3 Botanical Painting Tips with Anne Butera

November 18, 2024

Garden Painting, Anne Butera

Welcome to my new Artist Feature series! In this series of blog posts, I have invited other artists to share some of their best tips with you to help you reach your watercolour goals! There are so many wonderful and talented artists to learn from. Let's get inspired together, I hope you enjoy this article by Anne Butera.

Anne Butera is a self-taught artist who works primarily in watercolour but also loves challenging herself to try new things, savouring the freedom and joy she finds within the pages of her sketchbooks. She strives to seek out and celebrate life’s little joys and daily graces in her life, her writing and her art.

Anne is passionate about encouraging others to embrace their creativity and discover their joy. Her art and writing have been published in multiple magazines and in the book Botanica. She writes the blog My Giant Strawberry and the Substack In an Artist’s Garden and she teaches in person and online.

Anne painting in the studio

Here are 3 Tips from Anne:

1. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes or “bad” art.

For so long I believed I was bad at making art and I bought into the idea of inborn talent. Except for very few people, art-making is a skill — one you develop over time — not a talent you’re born with. When I started teaching myself how to paint, my first paintings weren’t very good. But each mistake, each bad painting gets you closer to the art you want to be making. The key is to stick with it. Don’t be discouraged.

Walnut ink sketchbook pages, Anne Butera

2. Pay close attention and embrace what you love.

I love flowers, plants and nature. I’m a gardener and for me, gardening and art are intertwined. Spending time really studying my subject allows me to paint in a botanically accurate and detailed way. It’s also one of the most joyful parts of my process. When observing my subject I connect with nature. I slow down and am fully present. Following your curiosity and embracing what brings you joy will help you make art that’s truly yours. Listen to what calls to you and follow the trail of those things you love.

Sketchbooks Colored Pencil Daffodils, Anne Butera

3. Develop your colour skills.

One of the best ways to improve your art and find your creative voice is to learn how to use color. So many of my students are daunted by this. Don’t be! Color is fun. It’s beautiful and joyful. Paying attention to color, playing with color, matching and swatching color can be a practice in itself. This is also a beautiful place to start if you’re not yet confident in your drawing or painting ability. Color is one of the details I study when I’m observing my subject. But taking time to observe your art materials is important, too. You don’t have to be rigid or scientific about it (unless you want to be). Be curious. Experiment. Mix colors you normally wouldn’t think to mix and see what happens. Keep a color sketchbook or collect swatches on scraps of paper. Let color delight you.