Botanical Watercolours through the seasons

This stunning book follows the rhythm of nature through the year.

Botanical Watercolours through the Seasons begins with a detailed introduction to Sandrine's ethically-sourced materials and tools, her workspace and an exploration of the key techniques employed in painting botanical watercolours. Sandrine explains colour theory in relation to botanical subjects, as well as colour bias and the key to creating realistic shadows without resorting to an unnatural 'grey'. 

The four main chapters focus on a particular season and contains techniques for painting its plants: for example, papery bulbs in spring and jewel-like berries in winter, along with examples of the author’s stunning botanical artwork. Each chapter includes three step-by-step tutorials: the first for relative beginners; the second for artists of intermediate level and the third for more experienced artist. Subjects range from bold spring daffodils, delicate summer sweet peas, through to whimsical autumn ginkgo biloba leaves, and finishing with a striking holly star composition to close the winter chapter.

With a foreword from Tom Brown, Head Gardener at West Dean College of Arts and Conservation: "It is Sandrine’s botanical knowledge that sets her apart, [...] through [her] guidance we can learn to celebrate and document the natural rhythms of our green spaces around us." Readers can work through the book season-by-season, or focus on the plants they know and love. All the recommended materials used in the book are ethically sourced: the paper is from sustainable sources, the brushes are cruelty-free and the paints are vegan.

Book Contents

Foreword 6, Introduction 8, My ethical studio 10, Working space 12, Painting from life 13, Drawing kit 14, Painting kit 16, Paints and pigments 18, Colour mixing theory 20, My palette 22, Tone 24, Technique 28

Spring 32: Spring subjects and their palette 34, Anatomy of a daffodil 36, Level 1: Daffodil 38, Anatomy of an anemone 46, Level 2: Anemone 48, Anatomy of a tulip 56, Level 3: Tulip ‘Queen of Night’ 58

Summer 66: Summer subjects and their palette 68, Anatomy of a sweet pea 70, Level 1: Sweet pea 72, Anatomy of a rose 82, Drawing a rose 84, Painting a rose 86, Level 2: Rosa 'Odyssey' 88, Anatomy of a sunflower 98, Level 3: Sunflower 100

Autumn 108: Autumn subjects and their palette 110, Anatomy of a ginkgo biloba 112, Level 1: Ginkgo biloba 114, Anatomy of a pear 120, Level 2: Catillac pear 122, Anatomy of a hydrangea 128, Level 3: Hydrangea 130

Winter  140: Winter subjects and their palette 142, Anatomy of a pansy 144, Level 1: Pansy ‘Midnight Glow’  146, Anatomy of an echeveria 152, Level 2: Echeveria 154, Anatomy of holly 162, Level 3: Holly star 164 

Conclusion 170, Paint conversion table 172, Glossary 174, Credits 175, Index 176.