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How to Make a Watercolor Paint Itself: Experimental Techniques for Achieving Realistic Effects (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "MY CHOICE OF MATERIALS has evolved as my painting style has evolved..." (more)
Key Phrases: white masking tape, brown madder alizarin, cadmium scarlet, Lake Superior (more...)

4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (55 customer reviews)

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Formats		Amazon Price	New from	Used from
Hardcover Available from these sellers. Published February 28, 1999	Hardcover, February 28, 1999	--	$34.99	$10.37
Paperback $13.57 In Stock. Published July 9, 2007	Paperback, July 9, 2007	$13.57	$12.08	$16.11

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A guide to the use of watercolours, this book demonstrates the many experimental techniques which will produce a realistic effect. Using exercises and step-by-step projects, it shows how to combine spontaneity and control to produce lively, luminescent paintings.

About the Author

Nita Engle, whose work appears in national magazines, is the subject of a PBS documentary, Wilderness Palette: Nita Engle in Michigan. She lives in Marquette, Michigan.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

Hardcover: 144 pages
Publisher: Watson-Guptill (March 1, 1999)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0823057089
ISBN-13: 978-0823057085
Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.4 x 0.7 inches
Shipping Weight: 2 pounds

Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (55 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #232,002 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
MY CHOICE OF MATERIALS has evolved as my painting style has evolved. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
white masking tape, brown madder alizarin, cadmium scarlet, liquid watercolors, aureolin yellow, illustration board, lifting color, masking fluid, throwing paint, painting surface, powdered pigment

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Lake Superior

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Citations (learn more)

This book cites 2 books:

Ruskin and the Rhetoric of Infallibility (Yale Language Series) by Gary Wihl on page 143
Painting the Spirit of Nature by Maxine Masterfield on page 137

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	76% buy the item featured on this page: How to Make a Watercolor Paint Itself: Experimental Techniques for Achieving Realistic Effects 4.6 out of 5 stars (55)
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Customer Reviews

55 Reviews

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

Average Customer Review

4.6 out of 5 stars (55 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

142 of 142 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not For Beginners, December 11, 2001

By	hamsterdance (TX) - See all my reviews

This book is definitely not for a beginning watercolorist and I don't think the author and publishers intended it to be. If you are just beginning to paint in watercolor in a realistic style I recommend starting with books aimed for beginners first. That said, for high-intermediate to advanced watercolorists who want to learn new ways to add life to their paintings this is one of the best books out there using the pouring process as the primary means vs. painting with a brush. That doesn't mean Ms. Engle doesn't use brushes, it's just that they are only one of several techniques at her disposal.

I got this book after having read Creative Discoveries in Watermedia. So I understand why the title says 'Experimental Techniques for Achieving Realistic Effects'. Many of the same techniques from the Creative Discoveries book are used here as well. Everything from squirt bottles to pouring the paints and tipping the board to let the paint run where it will to textural techniqes for added interest. All the chapters introduce fun methods for paiting but I'm glad design (aka composition) has a chapter of its own. All the techniques in the world won't save a painting with a poor design (that's when you just crop it and make it a mixed media experimental painting!) :)

My favorite chapter is the last one. It discusses experimental techiques, mediums, methods, etc. This is the only watercolor book I've ever seen that mentions W&N's Aquapasto medium, a product I love for adding texture elements to some of my more experimental paintings. If you're an intermediate to advanced watercolorist looking for new ideas you'll find plenty of them here.

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98 of 100 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Experimental Techniques in watercolor by Nita Engle, June 26, 2001

By	T. Filarsky (United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a must have book for the library of any watercolor artist! Nita Engle has been in the business for years and has the added advantage of being a very popular workshop teacher. If you can't attend her workshop, buy this book! I am a professional portrait artist whose husband is also an artist specializing in watercolors. Don't look for portraits in this book-look for some of the most amazing watercolor landscapes to be found in any book! This lady explains with no holds barred! Everything is detailed with a wonderful carefree banter. She is comfortable in her medium and her attitude. The many photos are outstanding! We were captivated by this book as there are too many wishy washy watercolor books out there with no real subject matter. We are quite critical of "how to" books that don't have any "how to" in them. If you are serious about watercolor and are ready for some major changes, then realize that this book won't sit on your shelf. You will be immediately rewarded with that artistic excitement that comes with the discovery of a new method or skill in which to energize your work! This is a gem and we speak from our experiences of years of making a living as artists!

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61 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellant book for experienced watercolor painters, May 25, 1999

By	jim vowell (columbus, ohio USA) - See all my reviews

No matter what anybody says, watercolor painting is difficult. There are many instructional books out on the market that says they can help you become an excellant painter in ??? easy lessons. It just doesn't work that way. You can become a profecient painter by learning the basic techniques and,most important,paint, paint, and paint some more. Nita Engle has written a book that allows you to add some fun and spice to the time you paint,paint,and paint some more. Nita is a very respected teacher and painter and if you can't arrange to go to one of her workshops, buy this book! The effects Nita has evolved is amazing and she clearly explains how to get these effects. This book won't turn you into a wonderful painter in ?? easy lessons, but if you are a watercolor painter this is one book you'll use for years. Don't miss it!

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Everyone can learn to paint watercolor
From beginner to the more seasoned watercolor artist, everyone can enjoy this book. I love both the authors wet on wet looseness and dripping watercolors, as well as her wet into... Read more

Published 1 month ago by apples2apples

5.0 out of 5 stars a must for anyone who wants to go beyond the norm in watercolor
I agree with the former reviewer that this book is not easy, and beginners would find the illustrated technique almost frightening. Read more

Published 4 months ago by Veg and fruit

5.0 out of 5 stars fabulous
This is my favorite book ever. It taught me techniques that I never knew existed. Best educational book so far. Good for both the beginner and advanced watercolor painters.

Published 5 months ago by Jacqueline C. Baker

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Watercolor Techniques
This is an advance level book with interesting techniques, however, I feel there are earsier ways of accomplishing similar results and a lot less messy. Read more

Published 6 months ago by Chris Crawford

5.0 out of 5 stars great encourager
This book is very encouraging for any painter. It gets the juices flowing with ideas for improving techniques. Read more

Published 10 months ago by Energetic Painter

4.0 out of 5 stars My wife really likes this book
I bought this book for my wife. She hasn't painted in watercolor for over 30 years. She fines this book helpful as a "refresher" to her skills. Read more

Published 10 months ago by John Edward Trtek

3.0 out of 5 stars Technique over art
This book has a lot of good information about choosing paints, supplies, and so forth--strongest portion of the book, in my opinion. Read more

Published 14 months ago by ReadNReVu

5.0 out of 5 stars must have
This is the best book on water color technique around. Nita Engle is way ahead of the pack in her endless creativity and ways of applying watercolor to paper or illustration... Read more

Published 14 months ago by bkluvr

5.0 out of 5 stars entertaining lights
The artist creates visual stories of color and light in such a delightful manner. It leads one to experiment how to try her way of painting with watercolor. Read more

Published 17 months ago by Janet Wischmann

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Ideas
This book contains a lot of great techniques for making your watercolors seem more natural and alive. I found the instructions clear and the illustrations helpful. Read more

Published 19 months ago by Lovin' Life

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