Hilary Page's Guide to Watercolor Paints [Paperback]

Hilary Page (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1997

With new colours and new reduced-toxicity paints on the market, what artists previously knew from experience about the characteristics of their paints is no longer entirely dependable. Information on the subject is essential to all watercolourists, and this manual aims to provide it. Colour by colour, Hilary Page compares and contrasts the brands of watercolour paints on the market according to five factors: quality, reliability, lightfastness, handling characteristics and mixing potential. This book organizes paints by colour and chemical composition rather than by manufacturer, making it easy to follow. More than 1000 samples show each paint's specific hue and range straight from the tube to the most diluted state, and there are other critical evaluation tests, such as lifting potential, covering power, performance in wet-to-wet applications, and granular quality.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

HILARY PAGE'S GUIDE TO WATERCOLOR PAINTS is now offered with regular, free, on-line updates . The web site for the updates is listed in the front of each copy of the book.

About the Author

Originally from England, Hilary Page now lives in Houston Texas with her husband and family. She is the author of two other books: "Watercolor Right from the Start", "Color Right from the Start" published by Watson-Guptill publications. She has written numerous magazine articles and produced six art instruction videos. She is an award winning artist and experienced art instructor who regularly teaches workshops in the USA, Mexico Canada and Europe.

Product Details

• Paperback: 178 pages
• Publisher: Watson-Guptill (February 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823022617
• ISBN-13: 978-0823022618
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #342,733 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars atlas of color, February 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Hilary Page's Guide to Watercolor Paints (Paperback)

this book represents a stupefying amount of research on nearly all commercially available watercolor pigments. the text begins with an overview of the color wheel (reduced to a color "triangle" anchored on the subtractive color primaries RYB), then marches through the colors in sectional sequence. each section opens with a survey of pigment development and a separate discussion of specific pigments. every pigment from each manufacturer is represented by an identical color swatch footprint, showing a graded wash and a wet-on-wet blossom, keyed to lightfastness tests and the actual pigment ingredients of the paint. the swatch commentaries reveal some clear biases (the same pigment is described as "toxic" or "not lightfast" under one manufacturer but as "a beautiful color" under another), but for a work of this scope the level of accuracy is stunning. it's revealing to finally comprehend how variable a "type of paint" such as hooker's green actually is, the diversity of names for the same pigment (such as phthalo blue), and the sheer abundance of unique pigments available in the blues, yellows and reds. overall a work of tremendous craftsmanship, perseverence and care. essential for any serious watercolor painter.

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is an excellent reference book., August 2, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Hilary Page's Guide to Watercolor Paints (Paperback)

Having borrowed this reference book from the library three times, I now am happy to make it a permanent part of my own collection. This book is a comparative analysis of various manufacturers' paints, listed by color. Not only does Ms. Page provide an independent evaluation of color, texture, and lightfastness, but also highlights that, "You don't always get what you paid for," by noting that in some cases the student quality paints are as good if not better than the professional quality line. This is an exceptional reference book which would enhance any watercolorist's library.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you paint watercolors, you need this book..., January 28, 2001

By 

Joanna Daneman (Middletown, DE USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hilary Page's Guide to Watercolor Paints (Paperback)

It will save you mucho money. A complete, comprehensive test of colors from a wide range of major manufacturers of watercolor, this book lists the lightfastness and handling characteristics of each color. But that's not all. You get reflectance curves, mixing potential, transparency, lifting, staining, granularity and other properties of pigments. (But it is fun to read, as the information is presented in a very accessible form)

Never buy a horrid tube of chalky, weak, miscolored, fugitive paint again. Plenty more in this book, including history and even chemistry. Hilary Page is a fantastic author, teacher and painter. Get this book!