Customer Reviews

Webb on Watercolor

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

 

 

If you're looking for a general purpose, intelligent and informed book on watercolor, this is it. Webb -- formerly an illustrator/graphic artist -- has designed chapters on motivation, materials, setup, color and values, techniques, composition, design, all illustrated by examples painted by other top painters as well as himself. This is accompanied by pithy, appropriate one-liners quoted from philosophers, artists -- whoever his incredible memory finds the most apt. He encourages painters to experiment, take risks -- after learning the necessary first. As a watercolor instructor, and author of a book on outdoor landscape painting in watercolor, I recommend Frank Webb's two books, Nita Leland's book on color, and David Lewis' "Watercolour Painting Techniques." That's all you need for starters.

Webb is a natural teacher who is easy to follow from basic concepts to complex compositions. He has an innate ability to take painting beyond capturing likeness to how the subject is structured or feels. His book would be helped by more step-by-step sequences for technique or process analysis. Thanks Frank for a great reference book. Two thumbs up from Totino and Busby.

I wanted to write a short review, but I'm find it hard to encapsulate what makes this book so special. Guess that's why I'm a painter, not a writer:). But seriously, this is a book that explains the thought process behind an apparently spontaneous work of art. Mr. Webb's painings look loose and carefree, as though they were painted in immediate response to a colorful scene. But, it takes tremendous discipline to creat that illusion of freedom. The book explains the author's method of developing an idea through a disciplined design process BEFORE the actual painting begins. He explains the purpose of preliminary drawings, how to design a pattern of values, how to sift out the bad ideas and develop the best one,and much more. This is not the only book to address this subject, but I think it is especially valuable because of the author's loose and free painting style. If you look at work by a painter who works in a more tighly rendered formal style, it is easy to accept that preliminary drawings and studies must have been done beforehand. But when you see the careful thought that stands behind these lively explosions of color and pattern, it makes the point even more dramatic. Even if you do not wish to paint in a similar style, you can benefit from a knowledge of the design principles in this book, as they are applicable to just about any painting style you may choose.

Painting is 70% thinking and 30% technique. This book is a excellent help on the thinking process. You should enjoy it whatever your own style.