The Natural Way to Paint: Rendering the Figure in Watercolor Simply and Beautifully [Paperback]

Charles Reid (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2000

This instructional book approaches the figure organically, showing readers how to observe its basic shapes and subtle nuances through practical exercises and lessons in the art of seeing with a painter’s eye. Step-by-step demonstrations in contour drawing teach how to capture the overall essence of the human form, then lessons in gesture drawing emphasize the body’s linear rhythms in various poses. Painting techniques progress from silhouette to three-dimensional forms through clever uses of light, shadow, color, and value.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Everything about the human figure is developed in stages so that the reader can observe how the subtle, gradual applications of paint evolve into a fully realized figure. Building on all the step-by-step lessons in this wonderful "how-to" volume, Charles Reid provides demonstrations of a variety of beautifully rendered figure paintings. -- Midwest Book Review --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Charles Reid, the author of Painting What You (Want to) See and other fine art instruction books, is a popular teacher and widely exhibited artist and illustrator. He lives in Greens Farm, Connecticut.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Watson-Guptill (April 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 082303173X
• ISBN-13: 978-0823031733
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.4 x 10.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #86,964 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #54 in Books > Arts & Photography > Painting > Watercolor
  • #77 in Books > Arts & Photography > Study & Teaching

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars this is a gem!, September 22, 1999

By 

[e-mail] anne goulart, m.d. (boston, massachusetts) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Natural Way to Paint: Rendering the Figure in Watercolor Simply and Beautifully (Hardcover)

this wonderful book demystifies the paintng of figures with watercolors. it is broken up into these sections: drawing, paints and materials, rendering the figure in three dimensions, features, integrating figure and background, and composition. throughout the book there are step by step lessons which are thorough and challenging. furthermore, the book is lovely to behold and the writer has a fabulous sense of humor! i spent my summer on the vineyard obsessed with this book and i've only just begun--it's packed! does anyone know where i can find this guy?

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent course in drawing people, February 26, 2004

By 

Margaret P. "mhp2027" (Boulder, CO USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Natural Way to Paint: Rendering the Figure in Watercolor Simply and Beautifully (Paperback)

This book begins with a couple exercises intended to improve your ability at drawing people with pencil. All of these are ones I've utilized before in college art classes. These are followed by several exercises intended to improve your ability at drawing people with watercolor. All exercises focus on quick drawings. His paintings often use exagerated colors, to simplify the reader's task of figuring out what is happening. Together, these exercizes (and a lot of practice) are bound to greatly improve your artistic ability.

Even if you prefer to do slow detailed paintings, the quick paced exercises are an invaluable tool to improve your ability to draw people.

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An interesting and inspiring book, July 16, 2002

By 

sir_isaac_newton (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Natural Way to Paint: Rendering the Figure in Watercolor Simply and Beautifully (Hardcover)

I was captivated by this book when I first flicked through it. The striking pictures of naked women probably helped but Charles' unique style really is what captivates. For example, one of my favorite pictures is of an old man fly fising. This book inspired me to first reproduce some of my favorite pictures from the book and then to do a series of paintings myself -- a good learning experience. The book is well illustrated (of course) and layed out, and would be a great tutorial in watercolor painting and/or painting people (clothed or otherwise). Charles also wrote a similar book on painting flowers (not of interest to me) and an older less colorful book on painting portraits -- which I was fortunate enough to pick up cheaply and new in a second-hand store. This book is the best of the three though.