Kunz - Painting Watercolor Flowers That Glow

Daisies
14 18(37cm 46cm)

Watercolor is great fun. Anything that will hold still long enough is liable to become the subject for a watercolor painting. Flowers are an almost perfect subject. Theyre incredibly beautiful, they stay quietly where you put them for a long period of time, and they dont offer suggestions or comment on your painting skill. You can paint beautiful florals even if you dont know a peony from a petunia.

Thats the good news. Even better is the news that learning to really see the intricate forms and colors of the most simple blossoms will enhance your ability to see (and paint) everything!

Of course, its not all a garden of roses. Painting flowers takes patience and concentration. You probably wont find the time to solve world problems, and now and then, you may even forget lunch!

I wish I could tell you there is a simple one-two-three method for painting flowers. As far as I know, there isnt one. Each new variety or floral arrangement presents a new challenge. Happily, there are a few constants. Flowers have similar folds, ruffles, convex and concave shapes. So, if you learn to paint a rounded surface on a lily, you can paint a rounded surface on a rose or any other flower. The colors may vary, but the technique is the same. For that reason I have included a section in this book describing how to paint many of the recurring shapes youll encounter when painting flowers.

I know from experience that there are many of us who read the caption under the pictures and immediately begin to paint. However, those little paragraphs just wont hold all the information, so I hope you will read further. This book is filled with the basic techniques I have learned after years of painting for pleasure (and now and then for profit)!

Theres a great deal of excitement ahead, so turn off your cell phone and lets get started.

Bougainvilleas
22 30 (56cm 76cm)

You learn to paint by painting, and it takes time and determination to become a fine painter. You may have heard that watercolor is difficult to handle, but with practice you will soon learn to control this beautiful medium and witness magical things happening before you.

Of course you will have bad days. Even experienced watercolorists struggle with bouts of frustration and self-doubt. So if you have a problem, be kind to yourself. You are becoming an artist. No one is born with a full-fledged art gene.

Here are a few things to remember:

Dont compare yourself with other painters. You will never see their failures.

Try to paint when you are rested and have the time.

Dont let frustration keep you from painting.

Celebrate your victories and learn from your failures.