The Watercolorist's Essential Notebook [Hardcover]

Gordon Mackenzie (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2000

This attractive, inspirational guide is full of sound techniques, advice and hands-on instruction for anyone looking to explore the magic of watercolor.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Gordon MacKenzie is the author of North Light's bestselling watercolor book, The Watercolorist's Essential Notebook. He has been a popular artist and teacher for more than 30 years and has mounted more than 25 solo exhibitions. His work hangs in many private and corporate collections and has been featured on the cover of Reader's Digest. He lives in Ontario, Canada. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: North Light Books (March 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0891349464
• ISBN-13: 978-0891349464
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (69 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #323,508 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Gordon MacKenzie is the author of North Light's bestselling watercolour book, The Watercolorist's Essential Notebook. He has been a popular artist and teacher for more than 30 years and has mounted more than 25 solo exhibitions. His work hangs in many private and corporate collections and has been featured in magazines.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

134 of 134 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If You Can Only Have ONE Watercolor Reference Book....., April 7, 2000

By 

Pamela Slatt Fagelson (Pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Watercolorist's Essential Notebook (Hardcover)

If I were to reduce my not-inconsiderable watercolor reference library to just one book, this would be that book. It blew me away! Gordon MacKenzie covers everything from which brushes to use for what and how to select your paints based on ingredients (a matter of growing importance) to compositional principles. I've had the book less than a week and, honestly, have referred to it practically every day for one thing or another related to painting. The book is laid out in an orderly and progressive format which made things easy to find when I went back. It is filled with photos of his work and delightful illustrations and sketches. The writing style is comfortable and enjoyable. I particularly liked that the captions on his paintings told how he achieved various effects, both in technique and composition. The only thing I found missing was a section on portraits, my particular area of interest. However, the principles and information Mr. MacKenzie shares applies equally well to all subject matter. The Watercolorist's Essential Notebook is well named and likely to become my standard gift to painter friends, if my enthusiasm hasn't persuaded them to buy it for themselves!

80 of 80 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Even Better!, August 6, 2006

By 

Michael Crane (Texarkana, AR USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Watercolorist's Essential Notebook - Landscapes (Hardcover)

I was surprised to see another book by Gordon MacKenzie. What more could he say that he had not said in his first book? Plenty! In fact, I consider this book to be much more valuable than the first. This book focuses on landscape painting and is divided into three parts: tools and techniques, composing landscapes, and landscape elements. It begins with an expanded paint quality chart comparing more paints by more manufacturers. Sweet! I can pick and choose the best paints with confidence now. But the best part of the book for me was the information on painting the essentials--water, skies, rocks, and trees. I expected this book to be good, but it was great!

61 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Watercolorists Essential Notebook: Landscapes, July 4, 2006

By 

David Kershner "D. Dale Kershner" (yorktown,VA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Watercolorist's Essential Notebook - Landscapes (Hardcover)

Gordon MacKenzie's new book is a worthy addition to his "The Watercolorists Essential Notebook." If you are looking for a lot of pretty pictures to copy, this is not it. If you want to become more proficient and creative as a watercolorist, this is your treasure! Regardless of where you are on the pathway in using watercolors, this book holds valuable instrucion for your self improvement. It can be a life-long guide as you strive to produce better and better work. DON'T MISS IT!