Painting Flowers the Van Wyk Way

I have nothing to say but good about this inspiring book. Helen gives some masterful tips on painting flowers as still life. My flowers didn't have that "alive look" ( light and depth which create realism) until this fantastic book came along. I was lucky enough to get a beautiful new copy of the book for my birthday from a treasured friend. Got an artist friend that enjoys painting flowers like I do? This would be an incredible gift. I now have the "painterly look" like the old masters I've been after for a long time, as well as handling color and light in an easy way. Best of all my art is selling instead of coming home from the gallery and coffee shops where it's been hanging. helen's way is loose, natural, and beautiful. I can confidently paint floral pictures I'm proud of after struggling for so long. Thanks Tiffany, for the nice gift!

As with all of Helen Van Wyk's teaching material, this book is excellent. I don't believe that it has enough detail for the beginner. You should have some prior painting knowledge before attempting to use this book effectively.

Another great book from this author and painter. Again, a great variety of work and examples are shown, with excellent practical and easy to understand instructions.

This book is really well organized in a step by step understanding on the basics of compostion, color mixing (the actual paint to obtain a certain color),color fundamentals, brushes, and background when painting flowers. If a person is new to painting, the basics are here. However, it does lack detailed step by step demonstrations that will guide a person from the start of a painting to the finish. Only brief general demontrations are in this book. If a person wants to know how to brush stroke a leaf, make a stem, and a pedal I would suggest in addition to using this book another book on brush stroke techniques. There are lots of beautiful paintings in this book. Just looking at the photos helped me to figure out the brush strokes but then I have some experience in painting, mostly portraits. Not having painting lots of flowers before, I wondered "do I start in the middle? or the outside of a flower?" I don't beleive it is mentioned in this book. I found in another book that I would start in the center when painting roses, and tulips are different, and so are poppies on where to begin. A rough outline on the sphere and anatomy of flowers is given in Helen's book which realy helps when painting.

As a lover of flowers and a painter I truly enjoyed this book. Readers will find a step by step guide into the world of painting and be guided into the specifics of painting flowers. Tha author gives a through and one of the most complete explanations of the basic components of a painting. Her explanations for the values Composition,Drawing, Motivation, Color, Harmony and Tone value are excellent and well worth the price of the book and make you feel part of an actual art class. Illustrations are magnificent and the authors personal experience and tips are nopt only helpful in the art of flower painting, amateur or professional, but become actual blessings. It is truly a book worth owning.