The Watercolor Book: Materials and Techniques for Today's Artists [Paperback]

David Dewey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2000

The most thorough guide to watercolor materials and techniques ever assembled in a single volume, this is the book for anyone working with watercolors, from beginners to experienced artists looking to develop more professional skills.

Starting with a comprehensive, up-to-date review of the tools and techniques required to master the art of watercolor, the book then presents detailed lessons in basic drawing skills. Design concepts are explored: line and shape, light and dark, perspective, and composition. All the major watercolor painting techniques are shown: methods for laying washes, preserving white areas, glazing, establishing form, creating textural effects, lifting color, masking, and using resists. With color the driving force behind the author’s whole approach to painting and his distinctive “organic” handling of the medium, color theories and strategies are clearly explained and applied to a wide range of subjects—still life, figures, landscapes, and architecture—some of which pair watercolors with other mediums such as gouache, pastel, and collage. An ongoing reference source, this is a book that watercolorists will turn to again and again for guidance.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David Dewey, who has exhibited work in dozens of solo and group shows and is represented in numerous corporate and private collections, is represented by Taristcheff in New York. He lives in Blairstown, New Jersey.

Product Details

• Paperback: 178 pages
• Publisher: Watson-Guptill (September 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823056392
• ISBN-13: 978-0823056392
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.5 x 10.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #61,076 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #35 in Books > Arts & Photography > Painting > Watercolor
  • #56 in Books > Arts & Photography > Study & Teaching

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

78 of 80 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the best watercolor guide available, February 14, 2001

By 

drollere (Sebastopol, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Watercolor Book: Materials and Techniques for Today's Artists (Paperback)

This is a model of concise instruction, wise advice, deceptively simple exercises, and compact design. Like they say on TV: if you buy just one watercolor book, make it this one.

Dewey gives equal emphasis to materials, theory, technique, the principles of design, and simple practice. He sees the whole art. He begins with an overview of paint manufacturers, brushes, papers and other supplies, and closes with an invitation to try mixed media and a step-by-step explanation of how to do a large studio painting. There are penetrating discussions of color theory and mixing paints, on selecting the palette for each painting, and on building a painting from value sketches.

The technical advice in this book is exceptionally accurate and easy to understand. The four pages explaining how to paint washes avoid the errors or omissions common in most other books. All topics are illustrated with pictures that add information rather than decorate the page. Dewey includes several traditional techniques that other methods don't mention: pen and ink wash drawings, value design sketches, using a sketchbook, monochrome paintings, color chords for color design, the "color" of gray, and much more. The book is so compactly organized that many gems of advice are tucked in the picture captions; the book can be studied repeatedly and still teach something new.

Dewey has painted the student lessons and technical examples displayed throughout the book. The more advanced lessons build on simple but beautifully designed demonstration paintings (my favorite is the still life on a patterned rug). Everything comes together in a harmonious vision of watercolor art, a reference and inspiration for many hours of happy experimentation and learning.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beginners must take a look at this book, December 16, 2004

By 

Arun R (Fargo, ND, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Watercolor Book: Materials and Techniques for Today's Artists (Paperback)

I primarily wanted a book full of watercolor pictures by a contemporary artist plus instructions on how some of them are made. I had settled on about 3-5 books of which I intended to buy only one. Took a drive to Barnes and Noble, saw them all and I must say I was impressed by this one. Watercolor aficionados would have mostly heard of this author and artist. Amazing collection of pictures of not only the artist but his own selection of watercolor art from other major works with illustrative details of those art work. The only drawback I notice is that the details are restricted to current context and not much is said about that picture. I would have appreciated that kind of description. This is definitely an error which the author might want to take up in his next edition. Else... this book has great tips and instructions. When a learning artist thinks, "Damn it... how do I get that effect ?". This is a book that can be confidently consulted. Anyone looking for encyclopedic details on what the watercolor is all about and wishes to learn it all and get all the 3 credits from his/her couch from just one book aint going nowhere. This book is a superb reference. I guess the author did what he wanted to do. I did buy this book. B&N is $6 costlier but amazon charges that extra for shipping and it takes time.

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dense with watercolor information, May 30, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Watercolor Book: Materials and Techniques for Today's Artists (Paperback)

David Dewey's text on watercolor is not just another vanity book showcasing one artist's personal work, but a thorough in-depth introduction to both visualizing & handling a most difficult medium. Nor does it pretend to be an easy does it 1-2-3 & your painting watercolors type of book. Rather it is layered & dense with information that could easily keep you preoccupied for a year or more worth of instruction. Start with the monochromatic exercises in the beginning of the book & follow them religiously till you know them blindfolded. Do the same with the invaluable content on color theory & the related exercises. The lessons provided will reward you with a mastery of the medium & help you to find your own voice in watercolor. This book is not another feeble attempt at learning to carbon copy of someone else's technique. The many examples of various watercolor artist's work & their analysis is excellent as well.