Customer Reviews

Discover Watercolor

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As an instructional publication, this book covers an incredible amount of information. The projects depicted are clear in their concept and the step-by-step demonstrations are easy to follow.
The only withhold that I feel is in the recommendations of certain pigments such as chinese white,lamp black, and cadmiums. I would love to see this book revised using more updated color pigments. The palettes demonstrated are typically British.

This book is a gem in the watercolor teaching books area. It is packed with information and outstanding projects and exercises, and is organized in an excellent easy to follow way with many wonderful illustrations and little boxes to highlight the main points to learn from each lesson.

The book is divided into 3 long chapters. About half of the book is Chapter 3, which is devoted to hands-on painting projects--each unique with something new to teach you in a hands-on approach. Chapter 1 also has smaller painting exercises.


Chapter 1 covers TECHNIQUES--
Each of these techniques sections begins with a boxed area indicating which "key points" will be taught--Example: Painting glass buildings --key points are that "generally, light falling on glass makes it reflective, while shadows make it transparent. Images seen through glass are slightly blurred and reflections distorted, colors seen through glass are paler and bluer than in reality, panes of glass are darkest at the base, paint what you see, working from the general to the particular, etc.. The "Try this!" exercise shows how to "develop a painting of a glass structure by layering wet-in-wet washes, start by capturing the colors and forms reflected in the glass, and contrast these with brighter, more definite surroundings." There is a step-by-step 1-page exercise to show you how it's done. Similarly, the 1-page exercise on making a bird study is just as excellent.

Other topics covered in Chapter 1 include:
Planning washes, adding details, light fantastic, looking at shadows, painting night scenes, painting skies, painting water, painting reflections, painting seas, painting sparkling water, misty landscapes, painting rain, looking at rainbows, stormy seas, painting snowscapes, trees in summer, trees in winter, painting foliage, painting flowers, painting spring colors, painting autumn colors, painting stone and brick, painting glass buildings, painting birds, painting cats and dogs, painting fur.

Chapter 2 is MIXING COLORS:
Using blues--exploring blues, mixing blues--2-color mixtures, 3-color mixtures. Cerulean and its mixtures, Ultramarine and it's mixtures,
Using reds--Exploring reds, mixing reds, alizarin crimson and its mixtures, cadmium red and its mixtures.
Using yellows, etc.
Using greens, exploring greens, oxide of chromium and its mixtures, viridian and its mixtures.
Using violets, exploring violets, mixing violets, permanent mauve and its mixtures.
Using oranges, etc.
Using browns, etc.
Using Black and white--exploring blacks, mixing blacks, Ivory black and its mixtures, Chinese white and its mixtures

Chapter 3---PROJECTS
Autumn fields, Old mill and stream, Harbor view, Country garden, Rocky coastline,
Mountain hamlet, Beach at low tide Lakeside scene, Bustling harbor, Sheep in the snow, harbor wall, summer landscape, Grand museum, Coastal town, Leafy garden, Meandering river, Farmyard scene, Lakeside landscape Topiary garden, harbor steps at low tide, The Grand Canal, Indian Market.

I love this book. It is definitely not one of those books where the artist shows off their work and tells you how they did it. Instead it is a teaching book that is packed with about 200 pages of exercises and projects to teach you how it's done by having you follow the well-designed illustrated instructions. It's one of the best teaching books for watercolor that I have in my collection."

I really didn't need another book on watercolor painting. Not being a novice but always looking for easier and quicker ways of doing things, I bought this book with some trepidation. But what a pleasant surprise - the book for a change did not waste valuable time/paper on repeat basic instructions but went immediately into techniques. I even found the section on color pigments interesting. Not any one book can give you all you are looking for but this one is nice to have in addition to. Its uncluttered, let's get to it, approach alone deserves 5 stars.