New article in Artists and Illustrators Magazine

Hi everyone,

Last month I had an article in A&I magazine (November issue), giving 17 tips to design greeting cards.

This month (December issue) is a follow up article, this time a full tutorial, putting in practice the tips from last month. The tutorial is an ink and watercolour botanical tree, using winter garden foliage and berries to create a Christmas tree.

The principle is simple: a walk around the garden and/or around the park, picking seasonal leaves, berries, flowers… In this one the Ginkgo is from my drive and the windscreen of my car parked under the Ginkgo tree, the holly is from my neighbour’s hedge, the pansy from a planter in my front porch and the ivy from my walled garden, where it tends to cover every inch of the brickwork.

I then drew a triangle for the overall shape, and filled in the geometrical shape with the bits I had picked up. Originally I also had rosehips and ivy berries, but I simplified the design as I went along.

Sometimes a simpler design is neater and more impactfull than something busier, more intricate and more complicated.

The magazine is available in WHSmith and other newsagents.

Happy Painting and if I don’t write anything before, have a lovely festive season!