The Big Book of Painting Nature in Watercolor (Practical Art Books) [Paperback]

John Shaw (Photographer), Ferdinand Petrie (Painter)

Book Description

Series: Practical Art Books | Publication Date: May 1, 1990

Depict the play of light on spring foliage silhouetted against a dark sky. Paint a vivid sunset over a lake. Capture the drama of waves surging toward the shore. The Big Book of Painting Nature in Watercolor provides 135 stimulating demonstrations in painting trees, skies, and water from beautiful photographs by one of the world's leading nature photographers.

This book will be invaluable to landscape artists. The 600 magnificent illustrations and engaging text cover the entire range of watercolor techniques and give the artist in-depth instruction in painting beautiful images of the natural world in all seasons, weather, geographical variety, and at every time of day. Many of the lessons are followed by assignments designed to help you apply what you have just learned to new situations.

The Big Book of Painting Nature in Watercolor is a must for everyone who wants to master the techniques for becoming a first-rate landscape painter.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ferdinand Petrie has been the recipient of awards from art associations throughout the United States. His paintings appear in numerous museums, galleries, and private collections. He is the author of Drawing Landscapes in Pencil.

John Shaw is one of the world's leading nature photographers. His work has appeared in such magazines as Audubon and National Wildlife, and in numerous books.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Watson-Guptill; Reprint. edition (May 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823004996
• ISBN-13: 978-0823004997
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 0.8 x 11 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #276,428 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Landscape Watercolor Book I've Seen, April 10, 1999

By A Customer

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This review is from: The Big Book of Painting Nature in Watercolor (Practical Art Books) (Paperback)

As a beginning landscape watercolorist I've been reading a lot of books about technique. Some don't cover enough topics, some authors try to promote their own line of art supplies, and some authors use the same one or two techniques no matter what scene they are painting. Not so with this book: this one is excellent. The author presents many difficult topics (e.g. cresting waves, snowy forest) and presents solutions to breaking down complex topics into paintable scenes. If you are trying to paint landscapes and are looking for guidance, check this book out--it really is helpful and inspiring.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, easily crate a vast arry of beautiful scenes, June 15, 2001

By 

Angel Lee "Liocorno Amethyst Moonstone" (Cleveland, OH United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Big Book of Painting Nature in Watercolor (Practical Art Books) (Paperback)

This is a fantastic book that shows you how to create a vast array of beautiful nature scenes and landscapes seamlessly. It is a must have for anyone wanting to paint nature in all its glory.

The book starts out with a discussion of tools and materials. It then explains color and its characteristics. A list of all the colors used in the book is provided here. The basic watercolor techniques are covering including laying washes, working wet-in-wet, using a dry brush, masking, creating highlights with an eraser, stippling and more.

The book is packed with over 130 lessons that teach you to paint trees, leaves, skies and water. Some projects include painting a delicate tree in a cloud-filled landscape, simplifying a close-up lacy crystal pattern, sorting out a maze or snow-covered branches, paining rapidly flowing water, capturing dripping rain and rendering water reflections.

Each lesson deals with a particular subject taken directly from a photograph and a specific problem such as capturing a stormy dawn with mostly dark color but making a thin reddish band look unforced. It then offers a basic solution and provides a step-by-step demonstration of how to go about painting the scene.

The wide variety of subjects and the consistent and detailed format of teaching in this book have really helped me improve my painting. The author has a great knack for breaking complex subjects into simple steps and focusing on what is important in making the painting a success.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Watercolor Landscape technique book., December 1, 1999

By 

LSB "LSB" (LSB) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Big Book of Painting Nature in Watercolor (Practical Art Books) (Paperback)

I have been painting watercolor landscapes for the last year. I have looked for books on this subject and have bought quite a few of them. This book is by far THE BEST one I own. I try to paint an example or paint my own perspective of the painting being developed by the artist. This book is good in that it lets you innovate, teaches you about the colors, hues and techniques that could be used to bring different effects. There are some 135 practice examples with step by step guidance and photographs of the paintings in various stages of completion. A very good investment.