Customer Reviews

Watercolor Bold & Free: 64 Experimental Ideas and Techniques in Watercolor

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is not your average watercolor book. It was recommended to me by an artist of some repute, who uses the principles to paint non-abstract, but very expressionistic watercolors.

Somewhere in the examples of various artists' works, you might find something to stimulate your own sense of the abstract. There are exercises to free up the imagination and use different ways of looking at composition or watercolor media to express new ideas. Not for those looking to do ultra-realism.

I find this book a superb counter to the myriad watercolor books on the market. There is nothing wrong with the realistic painting those books encourage and teach, but the medium offers much more and this book opens up those other vistas.

If your looking for different compositions to try out in watercolor, this books fits the bill.

I liked the great descriptions of compositional techniques which is followed by large color painting examples.

Some of the painting examples scream for you to do them better. What a challenge!

I was lucky enough to have studied with Larry during the time this book was being created on Monhegan island.
It was an incredible time, being able to paint with this talented artist on this magical island.
I was privileged to call him friend and mentor.

A 'must have' book for every watercolorist's library.

Watercolor Bold and Free is a unique book as it offers inspiration and examples for painters trying to break free from inhibiting or standard regulations in watercolor. This is one of the rare books about watercolor that lead to expressive painting. This book gives the painter many outlooks such as abstract compositions and a myriad of techniques including pourings and dreamscapes.
Most watercolor books claim to help free the painter but usually they are within strict confines and often want the reader to copy step by step the thoughts of the author.
The great thing that Lawrence Goldsmith does is to offer many options and ideas and examples with different views . All the pages are full of new directions that allow each painter to find their own expression.
What a great and refreshing and helpful book! Thank you Lawrence Goldsmith for this great teaching guide!

Loved this book. Very inspiring and good tips on how to loosen up and allow more creativity in painting. He was a wonderful painter.

Great book if you are looking to loosen up your work. The book focuses on watercolor but the concepts can be used for any art technique. I am using it for inspiration in my monotypes.

This book is a classic and is great for watercolorists who've gotten past the beginner stage and want to break out and find their own style. The exercises in this book are not step-by-step directions on how to paint a particular flower, landscape, etc., but are parameters within which you can challenge yourself. How do YOU deal with a high horizon? What is YOUR sense of the abstract? Each exercise has a painting that "models" the challenge in some way. The author also provides a short essay for each exercise that is thought-provoking and inspiring. This is one of the books I come back to.

Lots of fun doing the projects in the book.
Great for loosening up your painting style.
Hard to find book, but worth the effort!

Take a load of old t shirts, dip them in paint and throw them at a canvas. Roll your car over the canvas several times.

Tear up some cardboard boxes, spill paint onto the torn pieces and press into a canvas. Use random colors as well. Blindfold yourself.

Stand on a ladder and drip paint onto paper or canvas lying on the floor. Throw feathers and macaroni into the drips.

Using a squirt gun filled with paint, stand back and "create" your painting by squirting it on. Rub your naked body into the wet paint. Dance in it.

THIS IS A BOOK FOR THOSE AFRAID TO DRAW OR PAINT. AFTER ALL, WALKING ON A CANVAS WITH PAINTED SHOES CAN BE "FUN" THEY SAY. WHO KNOWS, MAYBE LEARNING TO DRAW FROM NATURE IS JUST OLD-FASHIONED AND NOT WORTH THE EFFORT? I DOUBT THAT TO BE TRUE.