Customer Reviews

Water Paper Paint: Exploring Creativity with Watercolor and Mixed Media

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've always wanted to try my hand at working with watercolors but most of the books I looked at seem to take the subject so seriously that they were overwhelming and just not that inspiring to me. When this book came up on my recommendations I anxiously awaited it's release because it looked exactly like what I was waiting for and I was right! If you're looking for a book to take you step by step on every aspect of creating watercolor masterpieces then no, this is probably not the book you want but if you're new to watercolors and want a book that takes you through some easy and fun techniques to get you started then you'll love this book.

The author has a nice writing style that is easy to follow and understand and the accompanying full color illustrations are beautifully photographed. You'll being with the basics: types of paper, paint, palettes and brushes and then the book moves right into techniques and projects. Get your feet (or hands!) wet by starting out with working wet into wet and wet onto dry techniques. Then try your hand at dabbing, dripping, blowing and splattering paint. All of these techniques make beautiful backgrounds to write, journal or doodle over and as papers to be torn and used in collages.

That's only a small sampling of what's in this book. Other chapters (30 in all) include subjects such as: using salt to make texture, working with a still life, using high-key or low-key color, using value, printing with leaves, masking and stenciling, collage, opaque and iridescent watercolors, working from a photograph, writing with watercolor, adding watercolor to a monotype, drawing from nature and more.

At the end of the book you'll find a 20 page gallery of work by several contributing artist working in a wide range of styles.

I found this book to be a refreshing approach to the subject of working with watercolors!

If you've ever tried to work with watercolors, you know how tricky it can be. The medium seems to have a mind of its own ... as it travels paths on paper that you don't intend it to travel ... making marks that are not so easy to control. This very nature of watercolor is one that causes many of us to hesitate pursuing projects using it.

Water Paper Paint by Heather Smith Jones is a groundbreaking book that shows people like me that watercolors can be used to achieve success in projects big and small. There are 30 projects in all, where with each one, we learn how to work in unique ways, as we gain insight about how the elements of water, paper, and paint relate to one another. We learn to leverage these insights to create magnificent effects.

The very first project teaches how to work "wet into wet" as we first wet the paper and then apply layers of wet paint colors onto the wet paper to create circles. Heather doesn't just stop there. She shows how once dry, these circles can be cut to use as lovely little gift tags.

There are other intriguing projects where we learn to use leaves, straws, bubble wrap, dishtowels, and more, to create textures and effects that are simply breathtaking.

Along with these innovative projects, Heather imparts valuable information in her Basics Chapter One, about the fundamentals of paper, paint, palettes, and brushes. Throughout all of the pages in this book, what shines through is Heather's authenticity. She speaks with an authority and sincerity that have been developed through her years of experience and her genuine love for her art. Bravo to Heather for a true work of art in this, her very first book, Water Paper Paint.

If you are familiar with watercolor, and all the ways that it can be used (wet on wet, using salt to create patterns, resist, basic color theory), this book will provide no new information.

HOWEVER, the artwork included is STUNNING. And there's lots of it. You will not find any watercolor paintings of a serene shady birch tree or a rippling body of water in this book. The exercises and gallery all feature a great mix of both abstract and representational art that will really inspire most mixed-media artists.

Yes, the book does cover basic technique. And it's *supposed* to- those of us in mixed media often "dabble" in new mediums. Whenever we come across something that looks like it might be interesting and fun to play with we jump in. So some of us are not formally trained in watercolor and have no idea of all the possibilities of watercolor.

So, if you are familiar with watercolor and all it can do, this probably might not be the book to send your art to the next level, but if you need a vibrant kick of inspiration, definitely check it out.

Granted I did read quickly the book description but the words in the subtitle were full of promise... As for the description on the back of the book it is totally misleading:

"Whether you are a novice or have a background in painting......Water Paper Paint will provide endless hours of inspiration...". This book is designed for TOTAL BEGINNERS, period!

It barely provided a few minutes of inspiration to this reviewer! Even the section "Gallery" was disappointing.

I gave it 2 stars because it is a pretty book with a nice format and a few lovely illustrations.

I received this today and can't wait to jump into it! I didn't really know what to expect when I ordered this book (after reading about it on artist Geninne's blog; her work is included here) but I'm so pleasantly surprised!

I just recently started experimenting with watercolor. The 70s book I checked out from the watercolor with its black and white landscape illustrations and dated exercises wasn't exactly making me enthused about trying any of its advice. But this...

The illustrations and colors are gorgeous. Not only are there many projects that I am so looking forward to doing but it's also full of information about the watercolor painting process itself- questions I've had about when to stretch paper, why the paper still buckles, techniques, etc. Plus there's lots of ideas on how to use watercolor with other media and I'm a fan of mixed media in my own work already so I'm excited by this.

Some of the information in here isn't new to me, but I think it's good that way in case you don't have much prior experience with painting, color theory, etc. It's not exhaustive, but has the basics so you could just pick this book up and get started. I recommend that you do!

I have done watercolor for years, but I found this book very inspiring. She has organized the book in an easy to use format. The projects are very interesting. I can't wait to try some of them. I also teach art to elementary and jr. high children and I can see them being very inspired by some of the color mixing and the playful experimentation of some of the projects. I have many art books, but I will put this one in my favorite category, one that I will go to many times.

On a recent vacation I took a 2-hour class on watercolors from a delightful & highly creative instructor. The class was only long enough for my instructor to talk about supplies, introduce me to a few basic techniques, and practice a bit. Needless to say, the time flew by and I wished I could take my instructor home with me in my suitcase. Thankfully, this book is a worthy substitute.

I am so glad I found this book because it is EXACTLY what I needed. I'm not an artist, and I haven't painted or drawn in decades. But I am trying to incorporate more artistic elements in my life (because art makes me happy). Most of the watercolor books I've come across have been overwhelming, heavily reliant on good drawing skills, and restricted to representational art. This book is the opposite -- it's easy to read through, knowing how to draw well isn't required (although it's helpful for several projects), and abstract forms as well as representational forms are included. Guidance for creating a basic palette and choosing paper & brushes is included as well which has been very helpful for me in rounding out my palette and acquiring good-quality supplies without going overboard.

I think what I love best about this book is that the projects are wonderful "getting started" exercises. Writers typically have drills that they do to warm themselves up and get them in "story mode." I think this is what this book is for me. The projects warm me up and get me out of my typical left brain mode and into right brain mode. And they get my gears turning about what else I can do.

If you're a rank beginner like me, then this book is probably just what you're looking for as well. If you're a more experienced artist looking for inspiration or advanced technique, a mentor will probably serve you better than any book.

I love watercolor but am quite the beginner with this medium. I do alot of mixed media art and was excited to find this in a local book store where I could look at it first! WOW, this is EXACTLY what I need and can't wait to start the different projects in the book. I like it BECAUSE it is NOT your typical watercolor instruction book, it is more. It is great for the beginner and anyone wanting to create "OUTSIDE" the box so to speak. I would highly recommend this book to anyone wanting a new and different adventure in working more with watercolors alone or in different mediums.

I have found myself wanting to use watercolors in my work but have little to no experience in how to use them. Anybody can put paint and water to paper but to make it interesting can be another whole thing. I wanted a basic book - I have no aims to become a professional watercolor artist - something that would tell me more than I already knew - but not so so much that I would be overwhelmed by the

information. I chose this book to try and I glad that I did because it fits the bill perfectly for me!

I love the feel and the smell of books - and have been known, on occasion, to not by a book it if the paper feels off. The paper binding this book s feels like watercolor paper. The author does cove the basics of watercolor paper - how to 'stretch' it (affix it to a surface so that it will not buckle when you paint) and what the surfaces of various papers are like. The books also has an excellent, short version, of how watercolor paints are created and how to branch out and make your own paints should you want to. There is an explanation of what all of those little numbers and letters on the paint tubes mean as well, what mediums to use and why.

The projects include the fare you might expect in a beginner book :

* how to work wet into wet and wet onto dry.

* developing a palette and using one of a variety of different pallets for your work

* using color

* adding textures with things like salt, sprays (with a straw),lines, bubble wrap, paper towels etc

* painting with watercolors around a drawing as well as using backgrounds before a drawing

* working from a photograph

* art cards

* assembalges

* creating negative shapes

* collage

You get the idea. Yes, it's basic but it also contains a wealth of usable information for folks like me who want the basics presented in an intelligible manner and suitable for a wide variety of mixed media work and textile art. I am very pleased with my purchase of this book - and think it would make a great addition to your artist's library as a mixed media or textile artist. I am sure that conditioned watercolor artists might be bored - but for me this was the perfect book. Just what I had hoped for !

This is a different approach to watercolour painting - one media that many find very difficult. Subtitled 'Exploring Creativity with Watercolor and Mixed Media' this book is full of expressive creativity. Heather's aim is to show the breadth of this medium. She encourages you to adapt and explore. Although the book is probably more geared to beginners, I do feel there is something here for people who are stuck with the basics but don't know how to progress from there. I think there is a wonderful freedom in her work and ideas, which I admire very much. I think this is an excellent book to make you think more about your watercolor as a medium and to discover what it can do. I also think this is a great book for using with children to develop their creativity. This review first appeared on Karen Platt's book review website.