Customer Reviews

Watercolor: For the Artistically Undiscovered (Klutz)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I am extremely intimidated by painting, so I took baby steps and bought this book. It comes with some beautiful watercolors that are rich and color--and a brush as well.

They start you off with painting some small pictures, even blobs if you are comfortable with it, and you will be amazed to see how much your lil paintings look like paintings instead of a piece of crap (which is what i expected---can i say crap?) anyway, they give you pages where you can "play" and you don't start color mixing and other frightening things until later.

Later on, you do landscapes and play around with some light and shadow. Its like the fisher price version of learning to paint!! Sometimes, my pictures blended in with their little pictures along the way, which made me happy. They just turn something very scary, into something a lil more easy.

If you run out of paints or brushes, or you want some more paper, there's a phone number in the back you can call to order some more!! I love klutz products, cause I am one!! Highly recommended!!

This fun, whimsical book takes the mystery and frustration out of painting with watercolors. Learn watercolor basics by following the book's simple instructions and then practicing alongside on its watercolor-paper pages. Witty sidebar commentator Thatcher Hurd adds humor to an otherwise indimidating process. Discover what makes you the best painter you know--paint this book and unmask your watercolor painting personality

Watercolor for the Artistically Undiscovered has been a fun workbook for our whole family. My daughter received one for a gift and it was so entertaining we had to order two more so everyone could sit and do it together. The book's layout is in page by page exercises that might inspire further fun and thinking, as well as build on each other to create a more versatile way of looking at painting. In my opinion, the most fun part is being able to paint in a book and even cut out parts and glue them elsewhere. Kids have a chance to breakout from the usual parental mantra of "Be sure not to write in the book, watch out with the paint...". The pages are very sturdy and good quality and the author's sense of humour is wonderful. I have my very own copy to play in, which is sometimes just the thing to inspire me in my own work. And well, there is something about turning squiggles into bugs....

This is a great place to start. The paints and paper provided are 1st class quality allowing serious exploration, and the excerises are fun. Add a few more colors - dark green and light blue- and a extra, nicer brush, and there is no better way to start

I bought four copies of this for my kids ages 5-12; two boys and two girls. It is not directed to so young a group as my youngest two, but I thought I would see how they responded.

They have loved experimenting and dabbling with the colors and brush strokes. They certainly don't go through the book sequentially, but I didn't expect them to.

Their creations have been fun to see. It is a great outlet for their creativity. I have followed along with them through the books and will paint on separate paper. I'm surprised that even I have a little bit of creativity hiding in me.

I had one of these as a child. I saw it again in an art store as an adult and bought it. That was the last copy in the store, so I ordered another one here on Amazon so I could go through the book together with a loved one.

It's an activity book. It's meant to be fun. It's like a toy. You won't necessarily find it in the "learn to watercolor" section of an art store. You're more likely to get it in the kids' books section or the gifts section. It could not be considered the text to any class devoted to watercolor, because it really doesn't deal with many aspects of watercolor technique.

Rather, the book focuses on creativity in general. The author captures so well the concept of "Just Do It" or "TRY to do a bad job." The book gets you actually painting, making small little works of creativity which are quite wonderful. You work small and you work fast. With the emphasis on creativity rather than classical art training or watercolor technique, the author taps into what watercolor is REALLY used for. WORKING creative artists (not hobbyists) use watercolor to add emotion to their sketches and storyboards. (Set/costume/car/building/park/etc designers need to sketch their concepts. Storyboards are used in virtually all TV and film production.) It's also used for background coloring in animation. The last exercise in the book is actually to make a storyboard.

Making "one-stroke" flower/bird paintings is a different thing for a different market (old ladies.) Same goes with watercolor landscape painting. This book isn't about making old people crafts, though certainly you can use the book if you happen to be old. It's about pure creativity. I'd recommend it to anyone, kids to fogies*, and will probably buy a few more in my time.

*I wouldn't actually recommend it to a fogie who is specifically expecting a "how to do one-stroke flower still-lifes" book. Just get them what they want.

I have loved this book for a long time and just bought it once again for a friend. Remember when you colored outside the lines and painted purple trees? This book is all about that - the "no shoulds - no stress" approach to creativity. You paint for the fun of it and gradually discover "the artist within". Now I am not saying that you will be hanging in the Louvre, but you will smile along the way.

We have already purchased 6 of these. The examples and instructions are clear, fun, and achievable. Most importantly it will inspire young and old to continue in this lovely medium. They may not become the next Daumier or Durer, but they will most certainly be encouraged to progress and attempt more adventurous watercolors while enjoying the the process.

Last semester one of the students went through the book on their own during free time. This semester 4 of the students are getting "private" art lessons as "push-in" during free time. The art instructor saw this book and is now using it to formulate her curriculum for their watercolor art lessons.

This book provides a performance anxiety free method for learning strokes & techniques on a very basic level. The presentation appeals to the way children receive information and yet will not offend the older first time watercolor students.

For younger students who enjoy art & this introduction to Watercolor, I highly recommend incorporating "Art Dog" (also by Thacher Hurd) into the curriculum.

These books are creative, educational, high quality, and fun! My children have several versions of Klutz books, and they are all wonderful. They provide a cure for boredom that both kids and adults can appreciate.

A great book for those who want to start learning how to paint and a very fun book for those who already know.