Customer Reviews

Make Your Watercolors Look Professional

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Carole Katchen researched the advice of a handful of specific professional watercolor painters of varying styles and analyzed their similarities and differences in regards to subject choice, paint application, color choices, mood, preplanning, tricks of the trade or absence thereof...etc.

The book is not for the absolute beginner, I think, because slightly more advanced terminology is used to describe their techniques...nothing more scary than "glazing," "wet into wet," "charging," and so forth. It does assume knowledge of those types of things and does not explain them further than the term.

This book clarified, in some instances, that there is no ONE way to do things. Each professional painter attacked their painting order completely differently.

It was also shown clearly, however, that there are common threads and actions taken by professionals that set their work apart from the pack.

Without giving away all, some are:
First, simplifying into overall larger shapes and identifying focal point.
using boldness, instead of weak, tentative strokes trademark of a beginner
establising eye movement through the painting
unity and contrast in balance for best impact
using value, intensity and hue to enhance light
emphasizing focal point by giving it the greatest color or value contrast

This list just tells the summary, the book explains each of these and many, many more with great samples and specific techniques of how each artist accomplishes this.

There are also multitudes of interesting tips and actual demos that are unique to each individual artist, too.

This is a Great Book ...filled with lots of Information to expand your Watercolor Journey! Well written...Great Reference and Reading!