Janet Whittle's Watercolour Flowers

June 2007

Flowers are one of the most popular subjects for painting, sure to appeal to anybody in love with color (which is surely most artists). Here is a whole book on how to sketch then paint them in watercolour.

This is a lovely book to look at, and sure to entertain your guests if placed on the coffee table when it is not doing duty as a primer. In true Search Press tradition the book opens with several pages on what you need, stressing inevitably the importance of choosing the best. If you are a total novice I personally recommend trying the hobby out before you commit yourself, but I have never seen this advice given in any book. However, artists will already own most, if not all, of the items listed, and there are no surprises. I particularly liked the pages showing what could be done with each color, the flowers and the effects possible with it and how it looks in a painting where this color is the focus. I also applaud the useful checklist on what you need to do before you start; this will be of particular interest to anybody not used to painting flowers, or painting at all. As usual, the various watercolor effects are covered briefly, and there are some lovely projects to work through. It is a lushly handsome book, which in grand old Search Press tradition manages effectively to combine beauty with usefulness.

Sept 07

This is a watercolour book and I was very excited when i saw it as it covers painting flowers in a way I would love to. She starts with a review of what paints and equipment she uses, and then explains which colours to use to get some useful mixes for flowers. Janet's paintings are very full of detail and yet retain a light airy feel and she starts by explaining how to transfer designs. She goes on to explain the importance of composition and how best to work this out. Then its on to the exciting part of techniques. I found the explanation of backgrounds easy to follow and likewise a useful tip in butterflies, which add an extra interest to flowers. Next came the actual flower painting, techniques such as wet in wet, glazing and negative painting are covered, and an explanation of hard and soft edges - which I found really useful and clear.

There are five different demos, the first four using specific techniques and the fifth consolidating many of the techniques already used. I found it difficult to follow from juts reading, perhaps because I'm not used to techniques of negative painting. I think it will be easier to understand once I actually put paint to paper and work through the exercises.

For those interested in painting flowers in a loose, colourful, clearly recognisable but not botanical style, this is a useful book covering many necessary areas.

Feb 08

[This] is an inspirational step-by-step guide to colour and techniques. A professional artist and a qualified teacher, Janet specialises in flowers and landscapes and watercolour and pastel and exhibits regularly. Greeting cards bearing her work are widely available in Europe and the USA and her prints are sold throughout the world. She writes that painting is like a journey which never brings you to a final destination. There is always something you have not yet painted, or a different colour or medium to try. The possible variations are endless.

May 07

Janet Whittle has an approach to flower painting that is refreshingly original and really rather attractive. Rather than follow either the route of botanical illustration or the flower portrait, she combines the rather formal floral so beloved of American artists with a relaxed style that captures the essence of flowers rather than their every detail. It's difficult to sum up, but try to imagine a tightly packed bed filled with blooms and you'll have a rough idea.

The key to Janet's style is negative shapes, all those parts which aren't the main subject and, although these are not the main tenet of the book, you'll find yourself learning a lot about them if you just follow what she does. The other thing she's very good at is combining quite bright colours so that, even though the result is quite vivid, they don't clash.

Always the problem with a very individual style is that to emulate it looks like copying and you'll probably want to use this book for the information it provides on getting shapes and colours right rather that the overall result. However, this alone is worthwhile and Janet gives copious information on using tints, shading and gradation to produce flowers that look as if they're actually growing rather than just being representations on a piece of paper.

This isn't really book for the beginner because you do need a reasonable facility both with the medium and the subject to take full advantage of it, but it's one that would ideally suit someone who wants to take flower painting beyond that first stage and maybe even as a stepping stone to more formal work later.

Janet Whittle is a professional artist and qualified teacher who specialises in flowers and landscapes in watercolour and pastel. She exhibits regularly at the Westminster Galleries in London, and has also shown her work at the prestigious Mall Galleries and other international venues. Greeting cards bearing her work are widely available in Europe and the US and her prints are sold throughout the world. Janet Whittle has received awards from the major UK art groups, including the Society of Botanical Artists' Founder President's Honour in 1999, and the St. Cuthberts Mill Award for a picture of outstanding quality in 2001. Also in that year she won The Society of Flower Painters' Award for Excellence for their Jersey Exhibition.