This is a revised and expanded reissue of a book that appeared in the Tips & Techniques series as far back as 2003. Taking it out of the series straitjacket has been worthwhile and it looks completely fresh, even if some of the reproduction is perhaps showing its age by being just a little bit coarse by modern standards. That's one of those minor quibbles that I tend to come up with and it certainly shouldn't put you off.
Janet's flowers are generally images in their own right rather than illustrations of particular subjects. She makes use of both positive and negative shapes, colour contrasts, shadows and recession to create amazing effects. It's also nice to see cobwebs, butterflies and raindrops used to enhance some of the paintings.
This is a book about creativity as much as (perhaps even more than) straightforward flower painting. It's not really something for the beginner, even though there's plenty of instruction, projects and demonstrations. If you enjoy painting flowers, but want to get beyond simple representation, it's ideal.
* Artbookreview.net *
August 2017
Search Press have recently been raiding their backlist and breathing new life into some of their older titles. While interfering with a perfectly workable design can be a mixed blessing, the editorial and design touches have been impeccable. Starting with a clean sheet, they are picking the original apart, often completely and re-building the material in line with up-to-date tastes and the available printing technologies. As well as a change of layout, images are re-originated, resultingin sharper reproduction and more faithful colours. New material is also sometimes added, although whether this would be a criterion for re-purchase, only the reader can decide. This latest is one of the best examples of the project. Janet's work has always caught the attention, but here it positively leaps off the page with the freshness and vitality of newly-opened flower. You may be tempted even if you have the original.
* The Artist *
June 2017
Due to be published in May, How to Paint Flowers & Plants by Janet Whittle is a redesigned, expanded and improved update of her Watercolour Tips & Techniques: Flowers & Plants. Janet's work is exhuberantly colourful and here she describes her working methods and materials necessary to produce lively watercolours of flowers and plants. There's plenty of advice on techniques, as well as step-by-step projects to get you started.
* The Leisure Painter *
If you love painting flowers, you'll love this book full of vibrant watercolours. Clear step-by-step instructions show Janet's love of flowers and her ability to capture their very essence. Find exercises and projects to help you paint some of the best-loved flowers such as clematis and poppies and build your flower-painting skills at the same time. Find Janet's palette, tips and many examples of fantastic finished paintings throughout the book. Learn all you need to know about flower painting. This book was previously published as Painting Flowers and Plants.
* Yarnsandfabrics.co.uk *
