In this article I share my thoughts about the book, “Modern Watercolor Botanicals”, by Sarah Simon, also known as The Mint Gardener. I love that the book is spiral bound, so it lays flat when open on my table.

During the live session, I demonstrate one of Sarah’s watercolor swatch exercises, then select a portion of one of the project outliners to paint a fun striped leaves plant in a pot artwork.

I hope you’ll give some of the tips and tricks shared in the class video a try!

Watercolor ‘Boundaries and Blending Blocks’ exercise from the book, “Modern Watercolor Botanicals”, painted by Tristina Dietz Elmes.

Some of the things you will learn from this workshop include:

a full review of Sarah Simon’s book, “Modern Watercolor Botanicals”;
how I let watercolor paints dry in my palette and rewet later;
making some watercolor paint opaque with white gouache;
following a project in the book Boundaries and Blending watercolor blocks;
how to customize a drawing by using part of an outliner from the book;
using a brush pen to add lines and designs to watercolor painting;
and more…

Various green color mixes for ''Point-Pressure-Point Leaves’ exercise from the book, “Modern Watercolor Botanicals”, painted by Tristina Dietz Elmes.

Modern Watercolor Botanicals Book Review and Painting Workshop Video Replay

Below is the full video workshop of my Live painting session. The paints, surfaces and accessories used in the video are listed afterwards in this article. Enjoy! 🎨

Here are the video timeline sections if you want to jump to a particular part of the live session:

0:00:00 - Intro To the Book: Modern Watercolor Botanicals

Here is a link to the Pigment Database I referred to in the video:
https://www.artiscreation.com/Color_index_names.html

And, here is the July 2026 World Watercolor Month Prompt List:
https://worldwatercolormonth.com/prompts/

Feel free to ask me any follow-up questions in the comments below. Thanks for watching! 😍

Striped Leaf watercolor and Pentel Pocket Brush Pen artworks on watercolor paper by Tristina Dietz Elmes.

Supplies List for Modern Watercolor Botanicals Book Review and Painting Workshop

The watercolor paints I used for this painting session were:
WINSOR & NEWTON
Permanent White Designer's Gouache
Yellow Ochre
Cadmium-Free Yellow
Winsor Orange
Hooker's Green
Olive Green
Viridian Hue
Cobalt Blue
Payne's Grey
DANIEL SMITH
Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Genuine
Green Apatite Genuine
Ultramarine Turquoise
Rose Madder Permanent
MICHAEL HARDING
Cinquasia Maroon

Here are links to the book and supplies list for the paints, papers and accessories shown during the video. As a Blick Affiliate and Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases for links below that lead to Amazon and Blick Art Materials.

Book: Modern Watercolor Botanicals by Sarah Simon (Hardcover Spiral Bound, 2019) - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1958803219?ref=t_ac_view_request_product_image&campaignId=amzn1.campaign.18ISVAIROLZWN&linkCode=tr1&tag=dietzart-20&linkId=amzn1.campaign.18ISVAIROLZWN_1782702474352
📗📘📙
Winsor & Newton Watercolors on Blick - https://www.dpbolvw.net/click-101492004-12117697?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dickblick.com%2Fproducts%2Fwinsor-newton-professional-watercolor-tubes%2F
Winsor & Newton Designer's Gouache Permanent White on Blick - https://www.dpbolvw.net/click-101492004-12117697?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dickblick.com%2Fproducts%2Fwinsor-newton-designers-gouache%2F%3FItem%3D00801-1172
Daniel Smith Watercolors on Blick - https://www.jdoqocy.com/click-101492004-12117697?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dickblick.com%2Fproducts%2Fdaniel-smith-watercolors-paints%2F
Michael Harding Watercolor Cinquasia Maroon 15ml Tube - https://amzn.to/4uYgOcl
Van Gogh Pocketbox Travel Watercolor Set 12+3 Half Pans - https://amzn.to/4o3OMu3
Pentel Pocket Brush Pen Black with 2 Permanent Ink Cartridges - https://amzn.to/4nId0Kg
Pentel Pocket Brush Pen Sepia with 2 Permanent Ink Cartridges - https://amzn.to/4dwlRtA
Pentel Pocket Brush Pen Grey with 2 Permanent Ink Cartridges - https://amzn.to/3PKA7ao
Pentel Pocket Brush Pen Sanguine with 2 Ink Cartridges on Staples - https://www.staples.com/pentel-arts-refillable-pocket-brush-pen-sanguine-ptagfkp3bpsg/product_24610897
CuppaClip Square Watercolor Paper Spiral Bound Notebook Cold Press 100% Cotton 140lb - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FNLCLXY4?ref=t_ac_view_request_product_image&campaignId=amzn1.campaign.3M022IKBGHYLA&linkCode=tr1&tag=dietzart-20&linkId=amzn1.campaign.3M022IKBGHYLA_1782703056702
Grumbacher Watercolor Paper 140lb 8x8in - https://amzn.to/44BKwca
Canson XL Watercolor Cold Press Paper 140lb 9x12in - https://amzn.to/4414KvW
US Art Supply Cold Press Watercolor Notebooks 140lb 5.5x8.5in Set of 3 - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08T21BSDQ?ref=t_ac_view_request_product_image&campaignId=amzn1.campaign.2KXA587IB1GL4&linkCode=tr1&tag=dietzart-20&linkId=amzn1.campaign.2KXA587IB1GL4_1782703999947
Pro-Art 16-Well Slant Palette Plastic - https://amzn.to/4eyY8ed
Richeson Butcher Tray 7.5x11in - https://amzn.to/3QIsMZy
Fuumuui Sable Watercolor Brushes Set of 8 - https://amzn.to/4bifWIj
Artify Squirrel Quill Brush Set of 3 - https://amzn.to/4xW5wI9
Mofa Turquoise Hot Air Tool 300W - https://amzn.to/4kAae8a
Faber Castell Clic-N-Go Collapsible Water Cup Turquoise - https://amzn.to/42tTZRN
My Recommended Cloth-Like Viva Paper Towels 3 Double Rolls - https://amzn.to/3EPZhOW
🎨🎨🎨
Note that most of the list of supplies above can be found on the Blick Art Materials website and shipping is generally free for orders of $79 or more. Check them out here:
https://www.jdoqocy.com/click-101492004-12117697?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dickblick.com%2F
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If you would like to see other paints, mediums and art supplies that I recommend, click below to go to the Supply Links page on my website:
https://www.dietzart.gallery/supply-links

Or, check out art supply recommendations on my Amazon Storefront. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
https://www.amazon.com/shop/tristinadietzelmes

FREE Live Art Lessons Sunday Afternoons

SUNDAY afternoons I teach a FREE ART LESSON simulcast on YouTube Live and on the WhatNot auction platform followed by a giveaway and sale of my handmade artworks, gift items and some art supplies on WhatNot. You can follow the QR code appearing in the YouTube video or follow the Invite link in the video description to join me on WhatNot for some great Live Auction Art & Gifts deals.

If you're new to Whatnot, sign up with the following link and get $25 in Whatnot credit to use to shop on the platform:

https://www.whatnot.com/invite/tristi...

I hope you'll join me and the thriving Artisan community over on WhatNot soon!

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https://www.ebay.com/str/tristinadietzartst

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Happy Arting! 🎉