Water Soluble Pencils (Step-by-Step Leisure Arts) [Paperback]

Carole Massey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2001 | Series: Step-by-Step Leisure Arts (Book 23)

Water-soluble coloured pencils and water-soluble graphite are excellent mediums for both the beginner and the experienced artist. They are user-friendly, clean, relatively inexpensive and easy to use. The coloured pencil or crayon is usually a child's first drawing tool, so when you begin to use water-soluble pencils, they already feel familiar. Add water, and you can turn your drawing into a 'watercolour' painting almost as if by magic. For the more experienced artist, water-soluble pencils are excellent for use outside - light and easily portable, they are the perfect medium for the traveller. Carole Massey demonstrates a range of techniques for drawing and `painting' with this versatile medium. Water-soluble pencils has sections on understanding colour, composition, using photographs and creating texture. In addition, a series of step-by-step projects give the reader plenty to practise and a number of Carole's graphite and coloured drawings are included for further inspiration.

Product Details

• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Search Press (November 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0855329637
• ISBN-13: 978-0855329631
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 7.9 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #476,112 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #44 in Books > Arts & Photography > Drawing > Colored Pencil
  • #53 in Books > Arts & Photography > Drawing > Pen & Ink

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Limited, July 3, 2009

By 

Reader (U. S. A.) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Water Soluble Pencils (Step-by-Step Leisure Arts) (Paperback)

This is a pleasantly produced, basic introduction, limited in scope and also, I would say, in its capacity to inspire new artists. Some people may find it quite adequate for their needs, but if you have any sense that you might wish to explore the medium further, and get more ambitious with your results, you will probably do what I did and go on to buy more comprehensive books. Even for a short book, I felt that this one is not particularly competitive. I'm not saying that pages and pages ought to be devoted to values and color theory, but more can be shown with relatively few words and diagrams than is shown here -- and I know this because other books on the subject of colored pencils pull it off. Also, I'm not sure how much Carole Massey is really committed to, or knowledgeable about, colored pencil art: she even surprised me by saying that water-soluble pencils don't give the vivid images one can get using watercolor paints! Well, has she and her publisher looked at the competition lately? Any quick survey of books will show that pencils, whether dry or water-soluble, can give wonderfully vivid results -- it's a question of mastery, technique, and imagination. Instead of this book, I'd like to suggest Jane Strother's wide-ranging and thoughtfully produced guide, The Colored Pencil Artist's Drawing Bible: this features watercolor pencils as well as dry. My favorite dry pencil book, which is helpful despite the absence of watercolour, is Colored Pencil for the Serious Beginner by Bet Borgeson. Now there's a guide you can grow with, and great value for money.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Book on Water soluble pencils, June 3, 2009

By 

Wendy D. Bowie (Harrisburg, PA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Water Soluble Pencils (Step-by-Step Leisure Arts) (Paperback)

Very informative and helpful whether you are an experienced artist or new to the use of pencils. Good for anyone from beginner to expert.

15 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars How to use water soluble pencils, March 24, 2007

By 

F. Sturgill (WV) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Water Soluble Pencils (Step-by-Step Leisure Arts) (Paperback)

This is an informative, step by step book. It takes some practice to do as well as pictures, but keep at it. Still having some difficulty blending colors but I have improved.