Step-By-Step Guide to Painting Realistic Watercolors [Hardcover]

Dawn McLeod Heim (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1997

In 10 beautiful painting projects, Dawn McLeod Heim instructs readers with each stage of creating a watercolor painting, even which colors to mix and what values to use. Large, full-color photos illustrate not only what artists need to do, but also how the painting should look like at the end of each step.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: North Light Books; 1st edition (March 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0891347143
• ISBN-13: 978-0891347149
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,331 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #17 in Books > Arts & Photography > Painting > Watercolor

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best step by step book on watercolors on the market!, October 16, 1999

By 

R.Harrison (California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Step-By-Step Guide to Painting Realistic Watercolors (Hardcover)

This book was obviously written with a lot of thought behind it. I could not believe the detail that I found in this book. I am not a professional watercolorist, but I have been painting for a number of years. This book is a great reference for the experienced painter, but also a concise easy-to follow book for the beginning watercolorist. Ms. Heim's variety of subject matter is also very exciting. Unlike some books that focus on one subject matter, she has given us a number of different techniques and textures to try. I was most impressed by the colors in this book. In the step by step directions, I could mix a color as directed and then take a strip of scrap paper and dab it with paint and then compare with the sample color swatch of the book. To my surprise, it matched perfectly. It is obvious that Ms. Heim also took great care with the publisher to make sure the book was published with "true color". I recommend this book to anyone interested in producing beautiful watercolors, especially you beginners! Just as many of you, I have bought a lot of art books, but I only have a few that I actually use for reference when I am painting. This book is one of them! I am looking forward to buying her next book!

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book but ..., December 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Step-By-Step Guide to Painting Realistic Watercolors (Hardcover)

It's a great book like the other reviewers attest to except that it is geared more towards the still life painter. Be forewarned that there is nothing in here for the landscape or portrait painter.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A natural-born teacher, November 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Step-By-Step Guide to Painting Realistic Watercolors (Hardcover)

I've been an "artist" for many years, but just recently began watercolor classes. Though the teacher was nice, she didn't "teach". I checked out Dawn McLeod Heim's Step-by-Step Guide to Painting Realistic Watercolors from the library and knew immediately that I was going to learn much more from her book than I would at my art class.

I really appreciate Dawn's attention to detail. For each project she first tells you exactly how to mix colors and what the value should be. Then she breaks up each project into sensible sections; shows you what to paint only for that section, and what your painting should look like after each section. Then she has you critique your painting at the end - already knowing where you are likely to error.

This book is simply fabulous! That's why I'm buying it for my library!