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Victoria has a passion for botanical painting.
Germany-based botanical artist has dedicated her life to studying and painting flowers. Her vibrant illustrations capture the delicate nature of these blooms, and it almost feels as though her works are about to leap off the page. Part scientific study, part artistic practice, her process involves real time observation of plants to create the most true-to life representations.
Thankfully, she also enjoys teaching and sharing her knowledge with others. In her newest online class, , Beyer teaches the basics of botanical study, including dissecting plants and identifying different parts of them. She also gives students tips and tricks to working with watercolor that can bolster confidence within the medium.
Although this intermediate watercolor course won¡¯t be released to the public until May 20, students currently have an opportunity to enroll early and save. During the pre-sale period, you can save 10% off the normal retail price of $34.95 by using code botanicalart10 at checkout, and, once the course is released, you will find all the course lessons ready for you. The best part is that they¡¯re on demand, meaning you can watch at your leisure and revisit lessons as often as you¡¯d like.
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Learn more about Victoria and get inspired by her work ?
How did you get your start with art?
Art has always been part of my life. By the time I was 6, I was already doing Disney character commissions for my classmates. I didn¡¯t study art in college, I wasn¡¯t allowed to... Instead, I got a bachelor's degree in construction engineering, but in my 30s, I decided to pursue my calling, which was painting, and haven¡¯t stopped. I¡¯m 42 now.
What attracted you to botanical art illustration, especially in relation to watercolor?
I was really amazed at how botanical artists could create such bright and realistic illustrations with watercolor, a medium known for its flow and typical pigment stains.
I thought, "I have to take on the challenge and master it myself."
Do you have any artists specifically who have inspired you?
Yes, I do! These artists have inspired me in different ways, from the way the approach their practice, the challenges they have faced, and their unique style. Like Ursula Romero with her big modern leaf portraits and blue flowers, Billy Showell and her creative compositions, or Dianne Sutherland¡¯s journals.
What was the most challenging part of working in watercolor for you when you started?
When I started with watercolors, I didn¡¯t take a course. I tried to figure it all out on my own, and I think that made me lose time. How do you teach yourself if you don¡¯t even know what you¡¯re doing? My color mixes looked muddy, even when I thought I was using the right pigments, and my washes didn¡¯t behave the way I wanted them to.
What is your favorite part of your artistic process?
I think the study is what I enjoy the most. Dissecting a flower, learning the names of every part, and deciding my color mixes. It feels like playing. But also, you really get to know the plant¡ªit¡¯s a very intimate way of working, and if you¡¯re a sensitive person, you really get to feel your plant, and come to respect and care for it. I mostly work from live plants in pots or in gardens. If that¡¯s not possible, I get them as cut flowers. My last option is working from pictures, ideally not for the entire project. I do take pictures of my plants to consult later, just in case. But I end up not needing them... I¡¯ve collected around 3,000 reference pictures!
What do you hope that people take away from your new class with My Modern Met Academy?
Besides the techniques, I hope our students will understand that making a realistic portrait needs patience and dedication, but is less complicated than it seems. Splitting the process into smaller chunks makes everything much easier.
What prompted you to begin teaching your art to others, and what is your favorite part about teaching?
It¡¯s how my brain works: when I know something I find fascinating, I make it my mission to let others know. I used to teach in person, and it was so rewarding to see others' improvement and see how they enjoyed it and felt accomplished.
I¡¯ve never understood people who keep knowledge to themselves. Unfortunately, I can¡¯t speak German very well as my first language is Spanish. I do my best to speak English, so those are the languages I can teach in. I hope one day to do in-person workshops again.
During the course, students will follow along as Victoria dissects, studies, and paints a composition of tulips and daffodils.
Watch this sneak preview of ?
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We'd love to see what you create! Use the #MMAcademy to share your work with us.
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