......making learning at a distance easier
Botanical Art Online Dianne Sutherland
Tutorials: Building Skills Check back regularly for discounts on selected tutorials
News! there are now two types of tutorials:
The longer tutorials (cost £55 plus), these start anytime and work at your own pace - keep access indefinitely and benefit from annual updates to the tutorials.
The new Mini Tutorials (cost £20) access is now extended to 12 months for all mini tutorials.
Do you want to learn about specific topics and techniques or supplement your learning by developing your skills. If so scroll down the page to see the full range of tutorials available. Botanical Art Online has a new range of affordable tutorials that may be just what you are looking for. These non-assessed tutorials are delivered via dedicated web pages with video tutorials with detailed written instruction.
IMPORTANT: if you purchase a tutorial using a Paypal email address which is different from the email you want the tutorial password delivering to, please send an email to info@botanicalart-online.com providing the correct details. If for some reason the email hasn't arrived within the hour, please check your spam folder in case the email went there because occasionally some email settings block such emails, if you can't find it please contact me using the the same email. Please note the Paypal or card payments will appear on your statement as being made to Picture house.
NEWS
Keep an eye out for the new mini tutorials, scroll down the page to see the latest tutorials
DISCOUNT on selected Tutorials - see below
LEAF TUTORIAL - Start improving your leaves today and keep access indefinitly! benefit from updates, this coming week a new update on overlapping leaves will added.
Payment can be made via Paypal or card via the Payment button, if you can't see the payment buttons, it's likely that you're using an older Safari browser. Perhaps try the mobile site or another browser, such as Google Chrome. Alternatively, you can contact me directly and a I will send a payment request
Available Tutorials
Tutorial 1: Watercolour and Dry Brush Techniques
Available now: Cost £55 Currently on offer until end of November for £50 with the discount code: Autumn5
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Do you struggle with patchy washes, ragged or hard edges, heavy flat paint or 'cauliflowering' effects?
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Are you unsure about what dry brush techniques actually are and when and where to use them?
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Perhaps you find it difficult to create any form and your painting is flat, lacking depth and saturation and doesn't really pop off the page as you'd like it to?
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Maybe you simply want to brush up on your watercolour techniques, learn new ones or to supplement learning?
If any of the above apply to you then this could be just what you are looking for.
This non-assessed comprehensive tutorial provides simple guidance and instruction on the essential watercolour techniques used in botanical art. The same techniques can also be applied to many other natural history subjects too, such as insects and shells. The tutorial has 12 short instructional videos on various watercolour techniques including all of the washes and dry brush techniques as well as troubleshooting problems. In addition the demonstrations include topics such as creating and maintaining highlights, and crisp or soft edges are 2 longer videos showing how to put those techniques into practice by breaking the process down into a simple step-by-step approaches in a painting of small subjects, such as petals, leaves and fruits.
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The tutorial can be completed in your own time because there is no assessment
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Suitable for all levels from complete beginners.
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When you sign up you will receive a password to access the web page on the start date
Once purchased you will receive an automatic reply email with log in details, please check the spam folder if it doesn't arrive. If you have any problems or wish to use a different email than the one used for Paypal, please email info@botanicalart-online.com and we can send the log in information manually.
Coming later in 2024: Watercolour Techniques 2!
Don't forget to check email after purchase to receive log in details, also check spam folder
Tutorial 2: Colour Mixing, Using the Primary Palette
cost £55 Available Now
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Do you struggle with matching the colours found in nature and with understanding how primary colour mixing works?
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Perhaps you find it hard to understand what mixes to use for shade colours?
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Maybe you can't understand why you white and yellow flowers look dirty?
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Or maybe you just can't achieve the vibrant colours in your reds, purples and other vibrants?
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Do your greens look the same or are the just lacklustre and flat?
if you want to gain a better understanding of colour and how to use it in practice this tutorial can help you. Learn about colour theory and colour mixing as well as my own approach and palette choice, using primary colours.
As well as the basic colour wheel system, with complementary, harmonious and analogous colours etc. I've included practical demonstrations in 12 videos and written this tutorial to include my own favourite colour topics, which specifically relate to botanical painting, including:
Mixing with a primary palette
My green and brown mixing system: using the light value of blue as the predictor colour
Why White isn't really White: soft and high light value colours
Keep it Clean, avoiding the dreaded 'botanical' grey and muddy mixes
Hot and Cold: colour temperature and why it's all relative
Yellow, Orange and Red! How to keep it bright
Rich Purples
The dark side of the values: Black Mixes
Neutral Tint: Painting tints and shades
Seeing colour and tricks of the eye: Using underlying colours
This tutorial includes: two downloadable PDF documents with over 10 exercises and 12 accompanying videos, showing how to make colour charts, wheels and paintings of actual subjects using different colours.
Once purchased you will receive an automatic reply email with log in details, please check the spam folder if it doesn't arrive. If you have any problems or wish to use a different email than the one used for Paypal, please email info@botanicalart-online.com and we can send the log in information manually.
Don't forget to check email after purchase to receive log in details, also check spam folder
Tutorial 3: Graphite: Perspective Drawing and Creating Form
Cost £55 Available Now 48 hr discount for £45 Code: DRAW-TODAY
Is drawing from life difficult and perspective a mystery to you?
Do you struggle to create believable 3 dimensional drawings using shading?
If so this tutorial provides just what you need as it shows the techniques and process in the videos with written text to support.
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Explore materials and equipment that work best for tonal drawing and the differences between them.
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Learn to make line drawings of leaves, flowers using perspective, by using a combination of measuring, observation and shapes. From simple line drawing to more complex subjects.
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Understand the importance of good lighting on your subjects, learn about tricks of the trade, how to set your subject lighting and about using simple photography methods to help.
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Learn about the different shading techniques, where to use them, continuous tone, stipple (in graphite and ink), hatching and cross hatching, with examples.
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Create form in your drawings using light and shade with graphite by understanding the approach to layering graphite.
Suitable for all levels. This tutorial has 19 videos and a downloadable 16 page PDF with a range of exercises to carry out.
Once purchased you will receive an automatic reply email with log in details, please check the spam folder if it doesn't arrive. If you have any problems or wish to use a different email than the one used for Paypal, please email info@botanicalart-online.com and we can send the log in information manually.
Don't forget to check email after purchase to receive log in details, also check spam folder
Tutorial 5: Drawing Complex Forms
Cost £55 Available
If you're in a tangle with roots, confused by pine cones and Fibonacci sequences or maybe you just lost your way in a flower centre or multi petalled flower?
This tutorial will help you to break down those complex forms in to achievable subjects. With no complicated math!
You will also learn a variety of tonal drawing techniques through lengthy tutorials which demonstrate the process in detail to help you to achieve smooth tonal values
Examples will include, fungi, lichens, overlapping plant parts, negative space in roots, fibonacci sequence, pine cone, mini pineapple, complex flower centres, soft downy surfaces and how to deal with hairs.
READ THE BLOG FOR MORE INFORMATION
Tutorial 6: Achieving the Depth and Detail
Normal price £55 Available now
Offer for £45 with discount code: Achieve-Depth
This tutorial is ideal if you have already taken the Watercolour Techniques tutorial or have some watercolour experience and want to push your work to the next level by learning more in-depth techniques.
Learn how to:
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Paint rich colours, highlights and shadows
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Transparency in petals and other parts
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Create texture, such as velvety petals
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Add surface patterns and markings
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How to add hairs
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Paint bloom, such as on certain fruits
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Negative space, such as roots and flower centres
This tutorial guides you through the process of painting of actual subjects in longer videos, showing the as much of the process as necessary in a painting. Often the first stages are essential in establishing the depth and detail in the latter stages of a painting and multiple challenges may be present in a subject. In this tutorial I will demonstrate my approach to the topics mentioned above from start to finish so that no steps are missed.
The materials are delivered on a dedicated web page, which can be printed as an 18 page PDF along with 8 full videos of subjects, totalling over 9 hours of video, all are mostly in real time with dialogue explaining the process. More videos will be added at a future date, so you will benefit from these too.
Once purchased you may keep access indefinitely and will benefit from future updates to the page. You will receive an email with the password following your purchase, please check your spam folder. If you wish to have the tutorial sent to another email address, please contact us using the contact form or using info@botanicalart-online.com
Don't forget to check email after purchase to receive log in details, also check spam folder
Tutorial 7: Keeping a Sketchbook
Cost £55 Available Now
Do you want to keep a sketchbook but find it daunting and don't know where to start?
This course gets you started with:
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Choosing materials
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Identifying and describing subjects
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Colour matching and notes
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Layout and how to decide what to include
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Observational drawing and measuring for accuracy
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Using different media and approaches from graphite to watercolour
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When and how to use photography
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Working with limited plant material
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Different approaches, e.g. double page spreads, mixed composition pages
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Working away from home
There is a 26 page printable document
10 videos
Plus, for the first 4 weeks further step-by-step videos will be added each week showing my latest sketchbook work as it progresses, which reveals the process that I use -
taking you from the ideas stage, to drawing, tonal studies and a complete watercolour sketch pages, complete with dissections and annotation.
Once purchased you may keep access indefinitely and will benefit from future updates to the page. You will receive an email with the password following your purchase, please check your spam folder. If you wish to have the tutorial sent to another email address, or have any problems please contact us using the contact form or using info@botanicalart-online.com
Don't forget to check email after purchase to receive log in details, also check spam folder
Tutorial 8. Drawing and Painting Leaves. £10 discount for September
Full price £110
Note: even more leaves to be added shortly! New information and videos currently being added
If you find leaves the most challenging part of your botanical work, this tutorial could be for you. It's a longer tutorial than others with 20 hours of video demonstrating how to paint leaves .There are also three supporting pdf documents, totalling 30 pages, which is all accessible on a dedicated web page.
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Learn about and understand the structure and types of leaves
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How to measure and draw
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Understand the tonal values and effect of light and shade on leaves
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Underlying colours: how to see and interpret them in your painting
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How to use photography to assist the process
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Leaves in perspective
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Colour mixing for leaves
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Green leaves, from light to dark,
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Autumn and coloured leaves
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Variegated and patterned leaves
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Blemishes and nibbles
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Serrated margins
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Natural accurate veins
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Surfaces and textures: glossy, matt, hairy...there are many types of leaves etc.
I've tried to include as much of the process as possible in the videos and will be adding more! Once you register, you keep your access for as long as you like, so you can work at your own pace, revisit when it suit to benefit from
updates. You won't find more leaf videos in any other course.
Once purchased you may keep access indefinitely and will benefit from future updates to the page. You will receive an email with the password following your purchase, please check your spam folder. If you wish to have the tutorial sent to another email address, please contact us using the contact form or using info@botanicalart-online.com
Don't forget to check email after purchase to receive log in details, also check spam folder
Tutorial 9. An Introduction to Painting on Vellum!
Available cost £75
If you love the traditional approach to botanical art, the beautiful translucency of vellum and want to try it but don't know where to start, this is it! This non assessed tutorial will give you a good start as it introduces the basics.
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Learn about and understand the different types of vellum
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the tools of the trade and suppliers
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How to prepare vellum
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Learn the specialist watercolour techniques to and how to paint on this beautiful surface
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Troubleshooting and repairs
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a variety of suitable small subjects are demonstrate in full length videos
I've tried to include as much of the process as possible using many video tutorials on a range of subjects that differ in complexity. Once you register, you keep your access for as long as you like, so you can work at your own pace, revisit when it suit to benefit from updates.
Once purchased you may keep access indefinitely and will benefit from future updates to the page. You will receive an email with the password following your purchase, please check your spam folder. If you wish to have the tutorial sent to another email address, please contact us using the contact form or using info@botanicalart-online.com
Don't forget to check email after purchase to receive log in details, also check spam folder
Tutorial 10. The World of Flowers
Available, cost £55
Do you want to illustrate flowers and also learn more about them? This Tutorial will not only teach you how to paint flowers but will also introduce you to the many floral arrangements as well as story behind the of flowers. It will also include some work on dissection and will focus on examples from different flower families. So whether you simply want to paint flowers or to learn more about their structures, this tutorial will be invaluable.
In this tutorial you will
Follow video instructions on how to paint a range of flowers from different flower families. More videos will be added over the Summer of 2022 as flowers bloom
Learn about floral structures and reproductive parts
How to dissect and illustrate including scaling
How to illustrate these different flower stages and forms from buds, in their prime - to fading, when the flower has served its purpose
Learn to paint different colours, textures and surfaces within flowers, including the importance of underlying colours.
Includes many hours of video tutorials and information on flowers via the password protected website. Read the blog for more information.
Once purchased you may keep access indefinitely and will benefit from future updates to the page. You will receive an email with the password following your purchase, please check your spam folder. If you wish to have the tutorial sent to another email address, please contact us using the contact form or using info@botanicalart-online.com
Don't forget to check email after purchase to receive log in details, also check spam folder
Tutorial 11. Botanical Art for Beginners
Available now Cost £75
This is a stand alone non assessed tutorial based on the former taught course, with access to worksheets and numerous videos comprising many hours of footage and subjects.
VIDEO SUBJECTS INCLUDE:
Learn the essential watercolour techniques from washes and dry brush
Fruit/ seed pods
Flowers
Vegetables and fungi
Leaves
You will also learn about materials and the difference between flower painting, botanical art and illustration as well as learning about simple composition, lighting and tonal values as part of the videos and text.
This is an excellent introduction for those of you who want to try out botanical subjects with a view to undertaking further study, such as an assessed course. Or maybe you just want to work through tutorials and make your own paintings for leisure.
These are NOT copy style tutorials with print outs but encourage you to try the same or similar subjects. Although you can copy them out as practice pieces. Colours and techniques are given throughout.
Includes over 12 hours of video tutorials and printable pdfs on 15 subjects plus technique videos. With a few more new ones to be added!
Re booking and payment
If you have any difficultly with the Paypal buttons please email me and I can send a PayPal invoice. Note that you do not need a Paypal account to pay via PayPal and can use a credit or debit card
After payment you will receive and automatic reply to the email used during papyment, this will have your log in details ( please check spam folder). If you are using a different email please email me and I will send the log in details the that email.
Don't forget to check email after purchase to receive log in details, also check spam folder
Tutorial 12. Painting and drawing on coloured paper: White subjects and more. Zoom Sessions FULLY BOOKED
Two 3 hour sessions. Cost £90. Limited places available fro a small group of 5 participants per session.
February 9th and February 16th 2023 8am - 11am GMT
For the last 2 years I've been painting white flowers on coloured paper for a forthcoming book, I'm now ready to share the process with you n this new tutorial.
Delivered via a two 3 hour Zoom sessions
Information on the best materials
A variety of coloured backgrounds
Includes video and live demonstration, white flowers and other subjects
With downloadable pdf instructions to support
Opportunity to ask questions in a small group
Painting a Butterfly Mini Tutorial includes how to Make a Vellum Like Surface
Cost £20
Learn how to paint a swallowtail butterfly and also how to make a surface using just like vellum
Learn a little butterfly anatomy (Don't worry its only what you need to know) and in a pdf
Learn how to make a surface like vellum or you can paint on paper
How to mix the colours
You will be guided through the drawing and painting process in videos and with written texts on the webpage
Photographic images are provided
NOTE: This mini tutorial will be available to purchase for a limited time.
Once purchased, you will have access to it for 12 months
You will receive an email upon receipt of payment with log in details, check your spam folder if it doesn't arrive within 15 minutes. If you need the tutorial details sending to a different email address than the one used for payment, use the contact form to let me know.
Painting a Nest and Egg on Coloured Paper. NEW Mini Tutorial
Cost £20
In this new mini tutorial you will learn how to paint a birds nest on coloured paper using watercolour and gouache. Areas covered include:
Painting negative space in a complex structure
Using opaque paint and body colour to work on coloured paper
Colour mixing and the colour chart
Painting the smooth rounded form of a birds egg
you will be guided through every stage of the process, from sketching, using watercolour techniques and gouache through to the the finished painting, with videos and a dedicated webpage.
Images are provided.
NOTE: This mini tutorial will be available to purchase for a limited time.
Once purchased, you will have access to it for 12 months
You will receive an email upon receipt of payment with log in details, check your spam folder if it doesn't arrive within 15 minutes. If you need the tutorial details sending to a different email address than the one used for payment, use the contact form to let me know.
NEW Painting Feathers
Mini Tutorial
Cost £20
Who doesn't want to draw and paint feathers? This shorter tutorial shows to how to achieve realistic feathers on paper and vellum.
Capture the different textures from the shiny irridescent surfaces and those lovely floaty parts
This mini tutorial will teach you about the structure of feathers and will show you how to draw and paint then on paper and vellum with beautiful soft results.
Two feathers are included, the first is a fairly simple Peacock breast feather and the second feather will be added on the 10th March, this will be a beautiful Pheasant upper wing feather
There are videos to guide you through the process from start to finish along with downloadable images, a materials list and a document about feathers.
NOTE: This mini tutorial will be available to purchase for a limited time
Once purchased, you will have access to it for 12 months
You will receive an email upon receipt of payment with log in details, check your spam folder if it doesn't arrive within 15 minutes. If you need the tutorial details sending to a different email address than the one used for payment, use the contact form to let me know.
Painting a Dandelion Clock on Coloured Paper NEW Mini Tutorial
Cost £20
15% Discount CODE: SUMMERpaint
In this new mini tutorial you will learn how to paint a dandelion clock on coloured paper using watercolour and gouache. Areas covered include:
Drawing a complex structure with a Fibonacci sequence
Using opaque paint and body colour to work on coloured paper
Colour mixing and the colour chart
Painting fine detail of the many pappus on the seedhead and understanding how to plan such a subject in a systematic way
You will be guided through every stage of the process, from drawing, using watercolour techniques and gouache through to the the finished painting, with real time videos shaowing the whole process and a dedicated webpage.
Images are provided.
NOTE: This mini tutorial will be available to purchase at this price for a limited time.
Once purchased, you will have access to it for 12 months
You will receive an email upon receipt of payment with log in details, check your spam folder if it doesn't arrive within 15 minutes. If you need the tutorial details sending to a different email address than the one used for payment, use the contact form to let me know.
Black and White
Clematis Flower on Black Paper, and a Tonal Study on White
Available NOW
Cost £25
The main focus of this tutorial is painting a white Clematis flower on to black paper but you will first learn how to draw and paint the same flower as a tonal study on white paper, using a single colour. This approach will give you a great insight into understanding the tonal values within a pale subject.
The full length demonstrations for both approaches is a clematis flower but I will also discuss and show several other subjects on black paper as well as discussing which subjects are most suited to being painted on black backgrounds.
For best effects, when painting white flowers on black, dramatic lighting is needed on the subject, so you will also learn about how to light and photograph using the features on a mobile phone to increase the drama. This is a technique that I use to create ethereal effects in the subject and which brings out features such as transparency.
You will be guided through every stage of the process, from the materials, the drawing, the tonal painting with black as well as using watercolour techniques and white gouache and the various other colours and shadow colours used in the process, right through to the finished painting, with mostly real time videos showing the whole process from start to finish.
Several reference images are provided.
Once purchased, you will have access to this tutorial for 12 months
You will receive an email upon receipt of payment with log in details, check your spam folder if it doesn't arrive within 15 minutes, log in is available from the 17th June. If you need the tutorial details sending to a different email address than the one used for payment, use the contact form to let me know.
Drawing and Painting an Autumnal Oak Leaf
Available NOW
Cost £20
You will be guided through every stage of the process of drawing and painting a beautiful autumnal oak leaf, so if you want to try a leaf out before deciding to do a longer tutorial, this is a great starting point.
First of all learn a a little about the process from understanding the leaf and its structure
You will be provided with the materials list, followed by instruction on how to draw such a leaf, outlines and images will also be provided
Next you will learn about colour mixing, underlying colour, and the watercolour techniques used in such a leaf. From washes to various dry brush methods. Also shade colours and where to use them, and importantly, how to paint those veins.
Join me to learn to paint one of my favourite subjects - with over 3 hours of video instruction and downloadable pdf's
Once purchased, you will have access to this tutorial for 12 months from the purchase date (or start date if you pre book).
You will receive an email upon receipt of payment with log in details, check your spam folder if it doesn't arrive within 15 minutes.
If you need the tutorial details sending to a different email address than the one used for payment, use the contact form to let me know.
Autumnal Rumex (Dock) Leaf Tutorial
Not currently available to buy - only as part of the leaf tutorial
You will be guided through every stage of the process of painting a colourful autumnal dock leaf using my own techniques.
You will be provided with the materials list, followed by instruction on how to paint these beautiful colours and shine
plus the colour mixing, underlying colours, and the watercolour techniques used in such a leaf.
From washes to various dry brush methods. Also shade colours and where to use them.
Approximately 3 hours of video instruction, plus downloadable pdf's and original photo for you personal to use and with no restrictions on sharing.
Once purchased, you will have access to this tutorial for 12 months from the purchase date (or start date if you pre book).
You will receive an email upon receipt of payment with log in details, check your spam folder if it doesn't arrive within 15 minutes.
If you need the tutorial details sending to a different email address than the one used for payment, use the contact form to let me know.
Amanita muscaria 'Fly Agaric' Tutorial
Available NOW
Price £20
This is one occasion where using masking fluid is the perfect solution for those raised spots on the cap of this fungi.And it includes the habitat too.
You will be provided with the materials list, images of several fungi to choose from followed by instruction on how to paint these beautiful colours and shine with two different mushrooms at different stages of development.The first video is a simple single mushroom and the second a more complex composition with two mushrooms at different stages of development.
(Note that the first short video is also included in the Beginners Tutorial, however this tutorial has additional material and videos with the longer part of mushrooms content).
From applying the fluid, to washes and dry brush methods is include, it also include painting the surrounding habitat.
Over 2 hours of video instruction is included, plus downloadable pdf's and original copyright free photos for you personal to use and with no restrictions on sharing your images.
Once purchased, you will have access to this tutorial for 12 months from the purchase date (or start date if you pre book).
You will receive an email upon receipt of payment with log in details, check your spam folder if it doesn't arrive within 15 minutes.
If you need the tutorial details sending to a different email address than the one used for payment, use the contact form to let me know.
New for 2024
Fritillaria meleagris, the Snakehead Fritillary Flower and Bud Tutorial
Available now
Cost £20
This is an all time favourite flower of mine, in fact I sketch or paint it almost every year! how could I not make a tutorial about it.
Learn about this popular little flower and how to draw that difficult shape before moving on to the colour palette, and techniques involved in painting the beautiful chequerboard pattern with a study page of petals. Then create you own painting of this Spring favourite, both in flower and in bud.
Includes downloadable pdf with step by step images, photographs and 3 hours of video in real time showing the process of the process of painting the flower and bud
Once purchased, you will have access to this tutorial for 12 months from the purchase date (or start date if you pre book).
You will receive an email upon receipt of payment with log in details, check your spam folder if it doesn't arrive within 15 minutes.
If you need the tutorial details sending to a different email address than the one used for payment, use the contact form to let me know.
New
The Opium Poppy: Papaver somniferum Sketch page
Available
Start your sketchbook journey today and learn some new techniques too!
I am often asked how I create a sketchbook page, in this tutorial I demonstrate the whole process by recreating a page by giving you insights to the whole process from start to finish. But this tutorial isn't just about a sketchbook page and includes some difficult to deal with areas of a subject... Read on for content.
Learn about initial layout ideas and the preliminary sketch and planning process - how to fill a page creativel
The colour mixing method, including my annotations.
The drawing and painting approaches and various techniques used are shown, wet and dry watercolour techniques.
How to deal with a complex flower center in a painting
Those tricky crumpled and creased petals
A dissection and detail drawing
and more
Includes images, photographs and almost 3 hours of video in real time showing the process of the process of painting the flower and bud
Once purchased, you will have access to this tutorial for 12 months from the purchase date
You will receive an email upon receipt of payment with log in details, check your spam folder if it doesn't arrive within 15 minutes.
If you need the tutorial details sending to a different email address than the one used for payment, use the contact form to let me know.
New for 2024
COMPOSITION
Not currently available
Do you struggle with arranging the elements on a page? do you find overlaps and aerial perspective confusing? if so this tutorial will be invaluable in demonstrating the strategies used by me in composing a drawing or painting.
Includes a presentation on composition with a downloadable pdf and several hours of video in real time showing the process of the process of arranging and the techniques used to to deal with common problems in composition. Includes: dealing overlaps, strategies for arranging elements on a page, such a the rules of odds and thirds, colour and tonal balance, how to use ariel perspective, the importance of colour saturation and more.
Once purchased, you will have access to this tutorial indefinitely from the start date if you pre book or from payment.
You will receive an email upon receipt of payment with log in details, check your spam folder if it doesn't arrive within 15 minutes.
If you need the tutorial details sending to a different email address than the one used for payment, use the contact form to let me know.