Hazel Soan has studios in London and Cape Town and travels widely for her painting. Hazel is the author of many painting books, including Learn to Paint Wildlife Quickly, published by Batsford in 2023, has recorded several DVDs and her work is in private and public collections, including the National Portrait Gallery and a number of embassies. Find all her latest news, courses and holidays at www.allsoanup.com
If you ever feel stuck for a painting subject, are short on inspiration, or just need a mood uplift, I recommend painting flowers. Being in the presence of their inherent natural beauty has the ability to lift the spirits in any case, but by actively painting them they are able to impart even more of their bonhomie.
Watercolour is the ideal medium for painting flowers as its kinetic nature is a perfect match for the flow of nature rippling through the floral world; thebe made for each other! Flower paintings can be free and spontaneous, impressionistic or descriptively detailed. You can use the biggest of brushes and mix lashings of yummy colour on the palette or paint tiny delicate watercolours with the finest of brushes. Brightly coloured flowers offer the opportunity for painting in strong, cheerful colours such as red, violet and pink – hues that immediately raise the dopamine levels. Unless you are a botanical painter, you may rarely get to use colours like opera rose and brilliant purple. My tubes have lasted years; here's their chance to show off!
