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Illustration Studio: Inking Florals: A step-by-step guide to creating dynamic modern florals in ink and watercolor

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Illustration Inking Florals features inking and watercolor tips and techniques, drawing basics, an overview of plant and flower structures, and step-by-step inking projects for a well-rounded, engaging introduction to multimedia botanical art geared toward artists of all skill levels.

You will love learning to work with ink , pencil , and watercolor as you create your own favorite plants and flowers . Step-by-step projects feature popular flowers, including poppies, peonies, roses, freesias, snapdragons, and more, for a wide variety of well-loved plants that many of us have in our own gardens and/or see while out and about. The Illustration Studio series features interactive exercises, creative prompts, and step-by-step exercises to educate and excite beginning and aspiring artists working in a variety of media and techniques, from manga and anime to illustration done in ink.

Illustration Inking Florals opens with an introduction to plant structure . Essential tools and materials are covered as well, and then you can learn all about drawing basics , ink shading tips , and watercolor techniques so that you have some basic knowledge before getting started on the more than 15 step-by-step drawing projects that round out the book. The final project is a bouquet that incorporates all of the instructions and tips that you have learned throughout the book. Each project in the book makes a beautiful keepsake item or gift for a loved one.

With Illustration Inking Florals , you can learn to draw, ink, and add watercolor to all of your favorite botanicals!

128 pages, Paperback

Published June 16, 2020

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About the author

Isa Down

4 books

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5 stars
18 (38%)
4 stars
20 (42%)
3 stars
7 (14%)
2 stars
2 (4%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
Profile Image for Montzalee Wittmann.
4,863 reviews2,299 followers
April 12, 2020
Illustration Studio: Inking Florals
A step-by-step guide to creating dynamic modern florals in ink and watercolor by Isa Down is a book I requested from NetGalley and the review is voluntary. What a gorgeous book! Plenty of step-by-step instructions, tips, guides, instructions on what to use, how to achieve the look you want, and easy to follow instructions for making beautiful flowers! I am definitely buying this book! Going in my favorite folder too!
Profile Image for Alicia Bayer.
Author 8 books239 followers
April 4, 2020
What a fantastic book! It doesn't just give you really good step-by-step instructions on drawing and painting watercolor flowers, but it's also just a gorgeous book. The flowers are illustrated in a way that you can see the elements in order to really recreate them, and the watercolor effects are stunning. This isn't just a book for people who are already phenomenal artists, but also for regular folks who just want to make something beautiful. Down also gives information on materials, techniques and more. About 16 flowers are presented, along with additional info like foliage. Lovely in every way.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.
Profile Image for Natalie  all_books_great_and_small .
2,592 reviews126 followers
April 13, 2020
I received an advanced reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

This is an absolutely beautiful book of inking and watercolour art in step by step format full of fantastic information. The book goes through equipment needed and colour charts then shows how to draw and paint/ink individual flowers step by step and then shows how to put them all together. This is a fantastic book for starting out floral drawing and painting with.
Profile Image for Nemo Nemo.
132 reviews4 followers
April 8, 2020
AUTHOR

Isa Down is the author of Inking Florals find more information about her here.

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE?

Inking Florals is ideal for novice to intermediate illustrators. Anyone would enjoy the imagery and possibly be encouraged to try illustration for themselves.

SYNOPSIS

A tiny publication that punches way above its weight. Designed as an informal introduction to basic concepts and techniques for creating bright, vibrant and exciting illustrations. The format is simple and clear. Sections are sub-divided into:

Tools

Materials

Techniques

Color Theory

Basic Flower Structure

Step-by-Step to basic florals introduction

CONCLUSION

Isa Down has created a practical guide on how to draw and paint exciting florals. The illustrations are line drawings both colorized with watercolor and monochrome. These are accompanied by precise guidance to assist the artist through the creative process. Alongside some illustrations, there are beautiful full-color photographs. These photographs provide inspiration and act as reference material. I found the wide variety of floral types to be excellent for developing the drawing process. The use of a loose watercolor style to enhance the line drawing worked well. Overall a fun step-by-step guide to creating your own beautiful botanical illustrations.

⭐⭐⭐
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank Walter Foster Publishing , NetGalley, and Isa Down for affording me the opportunity to review Inking Florals.
Profile Image for Cathy Geha.
4,036 reviews105 followers
June 17, 2020
Illustration Studio: Inking Florals by Isa Down
A step-by-step guide to creating dynamic modern florals in ink and watercolor

Information is presented in a way that anyone wishing to try their hand at drawing flowers can do so by following specific steps. I liked the idea of doing some sketching first of petals and leaves and other parts of the flower before creating the final composition.

There are five steps to painting flowers mentioned by this artist:
1. determine the shape of the flower to be painted and the number in the composition
2. use pencil first
3. pen over the pencil lines
4. add watercolor
5. spatter (if you so desire)

Information is included on:
* where to find inspiration
* tools and materials to use
* techniques this artist uses
* color
* basic structure of flowers
* the formula for florals
* putting it all together.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I use the ideas in this book? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley, Quarto Publishing Group and Walter Foster for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars
Profile Image for Monica Reents.
200 reviews57 followers
August 6, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto publishing for accepting my request to read and review Inking Florals by Isa Down.

This is a great step-by-step guide to drawing flowers and learning how to see their details and how to include them in your drawing. You'll start with a pencil sketch, then add your ink, and finalize with watercolor.
This book is a great learning tool with easy to follow instructions. I think this would be a great book for artists of all levels, whether just learning or refreshing your skills.
Profile Image for Courtney Stuart.
248 reviews7 followers
May 6, 2020
This is a glorious book that does, one feels, require a basic level of skill from the wannabe artist to be able to have a go at recreating these floral masterpieces. Sprinkled throughout with the artists own photography, it’s fun, casual style makes the book feel like an artist herself is helping you rather than a how-to book that has to be followed step by step, although for a novice a step by step guide for each flower might prove more worthwhile for the complete beginner. There are several pages set aside to discuss such topics as finding inspiration, elementary colour theory, materials and the like and there are sixteen different flowers explained within this book so that the reader is not relegated to a copier, but rather encouraged to learn, expand and develop additional skills further down the track. In the book introduction, Down also breaks down the parts of flowers, giving a basic anatomy class for beginners who don’t remember year seven science class too well. Down gives the reader a basics class on the how-to of using inks, watercolour paints and the types and sizes of pens and pencils to use the recreate the style of work she produces. With techniques such as for shading, how to blend paint colours to expand the palette range and even what order to do the work in with regards to paint or ink first in which to make the most pleasing results, giving the reader a how-to-draw floral as a basic step by step in one dedicated section.

Athetically pleasing.
Profile Image for Debbie.
3,456 reviews69 followers
May 11, 2020
"Inking Florals" is an art instruction book on how to draw flowers. The author started by briefly covering materials and tools, then she described the basic steps she uses: study the reference photo in detail to see how the different parts (petals, stems, leaves, etc.) are shaped, use a pencil to draw the outline of the flower and the basic shapes, use an ink pen to draw over the shapes and then add details, then add color using watercolor. She assumed that you have a basic knowledge of watercolor as this was usually one step with general instructions like 'paint red over the petals.' There also wasn't much instruction specific to drawing with ink. Rather, the focus was on how to draw flowers.

There were step-by-step instructions for creating 16 different flowers. The first step of each showed the different shapes of the flower "pulled out" by themselves for you to trace or practice drawing before working on the actual flower. At the end of the book, there were some tips for creating bouquets or adding animals. This book seemed to be aimed at beginners who don't have much experience in drawing (since she suggests tracing) yet she also didn't do much hand-holding in terms of describing techniques. Probably the most useful step was where she demonstrated how to draw the different petal, stem, etc. shapes seen in a reference photo, so this may benefit people struggling with that.

I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
Profile Image for Mechthild.
389 reviews7 followers
August 3, 2020
A great help for creating flowers
Artist, educator, and writer Isa Down presents "Illustration Studio: Inking Florals. A step-by-step guide to creating dynamic modern florals in ink and watercolor, published by Quarto Publishing Group - Walter Foster. The book can be divided into two parts, the fist part containing the introduction, finding inspiration, tools & materials, techniques, information about color, and basic flower structure. The second part contains the step-by-step instructions for sixteen flowers as well as teachings about "Filler Foliage" and "Putting It All Together". Every painting is developed in three to five steps based on a photograph, except for the last one about Chrysanthemum which is developed in only two steps. At the end of the book Down challenges the readers to go an create themselves.
The book is presented with great photos, drawings, and design. I highly appreciate the example how the different size of the nib of an ink pen influences ones drawing. Downs shows this with the drawing of a flower (p. 12/13). Numerous tips underline Down's teaching about specific topics. The book is inspirational especially for beginners and intermediate artists and I highly recommend it for them.
The complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley free of charge. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#IllustrationStudioInkingFlorals #NetGalley
May 8, 2020
Illustration Studio: Inking Florals by Isa Down is an awesome and inspiring book. It is chock full of information and suggestions and confidence boosting tutorials. As with any good art book the author goes over the needed supplies. However she explains why you are using these supplies. There is even explanations of size and the purpose of the different sizes whether ink pens or brushes.

In the first section of the book there is extensive explanation on using your own photographs as a reference tool. There is also a section on shading, flicking, wet-into-wet and wet-into-dry water coloring. There are even some tips on how to correct mistakes. There are basic step by step formulas for creating your flowers. There are sixteen flowers in all and each flower is worked in a step by step method covering two to three pages. There is nothing left to ask.

The book is well written, well illustrated, and absolutely full of tremendous inspiration. This is a beautiful book. Well done!

I would like to thank Quarto Publishing, the author and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Pam.
317 reviews10 followers
April 16, 2020
Thank you NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and give an honest review of this book.

How fortunate I was to be able to read and study the techniques in this small watercolor and ink book. It has certainly added to my toolbox of watercolor ideas and techniques.

The author's suggestion of deconstructing a flower and practicing its various petals and leaves from different angles before drawing or painting, was extremely useful.

She shared her ideas about inking before or after painting. Both of these things would be fun to try. Also, her signature spatter effect adds a casual, informal look to the paintings.

This is a small but very useful watercolor book with new and interesting ideas that I have not used before. It is a great addition to the painting bookshelf.
Profile Image for Erin Perkins Curet.
2 reviews9 followers
September 28, 2020
I am a multi media artist who mostly focuses on floral landscapes, so I'm always picking up books to help me enhance my skills or grab some inspiration for a future project. This book provided both. The artist author, Isa Down, breaks down the process of drawing multiple different types of flowers into step-by-step instructions that are easy to follow and replicate. I do wish there had been a bit more instruction on the watercolor and inking portion of the book, it really is more of a 'how to draw' florals book, but it is a great addition to my library.

*This book was provided to me for review purposes from the publisher.
Profile Image for Anne .
484 reviews2 followers
April 20, 2020
Illustration Studio: Inking Florals
A step-by-step guide to creating dynamic modern florals in ink and watercolor
by Isa Down
This book felt more like how-to-draw florals rather than and inking florals book. I liked however that each element for the final project was shown to practice so that it was less intimidating to put it all together. There was not great detail involved with the painting or inking techniques. I personally still enjoyed the book.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here.
2,934 reviews259 followers
April 21, 2020
I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fun read!

The book is surprisingly thorough with the step-by-step instructions from drawing to filling in flowers, bouquets, and animals. The author goes over different techniques (like drawing or painting first) and all the tools you need.

There's also a helpful color guide and information on different painting approaches. Some of the drawings are difficult as a beginner, but there's a variety of beautiful flowers to learn to draw!

Profile Image for Colette Brennan.
217 reviews3 followers
May 4, 2020
received a free copy of this book for review purposes.

I would like to start this reveiw by saying that I am not an artist but I love to create embroidery , crosstitch and fabric projects. I found this book informative and helpful. The most useful sections for me were drawing by measuring and the sections of light and dark contrast and graduations. I found myself challenged to draw my own floral designs for my projects and take up my paint brush to start my watercolour journey.

#IllustrationStudio:InkingFlorals#Beatutiful#Clearand consise#Watercolour
Profile Image for The Suburban Eclectic.
887 reviews13 followers
July 13, 2020
Take your basic flower doodles to the next level with Inking Florals. Detailed instruction and beautiful graphics throughout. The author-artist breaks each element of a flower into three which is helpful, but these graphics are on the smaller side which may make it difficult to pick up subtle details (or I may just need new glasses). I found the beginning projects simple but inspiring. The latter pages felt like more of the same, still pretty to look at, but I found my interest waning towards the end.
September 10, 2020
I greatly enjoyed this book as it is a wonderful & detailed step-by-step guide to drawing flowers.

It teaches you how to pencil sketch them, then proceed to adding ink, and finalizing your creation with vibrant watercolor.
It was nice that the instructions are easy to follow, making it a delightful book for artists of all skill levels.

Check it out today!

***Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto publishing for allowing me to read an advanced reader copy of this book***
Profile Image for Kathee.
331 reviews47 followers
September 2, 2021
This is a beautiful book featuring step by step instructions on creating beautiful floral works of art. I am recently interested in drawing and watercolor and this is among the favorite instructional books I have come across. I especially like that I can use it now as a beginner but that it will also be useful to me as I become more adept at it.
Profile Image for Witch-at-Heart .
1,487 reviews17 followers
April 5, 2020
The artwork and tutorials in this book are absolutely amazing! I’ve already pre-ordered a copy. This wonderful resource features a variety of techniques including watercolor, inking and basic drawing. The tutorials are inspiring and made me feel like I (with practice) could eventually create beautiful florals of my own. I recommend this book to anyone interested in creating beautiful floral watercolor or ink drawings. I am so excited about this book and I highly recommend it!

I received this book from NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - Walter Foster Publishing for an honest review.
#NetGalley
#IllustrationStudioInkingFlorals
Profile Image for Vanda.
16 reviews
April 11, 2020
This book is so helpful, I was able to draw other flowers not just the ones in the book. I liked the technique the book showed. It's not for complete begginers I think, but it can be helpful to them as well
Profile Image for Courtney.
144 reviews
April 18, 2020
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A gorgeous and expansive guide on illustrating and inking flowers through various mediums, full of tips, exercises and encouragement.
Profile Image for Leyla Johnson.
1,356 reviews16 followers
June 27, 2020
Love this book. The author takes one through the examples of using a floral image and transferring it with the use of ink into wonderful artworks. Not a big book, but packed with instructions on how to achieve a good likeness, composition and use of colour.
Profile Image for Agnes Preszler.
165 reviews2 followers
July 12, 2020
It's a joyful instructional book for painting flowers in watercolor and ink. Tools and some basic techniques, elementary color theory. Step-by-step instructions for painting florals, taking them apart (a sort of anatomy). For beginners. Lovely layout.
Profile Image for Elaine.
53 reviews1 follower
February 9, 2021
This book couldn't have come at a better time! It was easy to follow guide on drawing florals. The illustrations themselves in the book were really pretty as well. One of many good books to use for drawing florals if you are a beginner.
March 31, 2020
If you're looking to start a new hobby or if you are looking for more creative things to draw, then this is the book for you. This easy-to-follow book takes you through the steps on how to successfully draw 16 different flowers. In the beginning, Isa introduces the tools that you may choose to work with. I appreciated the illustration showcasing the differences between nib sizes in fine liner pens. In addition, Isa also points out her recommendation for watercolor and the types of watercolor brushes.

If you're a perfectionist like me, you can certainly appreciate the tips for correcting your mistakes. I also like that preceding each of the flowers, the basic shapes are outlined. This will allow you to practice the shapes before diving into creating the flower,

If you're looking into starting a new hobby while you're isolated, then look no further than this book.

Thank you to Isa Down, Quarto Publishing Group – Walter Foster, and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
555 reviews15 followers
April 17, 2020
This book covers basic drawing of botanicals and includes many common varieties of flowers. It then goes into painting those drawings and even covers a little bit of color theory.
Profile Image for Keishua.
185 reviews9 followers
October 4, 2020
This was a really enjoyable book. I usually get really fatigued with step by step books but this one was well done and I was actually sad it ended.
Profile Image for Alexandrah.
Author 1 book3 followers
April 7, 2020
This book is a good intro to watercolors or drawing with inks in general. Filled with beautiful art and examples to help the novice, it's as much showing what to do as telling.
1,245 reviews5 followers
May 9, 2022
A beautiful book, lovely illustrations. It doesn’t just make you copy images but it gives you tools to design your own flowers as well. Simple in concept but hard to do well without some practice. 😉☺️

My digital edition was from a Humble Bundle.
Profile Image for Jenny Houle.
893 reviews10 followers
March 26, 2020
Step-by-step instructions on how to watercolor and inking florals, this guide book really is a great tool for advancing one's skill set. It was easy to follow. There's a large variety of flowers shown, as well as a collection of filler botanicals.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews

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