Colour mixing for botanical artists

Artist, Jackie Isard, started her working life as a graphic designer, but became increasingly interested in plants and gardening. She now works as a botanical artist and tutor with a particular interest in colour. In her new book, Watercolour Mixing Techniques for Botanical Artists, Jackie uses Winsor & Newton professional watercolours, although any brand of watercolours can be used. The book opens with a history of pigments and information on how colour has been regarded over the centuries. Equipment and materials are covered next with useful advice on which paper, palette, brushes and pigments to choose. Understanding colour and pigments (including how to read the symbols on the sides of your tubes or pans of colour) and the way they behave – lightfastness, transparency, opacity, granulation, saturation and staining – forms the majority of the book. A chapter on warm and cool colours includes a detailed description of each and information on how best to use them. There’s particular focus on greens, neutral tones, browns, greys and shadow colours.

Overlaying and underlaying colours to enhance translucency, vibrancy and depth, adding colour and fine details are supported with step-by-step examples and the book closes with useful tips the artist has gathered along the way. The book is illustrated throughout with Jackie’s beautiful watercolours and provides an in-depth look at the way the right colour choices can transform your botanical paintings. Watercolour Mixing Techniques for Botanical Artists by Jackie Isard. Crowood Press, (p/b), £12.99.