The innate delicacy and beauty of flowers make them a compelling source of inspiration and a very popular subject for artists. The essence of a good flower painting is not only the artist's ability to capture the colour and shape of leaves and petals but also to transfer the life and vigour of a living plant to paper on canvas. An Introduction to Painting Flowers provides all the essential information needed to create successful floral compositions - whatever your chosen subject or medium. The initial chapters outline what materials are available and how they can be used to create different effects. Further chapters explore how to use a sketchbook to full advantage and how to approach composition while explaining the role of colour and light in a painting. Finished paintings and step-by-step sequences demonstrate the techniques described in the text. Throughout the book, artist Elisabeth Harden emphasises the importance of accurate observation of your subject and the value of experimentation with new ideas, techniques and media. She encourages all flower painters to build up their knowledge and confidence and to find their own individual style.