Creative Watercolor: The Step-By-Step Guide and Showcase [Hardcover]

Mary Ann Beckwith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1996

Creative Watercolor: The Step-by-Step Guide and Showcase will teach you innovative techniques used by some of today's most accomplished watercolor artists. You will be guided through the process with photos and text, as each artist shares the secrets of their approach to watercolor. Freezing pigment, using such unusual tools as a heat gun or a mouth atomizer, or transferring color from another surface through a print-like process, are just a few of the techniques demonstrated in this book. A showcase of creative watercolor techniques, this volume provides inspiration to begin your own exploration of the unending possibilities of watercolor. A must for all watermedia artists, from the novice to the seasoned professional, this book is a thought-provoking guide and an inspiring source of techniques and creative approaches to watercolor.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 143 pages
• Publisher: North Light Books (March 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564961729
• ISBN-13: 978-1564961723
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 9.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #476,899 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly bright ideas for watercolor. A real find., December 12, 2005

By 

Michael Bruno "M. Bruno" (Overland Park, Kansas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Creative Watercolor: The Step-By-Step Guide and Showcase (Hardcover)

I picked this up as a toss out book from the library. It had hardly been used, but the information is invaluable. I have just completed my sixth college art class, and I am constantly looking for new ideas and new inspirations. Bechwith's selections are inspiring. The book is divided into three parts: Techniques inspired by nature, techniques inpired by materials, and techniques inpired by technology. It covers the realm of naturalistic forms in novel approaches to digital art processes. There are some beautiful ideas in these pages. There are actual step-by-step examples of complex techniques - an approach that makes sense, followed by "showcase" sections of really fine artists who use varied techniques.

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I am inspired!, July 22, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Ranch Goddess Estates, Montana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Creative Watercolor: The Step-By-Step Guide and Showcase (Hardcover)

The Ice crystal technique is a nature artist's dream! The images created by the cobweb technique was my favorite. It really brought the child out in me. This book will be appreciated by all watercolor artists, beginner and professional.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice, but...., February 2, 2010

By 

M. L. Arnold "Maloha" (Southern California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Creative Watercolor: The Step-By-Step Guide and Showcase (Hardcover)

I recently purchased this book from a reseller, in excellent condition. It's a nice hard cover book, BUT...

It is long on showcase, and short on instructional techniques. If you are looking for information on Ms. Beckwith's technique (which is the reason I bought the book), just find her website. She shares all of her pages there, for free.

There are a few other techniques included in the book, but the photos are very small. I would liken it to a hard cover national show brochure, with photos of paintings by about 40 or more other artists. It just wasn't what I was expecting.

If I'd had the opportunity to view the book before purchase, I would have passed.

Having said that, if Ms. Beckwith publishes a book with just her paintings and techniques, I'd buy it in a heartbeat!