Watercolor Class: An Innovative Course in Transparent Watercolor (Practical Art Books) [Paperback]

Michael Crespo (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Watson-Guptill (February 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823056597
• ISBN-13: 978-0823056590
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #299,597 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent course of study for the dedicated student., August 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Watercolor Class: An Innovative Course in Transparent Watercolor (Practical Art Books) (Paperback)

This book will well serve both beginning students with a serious desire to master watercolor, and experienced artists who want to revitalize their painting. The book is arranged in a series of exercises that are fun, thought-provoking, and not at all difficult, even for complete beginners. The text for each lesson is well-written. Crespo compresses a lot of useful art theory into brief but very usable form. Although the author uses some of his own paintings as demonstrations,the majority of the illustrations show student work. The pictures are beautiful in their own right. They also offer great encouragement to beginners who may be intimidated by seeing too much technically perfect work in conventional art instruction books.

I have been working with watercolor for nearly thirty years, but I still learned something new from every page of this book!

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional Book on How to Watercolor, July 12, 2002

By 

B. Hauck "bettiola" (Cambridge MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Watercolor Class: An Innovative Course in Transparent Watercolor (Practical Art Books) (Paperback)

This is an exceptional book of graded lessons on how to watercolor. It is completely different from any other "how to" book on watercolors that I've seen, (which to me are mostly "show off" books). Crespo is genuinely dedicated to teaching students - while teaching technical skills, there is a wonderful sense of humanity, love for teaching, and awe of the mysterious essence of nature which shines through. Instead of having illustrations which show only master watercolors, (as many books do - a good way to discourage the beginning watercolorist right off the bat), most of the examples Crespo gives are of his own students' work, and only a few of his own. He points out what is wonderful about the students' work, (which is such a refreshing change from critiquing student work and pointing out in graphic and gorey detail what is wrong with it!) The lessons are carefully graded, building on what has already been learned. The assignments are stimulating and fun, with just enough challenge to not feel overwhelming.
I can't say enough good things about this book. As in all the best teaching, what shines forth in Crespo's is not only his knowledge of technique, but his love for the medium, his students, and life.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a great translation of an outstanding course, August 23, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Louisiana USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Watercolor Class: An Innovative Course in Transparent Watercolor (Practical Art Books) (Paperback)

I have both studied under Michael Crespo as well as read this book. He is an amazing teacher and an amazing painter. This book is a very well done translation of the structure of his course, and will be a boon to anyone trying to learn on their own or bolster classes.