From School Library Journal
YA-Kunz's book is for artists who enjoy the medium and want to delve into portraying flowers. It provides beautiful color reproductions and helpful advice, as well as lots of encouragement. The author opens with a practical introduction that includes the tools and materials needed to develop watercolor technique. She helps readers learn to analyze a flower so that it can be seen both as a whole as well as a component part of a picture. A discussion of painting flowers from photographs is included. Most useful is the chapter about capturing the illusion of sunshine. Ranson's book is better suited to general readers, as it is an introduction to the entire field of watercolor. One of the strongest sections details types of brushes and how to use each one to achieve the desired effects. Following the usual sections on techniques and painting various subjects, Ranson includes several practice ``assignments.'' Kunz's controlled method of working will appeal to some, while Ranson's looser, ``free style'' approach will appeal to others.-Sandi Hammonds, W.T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VACopyright 1994 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


Book Description
In this complete guide to flower painting, Jan Kunz teaches how to capture the brilliant glow that all watercolor artists want in their floral compositions. In six detailed, step-by-step demonstrations she describes the finer points of painting flowers, covering everything from materials to setting up a subject to her special floral painting techniques. Chapters include insightful tips on exactly how to: * simplify every flower into shapes that are easy to paint * draw or paint from life or from photographs * capture the illusion of sunlight * create dramatic compositions that focus on a few important blooms * mix clean, brilliant darks and subtle glazes for special effects By applying the simple ideas and techniques Kunz offers in her book, artists will soon be painting beautiful, light-filled flower paintings that truly seem to glow.


About the Author
Jan Kunz has worked as a full-time watercolor artist and instructor since 1978. She is the author of Painting Watercolor Portraits that Glow, Painting Beautiful Watercolors From Photographs and Watercolor Basics: Color. She lives in Newport, Oregon.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In this complete guide to flower painting, Jan Kunz teaches how to capture the brilliant glow that all watercolor artists want in their floral compositions. In six detailed, step-by-step demonstrations she describes the finer points of painting flowers, covering everything from materials to setting up a subject to her special floral painting techniques. Chapters include insightful tips on exactly how to:
* simplify every flower into shapes that are easy to paint
* draw or paint from life or from photographs
* capture the illusion of sunlight
* create dramatic compositions that focus on a few important blooms
* mix clean, brilliant darks and subtle glazes for special effects By applying the simple ideas and techniques Kunz offers in her book, artists will soon be painting beautiful, light-filled flower paintings that truly seem to glow. Jan Kunz has worked as a full-time watercolor artist and instructor since 1978. She is the author of Painting Watercolor Portraits that Glow, Painting Beautiful Watercolors From Photographs and Watercolor Basics: Color. She lives in Newport, Oregon.
* 55,000+ copies sold in hardcover

FROM THE CRITICS

School Library Journal