American Watercolor Masters

Discover the secrets of watercolor mastery! Late 20th and 21st century watercolor artists have transformed the art of watermedia into a golden phenomenon and one of the most significant movements in the history of art. The lives and works of the 34 artists represented here display a multitude of different approaches, philosophies and techniques. Each has a unique perspective and an innovative approach; artists such as Ann Smith, Cheng-Kee Chee, John Salminen and many more share their secrets. You'll also get a behind-the-scenes look at legends like Robert E. Wood, Naomi Brotherton, Edgar A. Whitney and Ed Betts, whose teaching and work contributes invaluably to the aesthetics of the medium and their students. • More than 125 pieces of exquisite art • 18 innovative demonstrations • 34 artist interviews and commentaries Discover proud watercolor painting traditions, new perspectives on the medium, and works of art to influence new generations of artists. Get ready to be inspired with this one of a kind collection.

A comprehensive history of watercolor in the United States.

"In the 1870s and 1880s, artists' societies promoted watercolors as attractive, decorative, inexpensive alternatives to oils, successfully elevating them to the mainstream of American art. Based in New York City, this American watercolor movement paved the way for larger, more seriously received exhibition watercolors, and for a broad turn-of-the-century effort by public institutions - among them the Brooklyn Museum of Art - to acquire American works in the medium." "Highlighting 150 paintings that span nearly two centuries, this richly illustrated volume documents the origin and development of one of the nation's finest collections by investigating for the first time aspects of American watercolor's patronage and critical reception." "Less often displayed than oils because of their sensitivity to light, watercolors nevertheless have enjoyed a lively, complex history. Illuminating well-known works as well as many that have never before been reproduced, Masters of Color and Light showcases an array of paintings that range far beyond watercolor's early reputation as the "lighter and daintier" medium."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

The fascinating story of the transformation of American watercolor practice between 1866 and 1925 The formation of the American Watercolor Society in 1866 by a small, dedicated group of painters transformed the perception of what had long been considered a marginal medium. Artists of all ages, styles, and backgrounds took up watercolor in the 1870s, inspiring younger generations of impressionists and modernists. By the 1920s many would claim it as "the American medium." This engaging and comprehensive book tells the definitive story of the metamorphosis of American watercolor practice between 1866 and 1925, identifying the artist constituencies and social forces that drove the new popularity of the medium. The major artists of the movement - Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, William Trost Richards, Thomas Moran, Thomas Eakins, Charles Prendergast, Childe Hassam, Edward Hopper, Charles Demuth, and many others - are represented with lavish color illustrations. The result is a fresh and beautiful look at watercolor's central place in American art and culture.

Introduces the history and types of watercolor paintings, and presents many works by American watercolor artists.

Take a Journey with the Master of the Urban Landscape! John Salminen is one of the most accomplished watercolor artists working today, earning awards and recognition all over the world. Whether depicting the trees of Central Park, the architecture of San Francisco or the busy streets of Beijing, John Salminen's watercolor paintings are snapshots of urban life that are both rich in detail and universal in appeal. In Master of the Urban Landscape, Salminen shares over 150 pieces of his artwork, spanning his entire career. His early abstracts and recent plein air work in the book's Introduction set the groundwork for four chapters of remarkable watercolor paintings that highlight different aspects of his work: architectural form, organic form, human form and light and shadow. Throughout, Salminen shares the inspiration for his paintings, challenges he encountered and techniques he used to capture unique scenes from cities around the world. Embark on an amazing watercolor journey with John Salminen—Master of the Urban Landscape. "John Salminen is a master of the medium of watercolor. His sense of light and design sets him apart from his contemporaries, and he has emerged as one of the finest living artists of our times with a style very much his own." --Dean Mitchell