Customer Reviews

Painting People in Watercolor: A Design Approach (Practical Art Books)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have been reading and re-reading this book since December 1997. I have always had the desire to paint but never picked up a paintbrush because realistic painting did not leave me inspired to follow. The painting style that Alex Powers has in his work is what I have been searching for all my life. In writing about his personal style he encourages his readers to find their own style. I picked this book up several different times over a two week period before I finally bought it. I would love to attend a class that he teaches.

This is such an immensely informative book with an incredible range of effective techniques and written in such an inspirational way. The next step must be to attend an Alex Powers workshop - anybody out there that can help me?

No well stocked watercolor library should be without this important book by Alex Powers. From understanding the human form to a thorough knowledge of design, Powers impacts an artist's skill. The work in this book guides in how to take your portraits from sterile mug shots to emotional works of art, full of drama and motion.

I happen to like paintings that are not completely realistic and that take advantage of techniques such as using unpainted white paper as highlights. I also like artwork that has lots of lost edges, for example a leg blending into the background and your mind has to fill in the line of the leg. I don't care for 100% realism (take a photo), but I am not a fan of completely abstract paintings either. The point is that I already know what I like and don't like, and you too probably have some idea as to what you like and don't like.

Alex Powers breaks down the different design components of art and shows how he emphasizes the components of value and line to create his art work. However, he encourages you not to just copy his style but to find those components of art (line, color, value, edges, shape, etc.) that appeal to you and make your own artwork by emphasizing them. It is his discussion of the these different components and their relationship to one another that makes this book invaluable. For example, if you want to emphasize the use of value then you should deemphasize color. In this book Alex Powers explains why and covers many other similar design considerations.

The text of this book is fabulous and should appeal to any artist. However, I found the text to be a bonus, as the truth is that I bought the book because I liked the pictures (lost edges, etc.). Although, like a previous reviewer, I don't believe the cover is represtative of the work found inside.

I did watercolor portraits for a Level I college class. Samples of Powers works were in the book recommended for the course, of which I did not get until the course was over. After getting the book, "Everything you ever wanted to know about Watercolor," I was so intrigued with Powers work that I had to get this book.

"Painting People in Watercolor" is a very thorough book. Powers covers all the design elements and principles of painting and gives examples of each. His style of combining realism with abstraction and the way that he works his portraits in with the backgrounds makes his work both interesting and powerful. My original style was totally representational and I never new what to do with the background. Thanks to Alex Powers I have found a new way to paint that I am very excited about.

If you have any interest in painting watercolor portraits with power, movement and emotion, do miss out on getting this book. I read it twice before I painted another portrait and my work has much more vigor. I'll read this book over and over as I continue to paint.

The book is well presented in an easily readable format. The
subject matter is informative with beautiful illustrations and it would appeal to both the beginner and the more experienced artist.

Well rounded approach that can be used in painting in all media. Although his approach is primarily realistic, the principals work well with abstract and non-objective subjects also.

Is a magnificent book, whith a lot of pictures and and many important things to learn about painting.
It helps you to understand how to discover your own creativity and much, much more.

Not intended for the absolute beginner, this book is geared toward those who have a decent foundation who are looking to take their art to the next level. Filled with indispensable advice on design theory, this book is not just for those who paint people in watercolor, despite what the title says. Any sort of artist will find this a valuable addition to their library. This book helped me to develop my own personal style, and to appreciate things like color and value instead of just line. There is a reason this book sells for so much, buy it now.

Also, the art inside includes some of the best portraits I've ever seen, the cover isn't a good example.

How this book has ever been allowed to go out of print is a mystery.. 2nd hand copies are fetching a fortune on Amazon and in art book shops around the world which says a lot about how highly thought of it is in watercolour painting circles.
Alex Powers has a freedom with the brush that is envy of most painters and in this book he teaches the basic principles of his unique design approach to his art.
An absolute MUST for any aspiring watercolour portrait painter.