Customer Reviews

Painting Coastal Scenes (Watercolour Tips and Techniques)

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

 

 

I gave this book 5 stars, but with an admonition. This book is an excellent primer on painting coastal scenes. One really could not ask for more in an instruction book intended for an amateur artist. It is not for the experienced or advanced artist.

For many many years I have tried to teach myself to draw and paint. This is one of the probably 80 books I have purchased trying to learn how to be an artist, and it was one of the best. I have also taken numerous classes in about every medium one could name. Unfortunately, for me, I am not an artist and I really do not have any talent; thus, this book did not help me advance. In fact, none of them really helped me much because the innate talent was missing.

When I started trying to become a good artist I was helped by Drawing On The Right Side of The Brain. I did get better at drawing. As I always wanted to draw well I became encouraged and set out on my multiple year effort to learn how to draw and paint. When I say multiple year I am not kidding. For 20 years, at least, I have purchased books, taken classes and otherwise engaged in an enormous struggle to achieve even a nominal competence. My favorite books include: Keys To Drawing, The Natural Way to Draw, nearly every book and tape by Tony Couch, and both editions of Drawing On The Right Side of the Brain. My favorite drawing book, and the one I feel did teach me quite a bit, was How To Draw Anything. Every book by Jack Hamm is also excellent in every way.

In spite of all my efforts (including successfully graduating from two mail order art courses: Northlight and Famous Artist) I failed. Last year I gave it one last shot by taking several beginning art courses at a local art studio (taught by an excellent instructor) and the results were dismal. I finally quit and sold or gave away my art supplies - a literal mountain of material that I had accumulated over the years. It was hard to call it quits, but facts are facts.

The reason I bring this up is to remind you that a person cannot learn to draw and paint unless at least some talent is present. If you are buying this book in a effort to become an artist, first ask yourself if you have struggled for years and not improved. If you have bought many books before and tried to advance but failed, this book isn't going to help. If you have not tried drawing or painting and want to give it a try perhaps this book is for you. It is a basic introduction that anyone can use if they are starting out. But look deeply inside yourself if you have been trying to draw and paint but not improving. Save your money for other things. This book is also not for someone who has a lot of talent coupled with even a little experience.

I gave it five stars based on the above caveat. Good luck.

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Well known artist Ray Campbell Smith shows how to paint with watercolors a subject that can be a challange to paint yet in a easy to understand way. Painting Coastal scenes is a great book that will help the painter understand a much easier way to record the coastal life. Ray Campbell Smith is a another great artist much like Ron Ranson. The paintings in the book hold fantastic loose brush work in a low key style.

The book arrived in great shape and quickly. The paintings in it are great, but not very colorful. I felt the book had a lot to offer, though, so it was worth the price.