Watercolor Basics - Painting Flowers

Different artists depict flowers differently and not all of them appeal to my eye. I am very much attracted to Sharon Hinckley's painting style. I am a fan of the bright colors of Gauguin and the vivid up-close and personal semi-abstract flowers of Georgia O'Keefe, and although they both mostly worked in oils, I think Hinckley has merged elements of both of their styles with her own and produced some wonderful watercolor painting. Watercolor painting is more difficult than oil painting because you can't really paint over your mistakes without making a mess. Hinckly not only explains how to create flowers step by step (beginning with a discussion of the appropriate supplies and an explanation of color), she shows the reader how to make what she describes as "leaf soup" which forms the basis of the foliage in her watercolors. Hinckly says while many would-be artists can create flowers, most have difficulty with the stuff that grows with flowers, i.e. leaves, stems, and bark. One photo shows Hickley's palette, "leaf soup" mixture. There are many books on the market offering instruction on "how to" draw-paint flowers, but if you are fond of the "colorist" approach to painting, you may find it hard to beat the techniques described in WATERCOLOR BASICS, PAINTING FLOWERS.

Ms. Hinckley's book Watercolor Basics: Painting Flowers is a delight to read. At first glance her paintings seem to have been created so effortlessly they can be intimidating (how can I ever paint this well! ). But only for a moment. Her writing is so warm and friendly, and the techniques presented so clearly and sometimes whimsically (check out the painting at the bottom of page 29--one of my favorites) that you've absorbed a host of tricks and tips before you know it. From valuable advice on materials, organization, palette arrangement and mixing strategies to step-by-step demonstrations that culminate in truly breathtaking results (Calla Lilies, pages 118-121, is my absolute favorite for its depth and richness) I have never had an instruction book offer so much helpful information while being such an enjoyable read.

Wanting to make watercolor postcards for holiday messages, I picked up Sharon Hinckley's book for pointers. Her teaching approach not only helped me create personal postcards, it nudged me over the hump of over-thinking words too; as a writer, my inner critic often edits my thoughts, sometimes before they are shaped into words. This book is great for students learning to release fear and let the paint flow. Hinckley's approach, plus beautifully clear instructions and illustrations, make Painting Flowers an excellent source for learning and unlearning bad habits that thwart the creative process. Dive IN!

Sharon Hinckley has accomplished a remarkable feat - the creation of a book on watercolor painting that reads well both verbally and visually. It is packed with solid instruction, helpful hints, and glorious illustrations.Normally books on painting present the reader with a problem. The left-brain activity of reading is not conducive to the use of the right-brain's ability to view, interpret, and understand a painting. Sharon Hinckley is able to lead you through the painting process visually so that you can capture how the painting is constructed. When you need information on something like the name of a color or a mixing technique, that information is easily found in her verbal description of the process.The book is written in a warm, positive style which encourages the reader/painter to continue working with watercolors and enjoying it. I found Watercolor Basics: Painting Flowers to be a delightful and inspiring book.