Watercolor Workbook: Flowers, Feathers & Animal Friends – Sarah Simon

For painting the wild things, the growing things, and the wonderfully feathered things.

In Watercolor Workbook: Flowers, Feathers & Animal Friends, artist Sarah Simon guides you through 25 beginner-friendly watercolor projects inspired by animals, birds, flowers, and the natural world.

Each design is already outlined, so you can skip the drawing and move straight into exploring color, washes, layering, and watercolor technique. Step-by-step instructions guide you through each project, while watercolor paper lets you paint directly in the workbook.

Choose a feathered friend. Paint something furry. Add flowers wherever flowers seem necessary.

The outlines give you somewhere to begin; the color is entirely yours.

Details

Author/Artist: Sarah Simon

Projects: 25 beginner-friendly watercolor projects

Subjects: Animals, birds, flowers, feathers, and nature-inspired designs

Skill level: Beginner-friendly and enjoyable for more experienced painters

Format: Pre-drawn artwork for painting directly in the workbook

Paper: Watercolor paper

Instructions: Step-by-step guidance for each project

Great for: Learning watercolor, practicing techniques, nature-inspired painting, and creative sessions without the pressure of starting from a blank page

Why We Love It

The subjects are almost impossible not to want to paint.

This is the workbook for the person who spots the bird before the building, stops to look at flowers, or thinks most things could probably be improved by the addition of a small woodland creature.

We love the balance between guidance and experimentation. Sarah provides the drawing and walks you through the technique, but you're still mixing the colors, moving the paint, and discovering what watercolor does along the way.

It's practice that doesn't feel very much like practice.

About Sarah Simon

Sarah Simon, also known as The Mint Gardener, is an artist, author, and watercolor educator known for her botanical painting and approachable teaching style. Her books and creative instruction help painters build skills through flowers, foliage, color, and observation of the natural world.