This privately published little book is quite one of the best introductions to flower painting I’ve seen. The clear layout and simple instructions give an immediate sense of what’s going on and a real “I could do that” feeling.
The basis of the book is nine individual demonstrations featuring a single flower type, including tulips, poppies, roses and geraniums, with a list of the colours used and clearly laid out instructions on how to use the brush to make the various marks and shapes. There are few words and they’re elegantly handwritten, giving the whole thing a feel of both quality and intimacy. A couple of pages at the end on putting figures in a painting feel like a gift.
Bee Morrison has been teaching and producing learning aids for some time and this book represents what I’ve always felt she had in her. Don’t be put off by the privately-published tag; this is a top quality piece of work that doesn’t cut any corners. At nearly £10, it’s more expensive than it would be from a commercial publisher, but it’s still worth every penny and you’d never get this much information for the money anywhere else.
Flower painting is a big subject and, for the beginner, just finding a place to start can be one of the most daunting problems. Bee has come up with a solution to that. Work through this book and you’ll be well on the way.
Every year, Artbookreview gives a little award to the best book I’ve written about in the past 12 months. No committees, no champagne receptions, no B-list celebrities, just me. When this one arrived, I already had notes for a shortlist, but then it was obvious. This really is the most useful and practical book that’s landed on my mat on 2007. You can’t buy it on Amazon (so I don’t even get a commission on sales!), but click on the link below to go to Bee’s own website.
First published 2007
£9.99
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