"I saw a ballerina in this flower; I saw her bowing after her performance. The falls were the ruffled folds of her chiffon gown. I see this sort of analogous beauty in every flower I paint. At first, I'm entranced by their beauty, but then I wonder if I can capture what I see and feel. Like the soul of an angel, I want the flower to live forever. "

---Miciol Black, p. 80

"This was a moment in time. As I walked through the sunroom, there it was an overflowing basket of red geraniums, the elements of light playing with shapes and colors. It was as if I was seeing it for the first time. "

---M. Laubhan Yanke, p. 67

"I stepped into the magic of The Netherlands at the height of its tulip season. The colors, the unfolding of the petals, the bend of the leaves, and the layers upon layers of tulipsdizzied me. "

---Rachel Crawford Imlah, p. 85

Take a stroll through this grand celebration of flowers, courtesy of 87 of today's finest artists! You'll see sweeping wildflower fields, meticulously composed floral "portraits," delightful bee's-eye views, and a glorious variety of blooms. Equally diverse are the mediums and styles represented-everything from exuberant impasto strokes to delicate glazes, photo-realistic renderings to dynamic abstracts.

Along with these large, lush reproductions are the artists' comments on concept and technique--with intriguing insight on how they used design, color, light, mood and other elements to turn flowers' transient beauty into beautiful, moving paintings.

Filled with riotous color and rich textures, romance and energy, Best of Flower Painting 2 has been hand-picked to grace the coffee table of avid painters, gardeners and flower lovers.

EPIGRAPH

INTRODUCTION

Emphasize Design and Composition

Accentuate Color

Depict Texture and Pattern

Turn On the Light

Convey Mood

Highlight a Special Subject or Background

Portray a Different Viewpoint

Stress Contrast

Greate a Story or Symbolism

PERMISSIONS AND CONTRIBUTOR LISTING

INDEX