Customer Reviews

Taking Risks with Watercolour

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Although the title of the book refers to watercolour painting only, artists using other mediums will get inspiration as well.

Shirley Travena dives into the medium with enthusiasm (no tepid, sepia palette here!) incorporating watercolour with mixed media (including of all things, oil pastels and collage) using imagination, flair and ingenuity. The illustrations are vibrant; a feast for the eyes. While tonal values, composition, alignment and other basics are covered, they are presented in an innovative way. No boring lectures here.

The author shows a delightful candour - admitting how hesitant she was when first starting - and even daring to show some of her early works, on which she has since improved. But then she provides creative ways of overcoming problems, including the initial, daunting feeling of confronting a blank piece of paper or canvas. In addition to trouble-shooting, there are numerous ideas for achieving great effects with very simple techniques. Her use of masking tape to create different planes, for example, is very creative.

This is an experienced artist who nevertheless insists there is no 'right' way to create pictures, which is borne out by such headings as "Daring combinations" and "If a picture needs something, feel free to invent it." Whatever medium or style you use, doing some of the experiments and explorations in this book could well give a new lease of life to your paintings, as well as provide inspiration for new works of art.

An internet search of images turned up several VERY intriguing still-lifes full of bright color swatches, lacy textures, and over-lapping objects in a style like absolutely no other artist on earth. Dang! Who's work IS this? Hmmmm! Shirley Trevena. Dig deeper and a plethora of utterly brilliant images, each one as exciting as the last - and I'm thinking, "I have GOT to learn more about this woman! Bought both of her books AND her DVD, and if she ever puts out anything else, I'll get that, too. Most artists are creative, but in usually in a rather traditional, safe sense. Not Trevena. Her work reflects both her knowledge of color and how it's supposed to work, of composition, shapes, lines --- all the elements of the accomplished artist, and then she breaks all the rules and STILL makes it work! Perhaps she has some intuitive, mystical sense about color choice, about playing pale colors against daring and dark hues, and expecially about composition. I don't know. But, if I could collect only one artist's work, I would fill my house with Trevena's. Taking risks, being outside-of-the-box creative is exactly what she has done - inspiring you to do the same. I have well over 100 art books now. Hers are my absolute favorites - the ones from which I've learned the most about taking risks, and feeling giddy with excitement when I'm able to take risks with my own paintings.

I love this book and have read it from cover to cover. Shirley Trevena's paintings are thrilling to look at, the text is very readible and the layout keeps you turning the pages. I have been painting watercolours of flowers and still life for many years but Shirley Trevena shows me new ways to forge ahead, and fun ways to overcome some of the obstacles I have been facing in my work. Congratulations also to Albert Jackson and the other photographers for a truly excellent book. I look forward to the other book by Trevena.

This is a wonderful book for any artist wanting to expand their horizons in w/c. The author is generous in giving concrete examples and techniques and also gives a step by step explanation as to how she created one of her paintings. As an art teacher I find this an exceptionally good book.

This is a book for the daring... it goes beyond the typical information found in the average watercolor instruction book. Many, many good suggestions and ideas can be found.

Excellent examples of her work and well written. Great ideas on texture, clearly shows you how to achieve these yourself. Love her compositions, use of pattern and still life paintings. She walks you thru one entire painting from beginning to end. Also demo's landscape and more modern, cubist style work. Thrilled to have this art book in my collection of "how to's"

I am an art teacher and this is an excellent book for painting as well as teaching. It is suitable for most all artists and the author has great suggestions and techniques for improving your watercolors.

This book was just what I wanted, a modern twist in a traditional art form, with a strong emphasis on color and a vibrant style to the subject matter.

Shirley Trevena is great! I love her free spirit and color in her still-life paintings. The texture and variety is so inspiring. She lets go, but uses sound technique and unusual contrasts in color and shape. I hope she comes out with another book. I bought both her books, "Taking Risks," and "Vibrant Watercolors" which I have continued to enjoy. Her colors are explosive and abstract, breaking rules with unusual bright colors in backgrounds for still-life painting.

Shirley A. Grant

Our order is due to arrive in a couple of weeks but having seen this book before can certainly review it.

A different approach to watercolour showing the excitement, expansion and beauty of this wonderful medium. The soft edges, disappearing lines are absolutely amazing. Recommend thoroughly - a real book to stimulate.