The Watercolor Book

This thorough watercoloring guide starts with an up-to-date review of the tools and techniques used by today's watercolor artists and then offers detailed lessons in basic drawing skills. 420 color, 35 b&w illustrations.

David Dewey has compiled the most comprehensive book on watercolors featuring modern materials and methods for mastering this medium. In this complete introduction, you will learn how to handle watercolors effectively by becoming acquainted with the essentials of theory, technique, practice, and design principals. Unfold the tricks behind: Choosing the right materials and tools, along with discerning differences between brands Mastering basic skills, such as composing, rendering shadow and light, and perspective Understanding color theory, harmonies and chords, progression perception, and illusion Painting still life, figure, landscape, and architecture subjects to scale Incorporating mixed media including gouache, colored pencil, pastel, and collage Dewey's detailed instruction makes this beguiling medium accessible as never before. As visual artists can learn much from examining good art, he includes a rich, full-color array of his own work in addition to a variety of classic works accompanied by his analysis. "The Watercolor Book" has been a requisite guide for serious watercolor painters and educators since its initial publication in 1995.

Watercolor may look easy, but the professionals agree that it's the most challenging of all painting media. In this book you will have demonstrations on how to paint landscapes, Seascapes, and using watercolors for them.

From beautifully dynamic leaves, flowers, and trees to simple geometric shapes and patterns, Modern Watercolor provides a colorful and fun approach to working with watercolor. It’s time to get your feet wet with watercolors! This dynamic and inspirational guide will set you down a path of exploration as you learn to play with watercolors. Learn to use basic techniques and principles to create beautiful, expressive works of art. With Modern Watercolor, discover how to paint in watercolor by harnessing the medium's unique transparent qualities to create stunning works of art, stationery, gifts, and more. From selecting your first watercolor paints to learning to blend colors into a unique palette, we are here to guide you as you begin your journey. By the end, your paintings will be cohesive and rich. The easy-to-follow lessons explore using watercolor on different surfaces, how to create basic shapes using fun techniques, and how to create myriad gorgeous effects that can be achieved with different brushes and strokes. You can even learn how to add layers of dimension and texture, as well as how to work with resist techniques to create pretty patterns and gorgeous backgrounds. Whether you're an experienced artist seeking a playful escape or a beginner who has never held a paintbrush, there's something for everyone in Modern Watercolor.

A comprehensive and practical guide to watercolor painting from sought-after instructor and acclaimed artist Leslie Frontz that answers the two most common questions students at all levels want to know: What am I doing wrong? and How do I decide what to do instead? In the tradition of the eminently practical, top-selling guides such as How to Make a Watercolor Paint Itself, The Oil Painting Course You've Always Wanted, and Problem Solving for Oil Painters, this straightforward handbook offers a fresh approach to watercolor mastery that bridges the gap between theory and practice. Through thoughtful discussion, expert instruction, and in-depth step-by-step demonstrations, Leslie Frontz shows readers how to eliminate common barriers to achieve beautiful, captivating watercolor paintings. Beginning with teaching readers how to see with an artist's eye, Frontz then establishes how watercolor painters build on this skill by making timely decisions throughout the creation process.

The beauty of a watercolor painting lies in its diaphanous layers, delicate strokes, and luminous washes. However, the very features that define the beauty of the medium can make it difficult to master. This complete guide to understanding the relationships between color, value, wetness, and composition unravels the mysteries of watercolor to help your practice evolve. Experienced teacher and acclaimed artist Tom Hoffmann offers a unique, inquiry-based approach that shows you how to translate any subject into the language of watercolor. With Hoffmann as your guide, you’ll learn the key questions to ask yourself at every turn and time-tested methods to help you reach solutions. Hoffmann’s thorough explanations and step-by-step demonstrations delineate the process of composing a painting in watercolor, while art from more than thirty-five past and present masters, including John Singer Sargent, Ogden Pleissner, George Post, Emil Kosa, Jr., Mary Whyte, Trevor Chamberlain, Lars Lerin, Torgeir Schjølberg, Piet Lap, Leslie Frontz, and Alvaro Castagnet serve to illustrate and inspire. Whether you’re a serious beginner or a seasoned practitioner, this book will guide you toward the all-important balance between restraint and risk-taking that every watercolorist seeks.

Develop your watercolor skills one painting at a time!Are you a watercolor painter newbie? Have you dabbled in watercolors but wish your paintings looked more polished? Well, it's time to remedy that! Learn to Paint in Watercolor is the patient watercolor instructor you've been waiting for. This unique how-to book offers all you need to know about watercolor painting - perfect for first-time painters or anyone interested in refining their skills. Treat the book as an in-depth class on this medium. With each lesson, you'll be privy to a new watercolor technique or subject. Readers will move through the book subject by subject, course by course, painting all along the way. By the time you reach the end, you'll have fifty paintings showcasing your steady progress. You'll start by painting objects that are important to you and then move on to exploring your immediate environment. By the end of the book, your paintings will start to tell your own story, giving you the confidence to continue painting and discovering watercolors' myriad possibilities. Techniques are introduced throughout the book's projects, from using a simple color wash to learning about ink techniques or letting go with loose, free watercolors. At the same time, concepts such as properties of light (vital for watercolorists) give a solid foundation on which to work.