Painting Spectacular Light Effects in Watercolor [Paperback]

Paul C. Jackson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2004

From soft, atmospheric effects to powerful images, this guide provides artists with the insight and instruction they need to illuminate their paintings with the magic of light. Utilizing 7 complete painting demonstrations, artists will learn how light behaves, where and how to find the best light and how to use the personality of light to express the feeling and character of a subject. In-depth guidance features specific instruction for capturing light effects on glass, metal, water, landscapes and architecture - and also offers methods for experimenting with candlelight, shadows and more.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Paul Jackson's watercolour compositions have been featured in several publications, including The Artist's Magazine, Watercolour Magic and Watercolor Highlights and can be seen in magazine ads, on posters, CD covers and wine labels.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: North Light Books (February 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581805896
• ISBN-13: 978-1581805895
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,920,939 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A really stunning watercolor book!, August 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Painting Spectacular Light Effects in Watercolor (Hardcover)

I ordered the book after visiting Paul's website which has many of his beautiful paintings online and I was really delighted to receive my copy yesterday. The book is done on a very professional level, filled with gorgeous step-by-step projects, and it serves as the door to the Paul's spectacular watercolor world. I've recently realized (I'm a beginner watercolorist) that a painter needs to train ones vision the same way as a musician needs to train fingers, and Paul gives many valuable hints on such perception development, seeing beyond the still life objects and taking them to life by help of light effects. The many projects in the book are very interesting and tempting, earlier I used to sigh when seeing some amazing paintings depicting colored glass, crystal and metal objects, but now I'm sure I'll be trying to paint them myself by using Paul's instructions! Also the architectural paintings demand special attention, painted Paul's way, the churches, monuments and city buildings create a special mood and they become messengers to the viewer. I really recommend this inspirational and at the same time very practical book to watercolorists of any level.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Proper title should be "spectacular painting"..., March 7, 2001

By 

Claes Tegenfeldt "artist, silversmith, MScEE" (Sweden) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Painting Spectacular Light Effects in Watercolor (Hardcover)

I bought the book expecting "painting spectacular light effects in watercolor", thinking of effects=FX (special effects). That was wrong, the book is not so much about painting light effects but painting the way light illuminates the scene. It is a journey from light sources bending through glass/water/mist bouncing off surfaces or just exploding in fireworks!

I was surprised by the contents, it was not what I had expected, but it was a pleasant surprise! It was way better then I had hoped for! The illustrations are not only of high class, some are better than anything I have seen in watercolor at all.

It is a step-by-step advanced course in painting in watercolor using light to its best. How do you paint something colorless and transparent such as glass? How do you paint a metallic surface? How do you use light and shadows to bring life into a lifeless painting? You will get answers to some of your long standing questions.

I recommend it for anyone who wants to catch the light... I am sure you do.

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Used This Book & Won an Award !, April 29, 2000

By 

"caprig" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Painting Spectacular Light Effects in Watercolor (Hardcover)

WOW! I was trying desperately to find something to paint for my first (really fantastic) art show. I had never painted in watercolor before and the entries in this show are always the highest quality. I had entered, and was chickening out.

This book arrived the week before the show and after looking at it all night and sighing with the thrill of it all, I was inspired to try using candlelight (one of the lessons) for my very first painting ever.

Imagine my shock when my name was called out of many other amazingly talented entries as winning an award! My very first watercolor!

So, you can guess by now, how I feel about THIS book. But that does not tell you if it is for you yet, does it?

The illustrations in this book are wonderful. They are realistic and create the illusion of light beautifully. You will love looking through it as a wonderful collection.

The book also has photos of subjects for you to study as well. The conversational tone is wonderful, and many topics are covered. Texture, depth, color and temperature, movement are all discussed. There is a great chapter on glass and metal.

The demonstrations cover a bead of water, drop of water, mist, stormy clouds, buildings, and candlight (my favorite, of course).

The amount of information in here is well worth the price of the book. If you are in love with light in painting, then this is a book you will also love.

As far as ease of learning- well, as I said, I won an award for my very first watercolor painting in a tough art show. This book will have a special place in my collection!