13 Top Tips to get details right in botanical art by Sandrine Maugy

[@jayleigh_bee]

My tip is to be gracious and understanding of your abilities. Don’t expect perfection.

[@carlaa.1617]

I am new to your channel and do not understand why you do not have more subscribers and views. Your tutorials are excellent! You are a fabulous artist and teacher. Your videos are a joy to watch. Thank you so much for the superb lessons you have shared. Your paintings are gorgeous!

[@carlaa.1617]

@@AtelierSandrineMaugy My pleasure :)

[@vickst0892]

Each and every one of your tips was INCREDIBLY helpful! One of the most useful videos I've ever come across. Thank you!

[@AtelierSandrineMaugy]

You're so welcome! :)) Thank you for your kind message :)

[@MegaAwesomeAnnie]

So glad you point out the amount of studying and observation required as a lot of people I talk to seem to think that being 'artistic' is an innate ability, whereas I always say that it is a skill which is developed over time, with patience and commitment. Anyone can be creative but most of us aren't born that way, and a lot of dedication is required if you want to progress. Thank you for all these great tips! I am moving on from food illustration to attempting botanical paintings so this video was just what I was looking for. Merci, Sandrine! :)

[@AtelierSandrineMaugy]

You are most welcome. Some people might have a creative personality but you do need to work at it to develop it and make the most of it. There are no shortcuts in botanical painting :) Good luck, let me know how you get on! A bientot!

[@anahata2009]

This was so helpful. Thank you! Two things in particular struck me--the need to do studies from many angles before choosing a composition (I tend to want to dive right in, and this doesn't lend itself to interesting or dynamic views); and the hard truth that you won't get a good painting from a bad drawing. Good reminder---just like in the kitchen, don't expect a tasty dish from poor ingredients.

[@AtelierSandrineMaugy]

Exactly :) These two rules have always been important to me because when I am inspired by a subject I just can't wait to get started with the painting, which to me is the best bit :) I often have to make myself spend more time on the drawing. :D

[@angelcitygirl]

I'm not sure which I love more - your beautifully detailed illustrations or your elegant accent. Thank you. Gorgeous work.

[@AtelierSandrineMaugy]

Thanks so much 😊

[@studiomiroa]

Thank you for your tips. I think it can be applied to many other things too, not just botanical painting. Study the subject, do baseline study, don't be afraid of making mistakes[use eraser], don't assume anything, use reference, don't fiddle and give character. Excellent advice! 👍

[@debbyshehane9955]

Thank you! I'm going to go grab a flower now and try to follow your advice.

[@bmikula1861]

Good advice beautiful painting. Thank you .

[@stelleldir]

This is one of the most helpful videos I've ever watched. Thank you so much!

[@AtelierSandrineMaugy]

You're very welcome! :)

[@pkpassarelli-nelson5348]

Thank you for the honesty of the effort required. Excellent advice!

[@AtelierSandrineMaugy]

Glad it was helpful! :)

[@kennyiklei]

Thank you very much.

[@swahhh1510]

This video gives me a lot of insight and answer all my curious. Thank you for creating this video.

[@sisterkerry]

That video was so helpful, with really original tips like keep in flaws to give the object "personality". The way the tip was illustrated really made the point clear. I am happy to be a new subscriber!

[@Iceblu511]

Fantastic information, really learnt a lot. Thankyou!

[@AtelierSandrineMaugy]

Thanks Lissa, I'm glad it helped :)

[@dopapier]

`beautiful. So clear. And a lovely voice.

[@AtelierSandrineMaugy]

Thank you 🤭

[@Lee-Anne-ow3uo]

Very informative,ty😊

[@cathyriach1285]

Beautiful - thank you very much for this video - greatly appreciated!

[@AtelierSandrineMaugy]

My pleasure! :)

[@LanaGloschatArt]

Thanks so much for the video! I loved it!

[@AtelierSandrineMaugy]

You are most welcome 🌸

[@jessicathompson1456]

Watched again-excellent!! Very well-executed video.

[@ladyhecate9450]

Thank you for your tips. They were very helpful for this beginner.

[@AtelierSandrineMaugy]

You're most welcome :)

[@larryglatt2548]

Just discovered you thankfully & subbed. Thank you for this excellent video.

[@AtelierSandrineMaugy]

Welcome aboard! I'm glad you liked the video :))

[@HeidiFelizYoga]

Si helpfull advices!!! Thank you so mucho! 😍❤️❤️❤️

[@AtelierSandrineMaugy]

Glad it was helpful :)

[@laurenfox5684]

you did an EXCELLENT job on this, thank you for sharing this w/us! :)

[@AtelierSandrineMaugy]

My pleasure! :)

[@michaelklein5242]

Very helpful, practical advice. Thank you!

[@paullove1487]

Thank you very helpful.

[@AtelierSandrineMaugy]

You're welcome! :)

[@ruthmoore1448]

Amazing, thank you.

[@toshawatkins7195]

Thank you for these tips! This is the most informative & useful video I've watched!

[@AtelierSandrineMaugy]

Glad it was helpful! :)

[@adunzoroq33]

What an azing video. I am only beginning with botanical art and your tips are the most useful I've come across ❤️ thank you!

[@AtelierSandrineMaugy]

You are so welcome! :)

[@5artstar]

😍😍🤟🤟 Thank you for teaching 🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭

[@nlorens]

marvelous work, so inspiring! Thank you for the tips

[@AtelierSandrineMaugy]

Thank you for your kind comment :)

[@eliev7844]

Wow, your work if simply awesome!

[@AtelierSandrineMaugy]

Thank you so much 😀

[@chase4326]

Very good! Thank you! 💕

[@AtelierSandrineMaugy]

You're welcome :)

[@leilarahimi4756]

Very beautifll👍👍

[@AtelierSandrineMaugy]

Thank you :)

[@namliennguyen3754]

Thank you !

[@AtelierSandrineMaugy]

You're welcome! :)

[@mustafauygun4077]

With this video you have one more subscriber and i have a motivation to improve my skill. Thank you

[@AtelierSandrineMaugy]

Awesome! Thank you and Happy Painting! :)

[@sandiemyers2463]

Well I just found your channel and I'm very excited about it! You mentioned in this video that you would Give the names of some books the talk about the different shapes of leaves Etc but since this video is 4 years old, I can't find the video with that information. Could you give me the name of a couple of books thank you again❤

[@AtelierSandrineMaugy]

Hi Sandie, ooops I did make that video listing my favourite books, but it's on my Patreon channel, not here... My favourite reference book is The Cambridge Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms 📚

[@sandiemyers2463]

@@AtelierSandrineMaugy Thank you so much. I have a few books with that type of information. But it is not thorough.

[@renee1292]

Wonderful tips with clear description and instruction! I always hear the advice to work from real life specimens and not photos,, but often a photo is all I have. How can I render skilled artwork this way?

[@AtelierSandrineMaugy]

It's a difficult question for me to answer because I don't think it's as good as the real thing at all and I very, very rarely work from photos. I like to touch my flowers, smell them, turn them over to see the colour on the other side, feel the texture... All of these are key to choosing pigments and colours and observing the details, but also to feeling inspired by your subject. If photos are the only solution, then it's is always best to take your own, so you know what you need from them. People who take photos don't usually have the painter in mind, so they don't necessarily try to have the right lighting or all the details we need. Then of course there is also the issue of copyright... You would need the consent of the photographer to use a photo as a reference. Altogether easier to go to a friend's garden or to the flower shop to get the real thing 😀🎨🌸💜

[@renee1292]

@@AtelierSandrineMaugy Thank you so much! Other than using photos from a tutorial I tend to take my own reference pics. I do understand the need to observe the real flower with all my senses. Your teachings are always eyeopeners toward the right path in botanical art.

[@AdrianBlount1]

Hi Sandrine, just wondering if you did make the video re the other book of botanical terms you use? I can’t see it on your channel. Thank you

[@AtelierSandrineMaugy]

Hi Adrian, I did, but I did it for my Patreon channel... My go-to is The Cambridge Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms by Michael Hickey. The other one I often use is Understanding the Flowering of Plants by Ann Bebbington. While writing my second book, these two where my references. I hope this helps :)

[@ShirleiBarnes]

Great!

[@karenfinneganart2480]

Thank you for this I have found it teally helpful 😍

[@AtelierSandrineMaugy]

You’re welcome 😊

[@jansogge7335]

great tips. I am enjoying the Patreon site.

[@FelineJungle]

Love the outcome!

[@Emiliagarcia759]

Can someone tell me what paper she uses? 🙏

[@AtelierSandrineMaugy]

Hi Susana, I can tell you what paper she uses 😀 It's mostly Fabriano Artistico HP 640 grams. Happy Painting!

[@Emiliagarcia759]

@@AtelierSandrineMaugy thank you!! But I can’t find the 640 gms one anywhere and she seems to be using the 300gm3 one in the videos?

[@AtelierSandrineMaugy]

Hi again Susana, 300 grams is not heavy enough for the amount of water I use... It would buckle, especially on large subjects. You can find the 640 grams here www.jacksonsart.com/fabriano-artistico-extra-white-hot-press-300lb-640gsm-22x30in-56x76cm-x1?___store=jacksonsart_en&acc=8b16ebc056e613024c057be590b542eb

[@Emiliagarcia759]

@@AtelierSandrineMaugy wow thank you amazing! By the way I love your work, a total inspiration ❤️

[@אלמוגרות]

סרטון מצויין כמו שאר הסירטונים שבהדרכתך. מתעוררת השאלה איך מחזיקים צמח או פרי או כל פרט בוטני אחר טרי ובאותו מצב שמתחילים ללמוד אותו ולצייר טיוטות שלו וצביעה סופית? שהרי כל צמח מאבד צורה וצבע כל יממה, ולעיתים תוך שעות. במיוחד פרחים. תודה רבה על הדרכתך המצויינת כל

[@diannaa5631]

I make my erasures on my tracing paper.erasing on wc paper damages the paper.

[@eternalfizzer]

Thank you so much for this! I'm just learning watercolours and I did a study of a pear to try to capture roundness ... it took about 5 days, trying different methods of glazes and colours, ending with the core after I ate it finally :-) You've given me more things to think about for my next subject (a goofy double-carrot).

[@AtelierSandrineMaugy]

Wonderful! I hope the pear was good :D I'm doing an online class tomorrow on tone, one of the subjects being giving roundness to an apple... Details here: www.sandrinemaugy.com/courses

[@sashas3332]

Thank you

[@AtelierSandrineMaugy]

You're welcome 😊

[@evelyne7071]

Please explain to me: Why botanical paintings are always on blank paper. Why “never a background” if you are trying for “realism ?

[@AtelierSandrineMaugy]

Hello, botanical painting is derived from botanical illustration, which is a type of scientific illustration, so the emphasis is solely on the plant. Although botanical painting has a less scientific approach than botanical illustration, it keeps this tradition. Adding a background shifts the emphasis to include the environment, and the painting style becomes flower painting, still life or landscape. Traditionally, botanical illustrations were painted by artists who painted from plant specimen brought back from expeditions by plant hunters, so they never even saw the plant's original surroundings...

[@cmeblu75]

Oh how right you are!!! A rubbish drawing is never improved by color, you just have a colorful mess instead of a graphite one! 😂

[@AtelierSandrineMaugy]

Exactly! :D

[@teamirina3587]

Thank you!