Customer Reviews

Painting Flowers A to Z with Sherry C. Nelson, MDA

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is a pleasure to look at. It has 50 step by step examples of flowers. I don't work in oils but I can easily apply the use of other mediums from the examples in this book. Usually I'm very disappointed in these step-by-step books but this time I was pleasantly surprised.

I haven't painted for years but this book was just great to get me started again. The author has great pictures showing step by step how to hold the paint brush and do blending and shading. Her instructions are clear and concise and she demonstrates a great variety of flowers, even a bubble bee. I am using this book to learn how to paint with acrylics even though her instructions are for oil. I'd recommend this book to a beginner or an experienced painter. A great reference book also.

This book is excellent for a beginning painter like me who wants to paint stunning, life-like flowers. The illustrations are beautiful, the step-by-step instructions are easy to follow, and the results make you want to paint the next flower, and the next.... I find the color range to be excellent; of the 50 flowers taught, 18 are pinks, purples, and blues, 16 are red and/or yellow, 6 are predominantly white, and the rest, like pansies, foxgloves, and daisies, are multiple colored.

The instructions not only give the colors needed for each project, but also how to mix that particular shade. With this help, I am learning to mix the colors I see and need for my own compositions. The line drawings are easy to work with and mean I can concentrate on painting, instead of struggling with getting the shape of the flower just right.

All in all, if what you really want to learn is to paint something beautiful, this is the book you need.

The book's presentation is excellent (good quality photos), well-organized (material, techniques, clear explanations) and it gets to the point, that is the actual painting, fairly rapidly. No time wasted on painters' nitty gritty debates. Her advice for best-quality-you-can-afford material is no non sense and convincing.
The book includes 50 projects, all presented in the same way: a photo reference, a black line drawing of the flower which you may photocopy, and a series of steps to follow to get the result.
But be warned: she uses mostly reds and yellows (6 of each) in all of the 50 flowers in spite of the fact that the pictures are in different other colors (for example: the magnolia photo presents the white and pink variety, while the painting exercise gets you to do it all in white). The same with peonies & tulips which are invariably tought in yellows and reds. That was the reason I returned the book.
Was it out of concern for the quantity & pricey material ? No way of knowing, but just getting 1 pink and 1 blue doesn't provide enough variety to learn how to manipulate various colors. And it does get boring after 3 such exercises. Sure, you could substitute other colors if you're advanced enough.
The lack of emphasis or encouragement to draw your own flowers displeased me. Just rush to that photocopier. So you're frozen in placement and don't get a chance to ''feel'' your scene (this is a drawer's criticism).
Despite a few downsides, it remains a concise collection of exercises, simple enough for beginners, kept to a minimum of steps, therefore not overwhelming at all.

A wonderful painting book, great step by step instructions, easy to follow, a book I would constantly refer to for instruction. I have Four books from this lady and each one is a tresure I highly reccomend all of her painting books they are very detailed easy to follow books with lots of pictures as that is what I need.

I first checked Painting Flowers A to Z out from the public library. After having reviewed the book, I wanted my very on copy as a reference because I found it to be very useful. I love how the author, Sherry C. Nelson, illustrated her techniques with simple step instructions and with good photo illustrations. I use this book as a reference tool because of it ease of use. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning to paint flowers.

This book is a good book for people with little imagination who just want to copy/paste a flower. There is a strong lack of imagination and personality. Poor colours. Was disappointed.Would not buy it again.

I love this book, it is very clear with lots of details too!

Many types of flowers are shown. The painting method tends toward the tole painting style.