SKU: 69378147816

Billy Showell's Botanical Painting In Watercolour

Sale price$82.80 Regular price$92.00
Save 10%

Pay in installments of $23.00 with ShopPay, AfterPay and Klarna

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Aug 17 - Aug 22

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

Billy Showell's Botanical Painting In WatercolourBilly Showell's Botanical Painting In Watercolour Billy Showell is a well respected botanical watercolour artist, and her exceptional eye for detail and ability to re create the form, texture, colour and patterning of a wide range of plants have earned her a formidable reputation worldwide. Her compositions are given a contemporary, sometimes playful twist, while retaining all the beauty and accuracy of traditional botanical paintings. In this

Billy Showell's Botanical Painting In Watercolour

Billy Showell is a well-respected botanical watercolour artist, and her exceptional eye for detail and ability to re-create the form, texture, colour and patterning of a wide range of plants have earned her a formidable reputation worldwide. Her compositions are given a contemporary, sometimes playful twist, while retaining all the beauty and accuracy of traditional botanical paintings.

In this inspiring and indispensable guide for botanical artists, she reveals the materials, methods and techniques she uses to attain her stunningly beautiful portraits of flowers, fruit and vegetables. There is expert guidance on tools and materials, working from life, observation, and drawing and painting techniques, as well as detailed sections on pattern, texture, and colour and colour mixing. With numerous step-by-step studies, close-up photographs and examples of Billy's exquisite paintings, this book is not only packed full of invaluable advice and information but also a visually stunning showcase for the work of this amazing artist.

'

Dec 2016

Billy Showell has written a number of books on flower painting but these have so far concentrated on the less formal flower portrait. Where this one differs is that is approaches it entirely from the technical side. You'll look in vain for specific examples. As well as avoiding repeating what has already been said, this method fills the inevitable void left by the specimen-led way of working. It is not, however, a primer in flower painting. For all the attention given to negative shapes, brushwork and colour mixing, this is not a book for the complete beginner. In order to tackle the discipline of botanical illustration, you need to be competent and confident with your style and your materials. Informative, practical and rewarding, this meets a long-felt need.

' - The Artist

'

This is a beautifully presented book, lovely to look at, but even better than that every page is full of clearly written, simple to understand information and techniques about the subject. It covers everything from the choice and use of materials to a range of drawing and painting skills which cover every technique one would need to paint any type of plant or flower. The techniques for handling watercolour, the flow etc would be useful for anyone learning to use this medium in any form, not just botanical paintings. I found the section on colour mixing particularly good and very comprehensive, especially the mixing blacks chapter. It is one of the few books which actually acknowledges that mistakes happen, even to the best, and explains various methods of correction, and also that it takes practice to achieve these type of results. I wish it had been available when I started with botanical illustration several years ago, I think life would have been a bit easier, in short its a fabulous book, extremely informative and beautiful to look at.

' - Anne Chalkley

'

A beautiful and comprehensive book for both beginners in botanic art and for the more experienced artist. There is something here for everyone.
Billy Showell has produced beautifully illustrated examples throughout the book accompanied by explicit text with highlighted tips and hints. The introductory chapters allow the novice artist to identify the materials needed and to use them as a course in developing botanical painting skills. The chapter on troubleshooting is helpful too and especially for the beginner. The more experienced artist will find it an essential reference book for observation techniques and ideas on composition. Colour mixing is explained in detail and forms the largest section of the book and could be produced as a separate book in its own right. Techniques with identified examples for painting detail, texture and patterns are included and ideas on multiple flowerheads as well as methods for painting from photographs.
The glossary is useful and the index logical so that specific topics are easy to find.
The principles and practices described and illustrated could be applied at any level to all water colour artists
This is an essential book on any artists bookshelf!

' - Mary-Christine Levett

'

Stunning and beautiful book – I love it!
Yet another stunning addition to my Billy Showell collection and an absolute must for anyone with a desire to master botanical paining. Highly recommended and well worth the money.  I was so excited to receive this book and I have certainly not been disappointed. This is a beautifully presented book with stunning art work.  Every single page offers hints, tips and techniques with an amazing level of detail.  Whilst it shows some more advanced techniques, beginners should not be put off and the help and ideas offered is exemplary.  I can’t wait to try out some of the new ideas offered such as using lifting preparation and I absolutely love the colour mixing charts.

' - Hazel Walters

'

Discover many step-by-step studies in this wonderful book, illustrated throughout and learn how to paint the plants you love - there is a wide range of flowers, foliage, fruits and combinations of flowers. The Contents include Getting Started, Working From Life, Observation, Drawing, Using a Brush, Painting Techniques, Troubleshooting, Painting Detail, Adding Pattern, Creating Texture, Painting Multi-Headed Flowers, Painting From Enlarged Photographs, Colour and Colour Mixing, Composition and Stretching and Finishing. It provides tips and techniques throughout such as how to keep stems fresh when painting from life. This book is like a how-to of all the things you have ever wanted to paint - how to remove a bloom for instance or how to create a prickly surface or which brush to use. The medley of daffodils is fabulous and the purple and blacks are sumptuously captured. A great guide for all who love botanical painting.

' - Karen Platt -yarnsandfabrics.co.uk

'

Exquisitely presented and beautifully painted, if you ever wanted something to encourage you to start botanical painting, this would be it.

For such a specialist, technical subject there’s a surprising number of books on botanical art. I’m not talking about flower painting in general – there are even more of those! – but ones that specifically identify themselves as belonging to the genus of scientific representation. We could quibble over how many are actually that deeply technical. In its pure form, botanical illustration is used to aid identification and has very specific requirements. For a start, you don’t paint a single example, but rather include specific characteristics that a worker in the field would look for. This may then be used to identify an existing species in an unknown location, or maybe a new one altogether.

I’ve always divided botanical art into three genres. We start with flower painting, where the purpose is to produce something that looks like what it’s meant to represent without necessarily getting every petal perfect, and where the flower itself may not be the main subject. Then there’s the flower portrait (Billy Showell’s previous speciality), where detail becomes more important and the subject may be a single stem. Finally, there’s botanical illustration, which we dealt with above.

This book adds, I think, a new dimension: botanical art that goes into considerable detail, but isn’t obsessed with total scientific accuracy and can be a record of the single example you have in front of you. As such, it’s ideally suited to the artist who isn’t a scientist but nevertheless enjoys at least some of the perfectionism that goes with full-on illustration.

The book is a joy to handle and very thoroughly illustrated, going into plenty of detail regarding the stages of completing a painting. This includes not only step-by-steps, but also examples and technical exercises that deal with things like water droplets – which are well outside scientific work. It’s inspiring, enjoyable and very thorough.

' - Artbookreview.net

SPECIFICATIONS:

Author:Billy Showell - Билли Шоуэлл

Publisher:Search Press Ltd

Language:English

Publication Date:2016

Number of pages:192 pst

Format:Hardcover

Width:228 mm / 9'

Height:250 mm / 9,8'

Weight:1008 g

ISBN:9781844484515

Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 69378147816

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.6 ★★★★★
Based on 24 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
S
Verified Purchase
Sara
Carnegie, US
★★★★★ 5
They choose reading over screen time!
Format: Paperback
The nephews (10 & 8) love these kinds of books! I bought the prehistoric one as well and after they were done they swapped to continue their adventures! They're asking for more and choose the books over screen time! I'd say thats a win for the Aunt!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2026
R
Verified Purchase
Reading Writing And Me
Boise, US
★★★★★ 5
Awesome!
Format: Hardcover
This was an awesome book with a focus on friendship and family which isn't seen often enough in YA. If you liked Who's That Girl, you'll love this music infused book. I have a full review for this book posted on my blog: Reading, Writing, And Me.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2018
D
Destiny B.
Louisville, US
★★★★★ 3
She starts the book off fairly amusing and relateable with an excellent depiction of anxiety and paranoia
Format: Paperback
This was actually a 3.5 star read for me, but the more I pondered it over the two-day span between finishing it and reviewing it, I realized it wasn't quite remarkable enough for me to round up. Here We Are Now tells the story of Taliah, a biracial white/Arabic teen who's never met her father. She's only working on an educated guess that he might be Julian Oliver, rockstar sensationalist, when the man shows up at her door one day to tell her that her assumptions were correct - and he wants to take her to meet his family, including his dying father. Tal isn't the most enjoyable narrator in the beginning of the story. She starts the book off fairly amusing and relateable with an excellent depiction of anxiety and paranoia, but those feelings quickly morph into a level of snark and distrust that's not pleasant to read through. Despite the fact that Julian's entire existence points blatantly to a million lies Tal's mother has fed her throughout her life, Tal refuses to place any blame on her mother. The nice thing about Taliah, however, is how much she grows; throughout the story, through a handful of "tough love" scenarios from multiple friends and family members, she learns that life isn't as black and white as she thinks it is. She grows to slowly trust people and open up, and is forced to come to terms with her unhealthy level of possessiveness over her best friend, Harlow. The most unexpected thing about Here We Are Now was how quickly and how much I fell in love with Tal's father, Julian. From the opening of the story, I honestly expected him to be this flighty, dirtbag sort of stereotypical rockstar who would show up, get her hopes up, and then shatter her dreams a few times before disappearing again at the end of the book. That is totally not Julian at all, though. From the beginning, he's awkward, uncertain, and a little bit shy about learning he's Taliah's father. I won't spoil the fine details for you, but we learn that Julian hasn't been half bad enough to deserve some of the events of the past, and he's actually a pretty well-meaning guy. His banter with Tal is so enjoyable, and I loved the way the we got to see the past through his memories, but they were written in Lena's (Tal's mother) perspectives. Harlow is Tal's childhood best friend, who happens to be a lesbian. I loved the idea of Harlow to bits: she's obsessed with baking, she's sassy, she's proud of her sexuality, and she's got a good head on her shoulders. Unfortunately, her actual interactions with Tal and the other characters in the story are cringe-y most of the time, and her "tough love" spiel about not relying on only one person would have been a lot better if it hadn't been laced with her breaking a promise to Tal so she could hang out with her girlfriend. The romance in this book was one hundred percent the biggest disappointment in the entire story. It felt so incredibly lackluster and out of place that I probably would have rounded up to 4 stars if I could have somehow gone through and edited out the entire existence of this friend-of-the-family character. He's not a bad kid, but it would be so nice to see a YA contemporary every now and then that doesn't end in a couple forming, and this book would have been perfect for that! Totally a missed opportunity. First of all, I am not Muslim - or religious at all - and I cannot speak for how good this rep was. I do know, however, that Jasmine Warga identifies as a Middle Eastern/American woman, so the POC rep is own-voice and was so enjoyable to read. Tal's mother's perspectives frequently reflect on her Muslim beliefs and family, as well as how incredibly homesick she is for Jordan. She frets constantly that she is letting her parents down if she doesn't make a name for herself in the States, and there is even a solid bit of conversation about hijab-wearing and eating habits! Of course, there is also the lesbian rep that I mentioned in Harlow's case, which I found really enjoyable. Harlow is out and proud and has no questions about her sexuality. There are no tropes, or painful moments we commonly see through queer characters in YA contemporary titles. All in all, Here We Are Now was a fun read, but nothing spectacular. Had it not been for the romantic aspect, I would have given this 4 stars, but it was such a downer that I couldn't justify rounding up the rating. If you're looking for a fun YA contemporary story about family, with some nice diverse representation thrown in, or if you're already a Jasmine Warga fan, I'd recommend picking it up.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2017
C
Verified Purchase
CassieopiaBooks
Draper, US
★★★★★ 4
A very witty and heartwarming story for everyone...
Format: Hardcover
Wow, Pamplemousse! I think this book found me at the right time in my life. Here We Are Now is short and expands over a few days, but I also enjoyed that flashbacks of the main character’s parents falling in and out love is littered throughout the pages. I really connected with the main character Taliah, who is definitely a hard shell to crack. But I loved that although she is sarcastic, smart, and funny, she also holds a tight rope around her emotions. She is cautious with letting people in, but I liked that her journey to meet her father and his family for the very first time, opens up her world to new challenges and emotional breakthroughs. I don’t want to give too much away in regards to the plot, because it is very straight forward and well-focused on Taliah, a teenager, meeting her father, a well-known rock star, for the very first time. And throughout the pages, Taliah pushes herself to open up to her dad, discover unknown information about her mom, and meet her long lost family. And importantly she matures and discovers things about herself. Here We Are Now is very straight-forward and focuses a lot on modern day scenarios, such as familial conflicts, diversity, biracial relationships, and tough love. I found myself laughing a lot during this book, because these characters are so witty and heartwarming. But there are also some parts that are heartbreaking, and these moments are so raw and gritty and realistic. In the end, I liked that the conclusion of this book leaves the characters wide open for new possibilities and room to grow, instead of a simple “happily ever after” ending.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2018
R
Verified Purchase
roger
Charlottesville, US
★★★★★ 5
Highly recommended
Format: Hardcover
Fun to read. Love Jasmine.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2017

recommand products