Painted Botanical Collage

Book excerpt: With Painted Botanical Collage, artists of all skill levels will learn to create lifelike botanical artwork—featuring flowers, succulents, and herbs—using painted background papers and elegant collage techniques. A unique technique book, Painted Botanical Collage will show you how to create your own collage materials. This guide takes you step by step through creating mixed-media painted papers, then using them—along with tissue paper, art papers, and found paper, such as magazines—to create perfect collage materials. Cut these decorative papers into plant and flower parts to assemble your designs, adding details using various media. Working from nature is central to this technique—look closely at the palettes and shapes in actual flowers to create realistic stylized representations. Painted Botanical Collage includes instruction on creating flowers, cacti, succulents, leaves, and other popular botanicals—over 30 beautiful designs in all. Join in the fun as British artist Tracey English shares the methods behind the magical flower collages that charm and delight her Instagram followers.