailed step-by-step instructions showing how to paint 40 specific flower portraits, each accompanied by small studies, first drawing stages, methods of applying paint & a colour swatch illustrating the palette & paint mixes used for the finished work. If you are a Billy Showell fan
- & she has many throughout the world
- then you will need no further recommendation. If you are new to her work, you will be delighted at the clarity of instruction, the delicacy & vibrancy of the paintings, & the invaluable advice & inspiration this book offers. Susie Hodge