Watercolours or pastels Books

Book SynopsisLearn to paint beautiful watercolor flowers in simple steps with this free and easy approach to watercolor painting for beginners. Marie Boudon's beautifully presented creative course will give you a good grounding in this new-to-you medium and teach you all you need to know to get started with painting flowers in watercolor. Find out about paper, brushes and paints, color mixing, wet and dry techniques, blending and gradients, contrast and even how to digitize your work. Then learn to paint roses, peonies, carnations, dahlias, anemones, poppies, leaves, details and textures and how to bring all of these together into beautiful compositions which make lovely art pieces, journal pages, handmade stationery and greetings cards, inspirational quote frames, personalized gifts and more.Table of ContentsForeword Chapter 1: Basic Techniques Equipment Paint Brushes Papers Understanding Color Experimenting with Mixes Creating a Palette Wet and Dry Techniques Blending and Gradation Creating Contrast Keeping Brushwork Fluid Digitizing your Creations Chapter 2: Plant Directory Roses Peonies Carnations Dahlias Anemones Poppies Foliage Detail And TextureCompositions Chapter 3: Floral Compositions Flower Ball Carnation Frieze Foliage Frame Violet Circlet Colorful Bouquet Peony Pattern Poppy Streamer Index

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Book SynopsisBring your inner artist to life through art journaling and intuitive mixed media.   In Creative Wanderlust, mixed-media artist and author Kasia Avery shows you how to set up and begin an art journaling practice, and then how to fully enjoy and benefit from it with ideas and tools for moving beyond obstacles such as perfectionism, self-criticism, and finding space and time to create.   The founder of the Everything Art mixed-media online learning platform and the lead teacher of its yearlong mixed-media course Wanderlust, Kasia knows what artists need, having coached thousands of students over the years and listened to their struggles while helping them break through and find joy in art.   This stunning and informative book includes:   Comprehensive information on supplies and the fundamentals for getting started in an art journaling practice. Sections focusing on overcomiTrade Review“The affirming tone buoys the open-ended projects, which will help budding artists stretch their creative muscles. This inventive manual has much to offer.” * Publishers Weekly *"An exuberant introduction to art journaling for self-expression and well-being." * Library Journal Starred Review *"If you’re looking for a way to unleash your inner artist and explore your creativity, Creative Wanderlust by Kasia Avery is the perfect guide." * Craft Gossip *"An ideal DIY instructional guide to mixed media artwork and the development of your personal style." * Midwest Book Review *Table of ContentsWelcome to the Club! Is This Really Art? What Is Art Journaling 1 GET THE PARTY CRACKING Choose Your Art Journal Create a Supply Kit Your Paints Are in a Relationship! Paper: Make It Work! Be the Color Champ Composition-Building Made Simple 2 MINDSET IS KING How to Work with the Prompts Why Is Being Bad at Something a Good Thing? Creative Rituals Make the First Mark 3 FILL YOUR ART JOURNAL—NOW! The Reasons to Art Journal Finding the Time Take Up Your Space! Self-Care + Art Journaling The Mindful Approach It Turns Out I’m a Perfectionist Are You Inspired? How to Stop Comparing Yourself Every Day Is a Party Day How To Express Feelings Through Art Journaling The Wild Beast Is Unleashed Parting Thoughts Creative Sparks About the Contributors Thanks About Kasia Index

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Book SynopsisCreate the Cutest Garden Dwellers in Ink & WatercolorCelebrate the beautiful world of backyard birds, butterflies, bumblebees and more with captivating ink and wash designs by artist and educator Camilla Damsbo Brix. With her detailed step-by-step tutorials and progress photos, Camilla makes capturing the beauty of your garden as easy as can be.In these 25 compositions, you'll master Camilla's loose, impressionist style of expressive lines and brilliant washesthe perfect way to impressively portray the essence of your subject without hours of work. Detail the fine lines of a majestic, red-washed cardinal on his nest. Sketch a striking dragonfly with bold markings and wind-ready wings, then fill it in with drips of bright phthalo blue and burnt umber. Capture a hungry hummingbird with playful water droplets and vibrant colors. Or put it all together with Camilla''s garden staples (everything from a rustic picket fence to a blooming butterfly bush) to create a b

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Book SynopsisThis is the definitive instructional guide to the art of botanical illustration, published in association with The Society of Botanical Artists and featuring detailed step-by-step demonstrations by members of the Society.Botanical illustration has been a popular art form for many centuries, with its appealing traditions of detail and beauty. This beautifully illustrated book covers all aspects of the subject and is an essential book for all serious students of botanical painting.The book includes useful information about materials, basic plant anatomy, flower and leaf shapes, and then explores the techniques for drawing and coloured pencil work, as well as painting with watercolour and gouache. Subjects include exotic and common plants, flowers, fruit and vegetables, as well as flowers in the garden. Packed with step-by-step demonstrations and stunning illustrations, this is an inspiring, practical guide, as well as a visual treat.

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Book Synopsis'This is an extraordinary book.' Review of Jean Haines' Atmospheric Watercolours in The Artist Magazine 'It simply dazzles on the page and makes you want to grab your brushes and get going straight away.' Review of Jean Haines' Atmospheric Watercolours in The Leisure Painter Jean Haines is arguably one of the world’s most accomplished and inspirational artists, and in this, her fifth book, she explores one of her most beloved subjects - flowers. Taking inspiration from her own beautiful garden in the English countryside where she lives, Jean takes you on an artistic journey that not only teaches you how to create gorgeous paintings, but also shares with you the joy to be gained from the simple act of painting flowers. In this beautiful book, Jean explains with passion and enthusiasm how to loosen up your painting style and include just enough detail in your paintings to portray the essence of flowers, bringing them to life on the paper and infusing them with vibrancy and energy. She shares unreservedly the materials and techniques she uses, provides a wealth of expert tips and advice, and guides you step-by-step through numerous studies and projects. Throughout the book there are many glorious examples of Jean’s paintings of a dazzling variety of flowers, providing an abundance of inspiration for artists of all abilities. Jean uses Daniel Smith materials in this book but other materials can be used to achieve similar results. Trade ReviewJean uses watercolour about as loosely as it's possible to do so and her paintings have an almost iridescent quality that celebrates colour, atmosphere and life. Her flowers shimmer in the light and seem almost to possess movement. There are demonstrations, but they are not at the heart of the project - this book is about learning to see and how to communicate beauty and vision. -- The SAA * The SAA Catalogue 19/20 *'Jean is very good at explaining her working methods, so the lessons and demonstrations are admirably clear.' 'The essence of not just flower, but species is retained and you get the sense of a plant growing in the wild, dancing in the breeze and seen with the lack of distinction brought on by distance. When Jean is painting figures, it’s natural to say that she captures character and soul. While that’s not such an obvious factor with flowers, it’s hard not to make the comparison. This is what flowers are about more than what they are.' Read the full review here. -- Henry Malt * Artbookreview.net *Jean Haines just gets better and better. There have been hints for some time of what's here - subjects that appear as if out of a mist, painted with washes that are so wet they're practically tinctures. If the techniques look like magic, the results certainly are. Not everyone is going to want to paint like this. These are flowers as you've never seen them - indistinct semi-abstract shapes and colours that tell you nothing about structure, little about form and everything about appearance. Jean is a very spiritual painter (she's written about using painting as an aid to mindfulness) and this is a book about painting your emotional response to a popular subject she understands perfectly. If flowers have soul, Jeans has captured it. Although there are demonstrations here, they are short, because details of technique are not important. What matters is to understand your subject, and Jean does intimately. -- Henry Malt * The Artist, October 2018 *Already as a child, the artist loved flowers and studied their coloring, the variety of shapes and the seasonal changes. Through intense observation of nature and, of course, through exercises as often as possible, she was able to achieve masterful expressive power in the course of her career. Like any good instructional book, it begins by listing the materials she uses, such as paints, brushes, paper, and other useful things. Many tips about working with neat pigments and water help to understand why Jean Haine's watercolours are so vibrant and expressive. Numerous step-by-step instructions follow arranged according to colours and seasons. The extraordinary feature of this book is the lovingly worded accompanying text which reveals the painter's passion for nature that has grown over many decades. In many exercises, you will perfect the art of omission and abstraction, the harmonious use of colour and learn to add excitement to a picture. Summary: “Atmospheric Flowers” is at the same time a textbook and a relaxing reading book for all art lovers. Especially for the advanced painter, Jean Haines offers an inexhaustible source of inspiration, useful tips and painting instructions. After a thorough study of text and pictures, you will be able to improve and develop your own style. Novices can enjoy very personal text contributions and the variety of lively, expressive watercolours by Jean Haines. -- Nina Hartmann * www.kreativereview.blogspot.com *Jean Haines is an amazing painter. Her watercolours are about as far from representation you can get without venturing into abstraction, yet they capture the essence of her subjects perfectly. These are not flowers for the botanist - theres almost no detail and they appear as if out of the mist, shimmering, even moving in the light. Jean's interest is in colours and shapes and how these can be manipulated to reveal not just the appearance of her subjects but their spirit. These flowers are not specimens on a page but living entities that suprise and delight. It's impossible not to feel uplifted by them. To help you achieve this, Jean includes discussions about her subjects, as well as exercises that help you get to grips with her personal way of working. You'll kearn not just to paint, but to see, observe and understand. You may have gathered that I'm a fan. I love how Jean creates not just an image but a way of expressing your inner feelings and soul of your subject. * SAA Paint *Table of ContentsAuthor’s welcome Introduction Why paint flowers? The bare necessities Materials All about colour Seeds of ideas First steps Simply blue The point of no return To Bee or Not to Bee Painting white flowers Simplifying complicated shapes Standing tall Taking flight with white Seasons of life Spring Primroses Daffodils Bluebells Summer Roses Sweet Pea Sunflowers Autumn Winter The journey Using our imagination A change in direction Abstract impressions Going for gold Thinking outside the box

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Book SynopsisHow to work with a limited palette, with step-by-step demonstrations. One of the world's best art teachers shows you how to give spontaneity and lightness to your work with a limited palette. Using only three colours (up to five at the very most), is the most effective way to give your art a fresh feel. With an array of paintings, techniques and step-by-step demonstrations, renowned artist Hazel Soan goes through a range of specific colour combinations that work. Each chapter looks at a different combination, guided by a principal hue or pigment property. For landscapes she discusses cool blue and warm yellow, for gardens transparent reds and complimentary green, and for seascapes warm blue, cool yellow and granulation. The author explores the almost inexhaustible three-colour combinations but also discusses when four- or five-colour combinations would enhance or work more efficiently. This ensures your work is more cohesive, light and brings out the beauty of the watercolour medium. This extensive guide is packed with demonstrations, work in progress and finished paintings – and every single painting will have the colours itemized, making this not only a great technique book but great resource for colour combinations. Ideal for all painters, new or experienced.Trade Review‘There’s so much here that this becomes one of the most comprehensive studies of and guides to colour there is.’ Art Book Review Henry Malt 2022 ‘By no means the first book on painting with a limited palette, but it is certainly the most comprehensive and least prescriptive’ The Artist Henry Malt 2022

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Book SynopsisThe Watercolour Sourcebook is a compilation of four selected titles from the What to Paint series, chosen specially to illustrate the wide range of scenes and subjects that can be captured in watercolour. The works of four master watercolourists – Geoff Kersey, Terry Harrison, Peter Woolley and Wendy Tait – are brought together in a collection of 60 beautiful, detailed projects on the subjects of trees, woodlands and forests; landscapes; hills and mountains and flowers respectively. Each project results in a full painting that is accompanied at the end of the book by a full-size outline that can be copied and applied to the artist's own watercolour paper using tracedown paper and pencil. The Watercolour Sourcebook aims to provide a wealth of inspiration to the painter who struggles to decide upon their subject matter, and arms the artist with everything they need to know about what they're about to paint, from colour palette to useful techniques.Trade ReviewIn this exciting and informative book, four of your favourite artists present easy to follow demonstrations of landscapes, flowers, trees and mountains. Each one is accompanied by an outline drawing for you to trace onto watercolour paper, getting the composition right every time. By keeping everything simple, the instructions can be kept to a single two-page spread. In this way, you're not constantly switching about and trying to work out where you are. You can see everything from the colour palette to the finished result at all times, with highlights of the important details picked out just where you need them. Terry Harrison works with rural scenes that include buildings, water, sunshine, clouds and snow. Wendy Tait's flowers demonstrate single varieties as well as settings and bouquets, taking full advantage of the variety of colours available. Geoff Kersey paints trees in all seasons from bare branches to full canopy and he includes spring flowers as well as boats and figures. Peter Woolley illustrates wide mountain vistas and single crags and shows you how to create effective foregrounds and skies in a variety of weather conditions. This is packed with subjects, projects and ideas and will give you as much material to work with as you could wish. * SAA Catalogue *The Watercolour Sourcebook contains material previously published in Search Press's What to Paint series, including the work of four popular watercolourists, Geoff Kersey, Terry Harrison, Peter Wooley and Wendy Tait. This new book contains 60 detailed projects, each of them resulting in a full painting, in a range of subject, from trees, woodlands and landscapes to hills, mountains and flowers. Full-size outlines are included at the end of the book so that you can get painting straight away. The book follows a well-tested formula, that allows painters to build their confidence and produce work they are proud of with helpful tips, techniques and colour palette information shred along the way. * Leisure Painter *Another great release! This book has given me the renewed interest to try painting subjects other than landscapes, such as different flowers, woods and cottages. So many to choose from, with sketches in the back of the book to get you started and advice at the front of the book. You can even merge two pictures so that you have different flowers in one picture. I’ve regained my interest in painting, have purchased new paintbrushes, I’m going to try in both watercolour and acrylic paints, even my mum and sister have read with interest and want to give it a go. I’d recommend this book as it offers great pictures and advice. Search Press have excelled again in releasing a great book. -- Jenny Nixon * Customer Review *With 60 images ready to trace and get the composition right before you start, there’s plenty of variety in this attractive compilation. It’s also worth saying that the material comes from the What to Paint series, so, if you have those, you probably won’t need this. If you haven’t, however, you’ll find Terry Harrison on landscapes, Wendy Tait on flowers, Geoff Kersey on trees and woodlands and Peter Woolley on hills and mountains. All these experienced and popular teachers include more than just the basics, with surroundings, perspectives and settings, providing images that should satisfy the most demanding student. * Paint Magazine (SAA) *Table of ContentsIntroduction 6 Transferring the image 8, Composing from the outlines 10, Techniques and effects 12 Landscapes 16 Poppies by the Track 18, Millstream Cottage 20, Winter's Day 22, First Footprints 24, After the Rain 26, Tide Mill 28, A Walk Along the Lane 30, Cornish Harbour 32, Waterside Walk 34, Cooling Off 36, Hard Day's Work 38, Castle Combe 40, The Village Gossips 42, Another Winter 44, The Mountain Stream 46 Flowers 48 Tulips 50, Snake's Head Fritillary 52, Anemones 54, Pansies 56, Canary Bird Roses 58, Fuchsias 60, Sweet Peas 62, Cherry Blossom in Glass Jar 64, Oriental Poppies 66, Snowdrops 68, Golden Lilies 70, Pink & White Roses 72, Hollyhocks 74, Japanese Anemones & Lavender 76, Sunflowers 78 Trees, Woodlands & Forests 80 Woodland Stream 82, Manhattan Park 84, Footbridge in the Woods 86, Winter Silhouettes 88, Rowing Boats 90, Winter Walkers 92, Golden Light 94, Kensington Gardens 96, Autumn at Chatsworth 98, Winter Glow 100, Woodland Bridge 102, Bluebell Wood 104, Forest Firs 106, New Forest Ponies 108, Woodland Reflections 110 Hills & Mountains 112 Mountain Mist 114, Snowy Peaks 116, Sea of Cloud 118, Winter Crags 120, The View from the Summit 122, The Last of the Sun 124, Rocks and Scree 126, Mountain Stream 128, Traversing the Ridge 130, Sunset: Best Time of Day 132, Snow and Shadows 134, The Illusion of Space 136, Hills and Lakes 138, The Weather in the Hills 140, Iconic Peak 142 Index & Outlines 144

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Book SynopsisBestselling artist and author explains how to use light and shade in watercolour painting to add lifelike detail and create engaging artworks. Mastering light and shadow is the key to successful watercolour paintings and in this book you can learn how to paint like an expert. The book is packed with Hazel Soan’s colourful and varied paintings, as well as step-by-step exercises and handy hints. Beginning with how to see the values of light and shade through the eyes of an artist, the book then shows how watercolour is the perfect medium to represent light and shade. Learn how to balance light and shade through compositional design and how to establish the shadow of individual components within the composition. Hazel demonstrates clever techniques such as conserving white paper to show highlights, how to mix the right tonal values and how to balance detail in your painting. Finally, the book looks at using light and shade to create atmospheric effects, tonal patterns to look out for and how to bring it all together to create fantastic artworks.Trade Review'Any new book by Hazel Soan is an event’ * Paint (SAA) * 'This is the best guide you’ll maybe ever get to a notoriously tricky subject.’ * The Artist *‘A genuine tour de force … her best book yet’ -- Henry Malt * ArtbookReview *

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Book SynopsisIf you want to learn to paint, but don't know where to start, start here.' Artbookreview.netThe ultimate guide to watercolour painting for the complete beginner, from expert teacher, Matthew Palmer. This is a revised and updated edition of his beloved bestseller, which has now sold more than 100,000 copies.

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Book SynopsisCreative Watercolor offers beginners a fun, modern, and practical approach to a timeless medium with instructions on how to paint simple motifs, create elegant lettering, and embellish projects beautifully. Popular watercolor artist and workshop instructor Ana Victoria Calderon shares her step-by-step techniques for painting modern designs in this classic medium. All the fundamentals needed to get started in watercolor are here, allowing you to quickly learn how to create beautiful watercolor paintings. Through a series of easy tutorials and projects, you will: Discover basic materials and tools, plus options for embellishing your paintings Master essential techniques, starting with easy warm-up activities. Then, learn to layer, and get into the flow with watercolor Get an introduction to scanning and digital editing for making multiples Paint a variety of simple, beautiful designs: flowers and leaves, butterflies and critters, fruits and vegetables, and delightful lettering Use what you’ve learned to create unique, stylish stationery, including beautiful invitations, place cards, menus, monograms, recipe gift cards, thank you notes—any project you can imagine, for any kind of event you can think of! There’s never been a better time to dive into the world of watercolor, so why wait? Grab a brush and get painting! Perfect for all skill levels, the books in the Art for Modern Makers series take a fun, practical approach to learning about and working with paints and other art mediums to create beautiful DIY projects and crafts.

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Book SynopsisIn this new and extended edition of her best-selling book in the 'How to Paint' series: 'Colour and Light in Watercolour' (first published 2010), Jean Haines has produced a book even more inspirational than the first. With 40 per cent new material in the form of new hands-on demonstrations, examples of her work and extended text, Jean provides a valuable insight into the materials and techniques she uses to inject colour and light into her stunningly beautiful, award-winning watercolour paintings. Jean's enthusiasm and passion for art is evident throughout the book, which is packed full of ideas, useful tips, expert advice and over 20 step-by-step demonstrations. with subjects ranging from atmospheric winter landscapes to bright colourful cockerels, all painted in Jean's loose and expressive style, artists of all tastes and abilities will not fail to be inspired by her imaginative and exciting use of light and colour.Trade ReviewSummer 2016, Issue 2 This is a new edition of Jean Haine's first and bestselling title.We have included it for people who want to go a little bit deeper into painting and learn more skills and techniques. Just like Paint Yourself Calm, this is also large format and full of colour. It's not intended for absolute beginners but there are certainly no concepts or requirements that make this impentrable to someone new to watercolour painting. * Cygnus Review *July 2016 This is a reissue of Jean's first book which originally appeared as part of a series aimed at beginners. It was never well suited to the format and length always made the artist's work feel constrained. A redesigned and more than doubled extent have give it wings that are more in keeping with her later books. Extended re-issues do not work, authors move on a what they wanted to say on the subject in question was usually there in the original. Additions can feel at best bolted on or, at worst out-takes that should have stayed on the cutting room floor. This emphatically is not the case here. The original has promise and that has been realised now, the result being a triumph. * The Leisure Painter *The range of its capabilities, it shows in numerous illustrations, instructions and important advice on watercolours. We see exotic dressed people, foreign cityscapes, delicate flowers, fruits and animals repeatedly. But looking at the sun-drenched images, the indicated details, the harmony of color selection arouses enthusiasm. However, learning this particular style of painting requires fundamental knowledge. Painters who represent very realistically and in detail, will have difficulties with the implementation. The experimental artist, however, will have the courage to do so and the casual use of the brush is love, this technique can be learned easily. The prerequisite is to develop each chapter of the book. To better understand the painting Jean Haines shows detailed examples to brush selection and their handling. Many mixtures of their eleven favorite colors are presented, with which it has this book also painted most of the pictures. In the chapter "light and how we see it" it gives an insight into their distinctive way of representation of light and strong contrasts. Known techniques such as wet-on-wet, glazes, salt, negative painting, spraying technique, are demonstrated. But what good is the perfect mastery of basic skills, if in the end produced a boring image? Only the composition makes the picture into a unique and unusual artwork. From their many years of painting experience knows the artist that before painting the thinking is. First we have to decide what we want to paint. As the object is lively and compelling? What foreground and background should we choose? What colors cause a harmonious whole? How are the brush strokes are performed? Only after these preliminary we should start painting. In the penultimate chapter "Summary" shows Jean Haines progressive image formation on the example of two taps, a fleeing rabbit and a Seascape with boats. The detailed imaging that brief but informative texts and useful tips make Technique clearly and comprehensibly. What I personally have missed something, is the lack of photographic pictures. I would have been interested in whether the artist paints with no pictures or sketches and photos to help take the reaction of light and shadow, the search for interesting details not easy for me without visual aids. For the advanced experimental watercolourist looking for a loose style of painting, the book is recommended "Colour and light". In der überarbeiteten Neuauflage ihres Buches „Colour and light“ widmet sich die Künstlerin Jean Haines dem Thema „Farbe und Licht“. Die Bandbreite ihres Könnens zeigt sie in zahlreichen Abbildungen, Anleitungen und wichtigen Tipps zum Aquarellmalen.Die vielfältigen Eindrücke ihrer Fernreisen lässt sie in ihre impressionistisch wirkenden Bilder einfließen. Wir sehen exotische gekleidete Menschen, fremde Stadtansichten, zarte Blumen, Früchte und immer wieder Tiere. * Kreative review *Jean's passion for art shows as she guides you through a variety of exciting projects. With subjects ranging from atmospheric winter landscapes to bright colourful cockerels you are sure to be inspired! -- The SAA * The SAA Catalogue 19/20 *I'm not normally a fan of revised re-issues. Artists move on and what they wanted to say on a subject was pretty much perfectly formed at the time. Unpicking a thread and trying to make it into sommething else all to often lands up with a mess. But... and it's a very big but. Jean Haines and Search Press have done a superb job here. This was Jean's first book and it appeared in a beginner's series to which it and her style, were never really suited. Jean belongs to the broder canvas, as it were and her loose impressionistic style needs room to breathe. Basic instruction and 48 pages felt more like an eagle in a cage - you could see the potential, but not the spread of the wings. For this version which has enlarged the format and more than doubled the extent, there's been a complete redesign that's in keeping with the later books. The paper is bright white just like the original paintings and it shows the colour and its subtle tints, hues and washes much better. The larger paint size means that nothing's reduced down to where you can't see the brushwork. On top of that there's additional material and more demonstrations. This is no longer a book that hints at what might be possible, but one which celebrates Jean's work and what can be done if you're brave with watercolour. The result is a triumph and something you'll want even if you have the first version. * SAA Paint *Well, this is a first! I've seen books dragged out of well-deserved retirement, kept current by revamped covers and re-issued as "classics", but I've never seen one given a complete makeover that doubles the original extent. I had reservations about this when it first appeared. It's not that it wasn't good, or that I didn't like it, just that I didn't feel that Jean's loose and somewhat idiosyncratic style fitted comfortably into a series of what were largely technical manuals. All that clearly didn't harm sales and Jean has, of course, gone on to become a bestselling and highly respected author. Later volumes have given her work the freedom it needs and it's blossomed as a result. Re-workings of what for the moment we'll call juvenilia are rarely successful. Authors move on, their style develops and things that are largely historical are best left as pieces of history. If that means they're a footnote, so be it. It's often better than being something everyone comes to regret and has to make excuses for later. And now, gentle reader, I'm going to eat my words: both my previous reservations and my suspicion of the re-vamp. This is everything the book should have been in the first place. It hasn't been shoe-horned into a series format, for a start. Series are great and are often a way of introducing new authors who may not have the gravitas to stand alone, but can be carried on by the momentum a series provides and given a toe-hold in the water (yes, I do know that's a mixed metaphor, but it was kind of you to mention it). It's also been completely re-designed and there are vastly more illustrations. Now, it has room to spread its wings and to breathe, which is exactly what Jean's work needs. She's not about small illustrations that populate a detailed text, she's about illustrations, illustrations and illustrations. You need to see her work full-page and preferably on a crisp white background and that's what you have here. I haven't done a word-by-word comparison, but I'm pretty sure this is the original text and it now becomes an adjunct to the pictures, rather than the other way round. The best art books usually lead on the paintings and use the text just as a caption to explain what you're looking at when you need a nudge or it isn't immediately obvious. This is a hard trick to pull off because, if the original book was any good, it'll have been properly put together and be a perfect sphere it's very hard to pull apart. No matter how much you want to, it is, as I've hinted above, usually better to leave well alone and start something new from scratch. So, congratulations to Search Press, whose editorial and design teams are on a bit of a roll at the moment, and to Jean too. With this many new illustrations, she's had a pretty large part in the exercise as well. You need this book. * Artbookreview.net *

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Book Synopsis Master painting lively figures and private portraits, with simple exercises and step-by-step demonstrations. Bestselling artist and author Hazel Soan explains how to create beautiful and engaging paintings of strangers and loved ones, with handy hints and work-in-progress paintings throughout. Learn how to overcome shyness or anxiety about painting people in private and in public. Capture their energy and see beyond their likeness through angles, movement, tone and detail. Understand how to make them comfortable with poses, a timeframe and support. Learn about clothing, proportion, measuring and scene-setting. This is the only book you need for painting people and portraits. This extensive guide is ideal for all painters, new or experienced.

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Book SynopsisIn this beautifully produced book, artist and teacher David Webb shares his expertise to provide comprehensive guidance for anyone painting in watercolour, from beginners up. How-to techniques are at the heart of the book and feature detailed explanations and demonstrations that will get you progressing fast, with a real understanding of the medium. Included in this section are ‘Help!’ panels that focus on what can go wrong: the typical mistakes made and how you can avoid them. Readers will also discover the widest possible range of watercolour techniques thanks to our team of internationally recognised guest artists, who will be revealing some of their painting secrets in a series of ‘life lessons’ – how they appear to get the paint to really glow and their paintings to spring into life. Previously published as Complete Guide to Watercolour (9781782215738).Trade ReviewFrom beginners up this book, one of an excellent series, provides all the techniques and essential skills you need to begin to understand watercolour and paint your first paintings. There is no doubt that watercolour takes skill and understanding and that how it works is key to being able to use it. Understand the medium, learn how to mix, apply and more. This great watercolour primer will help you achieve success. Washes, resists, colour charts, design and perspective, texture, step-by-step demonstrations and fabulous finished art. * Customer Review *David Webb's recently republished Complete Guide to Watercolour is a comprehensive guide for anyone interested in painting with watercolour, from beginners to more experienced artists. Watercolour techniques are clearly explained, with 'Help!' panels to focus on areas where special care is needed or where problems can often arise. Clear step-by-step demonstrations will help you to progress your skills with the medium, and tips and techniques from a team of internationally recognised guest artists will reveal their secrets. This is a must for all watercolourists. * Leisure Painter, June 2023 *

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Book SynopsisA stunning and skill-building guide to take your watercolour painting techniques to the next level, This book has everything you need to become a master artist. Its practical advice will help you to take your first steps in the medium and then progress in your practice, this must-have guide then features over 30 watercolour projects that slowly advance in difficulty and cover a wide range of subjects and techniques. Starting with exercises to help you understand colour and create patterns before building your skills to produce floral compositions, nature landscapes and realistic portraits. It provides step-by-step instructions to guide you through each challenge so you grow in confidence and discover your own personal style. Also included within these pages are real life testimonies from other artists to further inspire your journey in the world of watercolor art.

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Book Synopsis15 stunning wildflower templates with guidance from the artist behind RHS Flowers: The Watercolour Art Pad and RHS Botanical Art Watercolour Pad.

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Book SynopsisDraw a range of 50 beautiful botanical subjects, including flowers, plants and fruits, in just 10 simple steps each!

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Book SynopsisFrom the New York Times bestselling author of the Forest Feast series, Erin Gleeson, a beginner-friendly watercolor book with techniques, ways to get creative, and watercolor paper at the back of the book to practice on Bestselling author Erin Gleeson’s vibrantly designed cookbooks have transported readers to her beautiful cabin in the woods of Northern California for years, and now she reveals how to re-create her signature watercolor illustrations. Even artists new to watercolor painting can follow the simple step-by-step instructions in the book’s 40 fun, easy, and beautiful tutorials. Learn how to hand-letter in watercolor; paint an array of specific fruits, vegetables, and flowers; and create beautiful menus, place settings, and other designs to display in your home or at your next dinner party. Erin also introduces us to three of her favorite watercolor artists, with distinct and lovely styles for further inspirat

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive approach to painting light-filled architectural landscapes, including both urban and natural settings.

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Book SynopsisRock Art! is the ultimate guide to painting eccentric art on rocks! This book makes it possible for anyone to create extraordinary art projects and crafts with ordinary rocks. The first part of the book will give you tips as to how to go about picking your pebbles and how to get started. You’ll find that your finished rock art projects can be used in practical, stylish, fun and decorative ways. Once painted, pebbles can be used as jewellery, lucky amulets, games, love tokens, bookends, special gifts or home and garden décor objects! Get creative and use your rock painting art in a variety of crafty projects.Trade ReviewFebruary 2015 There are pebbles and rocks everywhere, but did you ever consider them to be blank canvases? This book shows you how to transform a humble stone into a work of art. If you live near a beach or a river you will find collecting pebbles easy, but don’t despair if you can’t find anything suitable – grab some polymer clay and make your own. This is the type of hands-on approach you will get from this fun book, as well as a brief look at the three main types of rock and some rock hunting tips. You don’t need many materials to get started but the author provides plenty of help with getting started, varnishing, making clay pebbles plus other useful things. This book is mostly filled with ideas and projects. Look at your stone to see what the shape suggests, then follow the simple instructions and fill your house with monsters, fish, owls, words, mandalas, abstract designs, animals, flowers and people. Turn your creations into place settings, jewellery, lucky charms, games, fridge magnets, bookends and paperweights. The fun, quirky project pages show in a few steps how it is done, with ideas and suggestions for use. All the pieces have amusing names and look as though they would be fairly simple and enjoyable to make. At the back of the book there are photographs of ideas for using the painted pebbles, many of which did not occur to me who had hitherto only seen them used as paperweights! It is always good to see a craft book on an unusual subject, especially a fresh look at an old and rather forgotten one. * Myshelf.com *February 2015 There is one word that describes this book; FUN, my son and I love collecting rocks. This book has inspired us. We are going to spend his next school holidays decorating all the rocks we have collected. Denise has some amazing ideas. There is so much packed into this book! So many designs and so much information for you to recreate the designs yourself. The thing I also love about this book is I don't need to buy any special equipment. Just pick up a rock with some paint and hey presto you are on your way to creating your own fun rock. The step-by-step instructions are supported with clear and beautiful pictures. When not showing you how to decorate your stone there are hundreds of pictures to give you even more ideas. Who knew a small little stone could be transformed into so many different amazing rocks. They are brilliant to make with children and they are brilliant for making story games with. Not only does Denise show you how to create the designs she also gives you ideas of how you can use your rocks. Stones have never been such fun! I love this book and can't wait to spend time with my son to create some. To see this review in full and others similar www.crochetaddictuk.com * Crochet Addict UK *July 2015 In the spirit of our Kids Love to Make section, this book is packed full of even more fun, easy and cheap projects to make. However this isn't aimed at children but anyone who'd like to create extraordinary art projects and crafts from just ordinary rocks. The first part of the book provides tips on sourcing your stones and how to get started, and then guides you through many projects, all of which are achievable at home. Finally there's a gorgeous ideas section showing how you can use your transformed stones. It really is a rocking-good book! * Love to Make *Table of ContentsDenise’s World 7 Getting Started 8 We’re Going on a Rock Hunt 10 Be Inspired 14 What Do You Need? 16 Make Your Own Rocks 18 Preparation 20 Finishing Touches 22 Rock Your Pebbles 24 At the Zoo 26, Bicycle Wheels 28, Under the Sea 30, Rock Garden 32, Funny Faces 34, Into the Woods 36, Fruit Salad 38, Wise Owls 40, Let’s Get Linear 42, Easy as ABC 44, Mushrooms 46, Fish Out of Water 48, Up, Up and Away! 50, Keep It Simple 52, Pebble Pets 54, Googly-Eyed Monsters 56, Colour Pops 58, Flower Power 60, Consequences 62, Autumn Leaves 64, Super-Cute Sea Creatures 66, Light as a Feather 68, Rock Stars 70, The Man in the Moon 72, Sunny Side Up 74, Rocky Road 76, Brilliant Bugs 78, Try Triangles 80, Animal Favourites 82, Making Mandalas 84, From Me to You 86, Hoot Your Pebbles 88, Tutti Frutti 90, Pebble Portraits 92, Misfit Monsters 94, Fish Tails 96, Love Hearts 98, Mice ’n’ Cheese 100, Get Folky 102, Flutter By Butterfly 104 Using Your Rock Art 106 Paperweight 108, Framed Pebbles 109, Bookends 110, Place Names 112, Pendants 114, Brooches 115, Doorstop 116, Magnets 117, Noughts and Crosses 118, Story Pebbles 119, Toy Cars 120, Garden Ornaments 122 Index 124 Credits 128

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewBased on the premise that good art is founded on good observation, Liz encourages you to sketch what you see wherever you are. Basic watercolour techniques, as well as ideas for more experienced watercolourists are included along with plenty of step by step demonstrations and of course, the book is full of Liz's delightful watercolours of birds. Whether you read it from cover to cover or dip into it, Liz provides you with the tools and ideas to turn your observations into paintings. -- painters-online.co.uk * painters-online.co.uk *

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Book SynopsisA classic medium, watercolor is practiced by many but mastered by few. This accessible and clear workbook is both a practical guide and an informative history. Beginning with a "1-day course," the chapters cover technique, equipment, general theory, painting plein air, and conservation. The authors also examine the work of watercolor masters, among them Claude Lorrain, Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, John Constable, J. M. W. Turner, and John Ruskin. Each chapter includes photographs and helpful examples of works in progress, explanations of methods, and how-to demonstra tions. Designed for those who have not picked up a paintbrush since high-school art class as well as more seasoned practitioners, this guide is a must-have for anyone who wants to start out in watercolors, become a more assured and better artist, or simply gain a new understanding of the great watercolorists.

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Book SynopsisThis popular book provides all the information you need to get started in watercolour painting. Full of clear, simple advice and more than 70 step-by-step demonstrations, Watercolour for the Absolute Beginner will teach even the least confident of beginners the skills and techniques needed to start painting.In this easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide, three professional artists explain all the basic watercolour techniques.Top TV artist Alwyn Crawshaw demonstrates the basic techniques including brushstrokes, colour mixing and depicting distance and foreground to get you started in watercolour.Lecturer and Artist Sharon Finmark explains how you can paint realistic figures, covering scale and proportion, mixing convincing skin colours and portraying movement and light effectively.Artist and teacher Trevor Waugh demonstrates techniques for painting animals - domestic, farmyard and wild. Starting with simple animal shapes, Trevor takes you through the rudiments of 3D shapes, tone and colour Table of ContentsTop TV artist Alwyn Crawshaw teaches you the basic watercolour techniques Artist and lecturer Sharon Finmark shows you how to paint people in a variety of poses and settings Artist and teacher Trevor Waugh shows yu how to paint pets, farmyard and wild animals

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Book SynopsisBursting with exciting and innovative techniques, best-selling author Jane Betteridge pushes watercolour to new heights, bringing nature to life with vibrancy, texture and dynamism. In this reissue of her best-selling book Dynamic Watercolours, Jane demonstrates an effective and vibrant use of a huge range of exciting ways of working, including the use of crackle paste, modelling pastes, metallic leaf, gilding flakes, print and much more. Inspired by nature on every page and showcasing 75 inspirational finished paintings, this book will excite and inspire watercolour artists of all abilities to experiment and approach their painting in a whole new way.Trade ReviewJane Betteridge's Watercolour Nature Unleashed, is a revised and revitalised edition of her best-selling book, Dynamic Watercolours, in which she pushed watercolour to new levels. Drawing on inspiration from the natural world, Jane uses a range of techniques, including crackle and modelling pastes, metallic leaf, gilding flakes, and printing, to add texture and vibrancy to her watercolours. If you are looking to take your watercolours to another level, this is the book for you. * Leisure Painter, February 2023 *I really love this book. With all of Jane's step-by-step projects I felt inspired to get going straight away and experiment! I particularly love the crackle paste. So happy with my purchase and can’t wait for Jane's next book! -- Patrick Smith * Customer Review *This is another great book from Jane. She actually tells you how it’s done. There are some step-by-step exercises which are always helpful and the techniques used are interesting and colourful. Highly recommend. * Customer Review *A beautifully produced book. It is so helpful and inspirational for all artists whether a beginner or more advanced, and uses many watercolour techniques and different materials to enhance the paintings. The book is full of excellent images and the guidance to produce the images is first-class. Highly recommended. * Customer Review *Artist Jane Betteridge follows up Watercolour Unleashed by focussing on the natural world around us. She puts greater emphasis on specific techniques so expect masterclasses in gilding flakes, crackle paste and more – al wrapped up in a visually spectacular guide. * Crafts Beautiful, March 2023 *We love this book! Packed full of vibrant illustrations and wonderful inspiration, this book is a joyful invitation to experiment with different techniques and approaches to watercolour painting. Each section is full of beautiful illustrations, and we love the way Jane introduces the techniques and follows this with step-by-step instructions of how to incorporate the techniques into specific projects. Also included are examples of Jane’s own artworks to inspire you to create your own watercolour examples. We also love the final section when Jane encourages you to start on your own painting journey, with her helpful advice about creating themes, how to focus and pattern and colour. This stunning book takes watercolour painting to new, innovative and exciting dimensions. Highly Recommended! * Escape Learn Create *Table of ContentsIntroduction Pure watercolour PREPARING THE SURFACE 22 Surfaces 24, Textured grounds 32, Crackle paste 36, Modelling pastes 42, Tissue paper 48, Metallic leaf 54 Step-by-step: Poppyfield 55 Gilding flakes 62, Gesso 66, Stamping 68 Step-by-step: Beach Scene 70 ADDING TO YOUR PAINTING 76 Inks 78, Granulation 86 Step-by-step: Magical Woodland 92 Food wrap 98, Salt 102, Gouache 106, Contour relief 110, Pearlescence 114, Impasto 116, Bronzing powder 118, Stencils 122, Gauze & thread 124 Step-by-step: Wild Flowers in the Wood 128 IDEAS & INSPIRATION Exploring themes 136, Focus 138, Pattern & colour 140, Your starting point 142, Index 144

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Book SynopsisA beautiful companion set to the award-winning and internationally beloved phenomena, The Lost Words and The Lost Spells, adults and children alike will love receiving, sending and displaying The Wild Cards''Breathtaking and magical. Jackie Morris has created something that you could spend all day looking at'' New Statesman''Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris have made a thing of astonishing beauty'' ObserverDiscover and share the wonders of the wild world as seen in The Lost Words and The Lost Spells...This collection of 100 postcards features artwork and words from two beloved modern classics, in which Jackie Morris and Robert Macfarlane celebrate the creatures, trees and plants of nearby nature, from Acorn to Wren, by way of Curlew and Kingfisher, Silver Birch and Snow Hare, Goldfinch and Gorse.The front of each card bears one of Morris''s Greenaway Medal-winning paintings; on the reverse, y

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Book SynopsisThis book will teach beginners and beyond the confidence and skills to create convincing, stunning skyscapes, from rich, glowing sunsets to bright clouds on a fresh, blustery day. This practical and inspiring book distils award-winning artist Sandra Orme's insights and experience into a complete course in the fundamentals of working with pastels. She explores those aspects of colour that are key to painting skies: how to retain vibrancy; how to avoid muddy colours through the use of 'bridging' colours; and how many pastels to use for the best effect. Each of the stage-by-stage projects focuses upon a particular sky effect, and each main stage is shown both before and after blending for clarity. Her 'Sky clinic', which finishes the book, offers more specialist and technical help on some of the common problems readers might encounter. Containing the all-important specifics on how to hold the pastel to make various marks, along with close-up pictures showing how the surface should look before you start to blend at each stage, this book assumes no prior knowledge – and contains information and insights of value to even the most confident artist.Trade ReviewAimed at beginners and those with some experience, Sandra Orme's Painting Skies in Pastel is a practical and inspiring book that serves a complete course in working with pastels. Each of the stage-by-stage projects focuses upon a particular sky effect, with clear images describing every step of the journey. There's plenty of general practical advice on using pastels from an artist renowned for her dramatic skyscapes – from how to hold the pastel itself to make the marks you want, to which surface to use and how to blend and layer colours. Sandra's paintings throughout are sure to inspire you. * Leisure Painter, November 2023 *It's always good when specific compositional elements and what we might call the minor media come together. It betokens a maturity of art instruction as well as a willingness of publishers to take a risk. And this was one risk certainly worth taking. Rather than being a short chapter, here skies get a whole book to themselves with everything from placid to dramatic fully covered. After the usual introduction to materials, Sandra gets to the meat of the subject with six detailed demonstrations, starting with a blue sky fronted by fluffy white clouds which have real substance due to careful use of shading. From here, we move on to the more dramatic, with a cloudburst darkening the sky and obscuring part of the foreground. Further chapters cover wind, sunset and a sunrise. This is an impressively thought-thorough work that covers a good variety of situations and builds your skills progressively. -- Henry Malt * The Artist, Issue 139 *Table of ContentsIntroduction 6 What do you need? 8 Pastels and colour 26 Painting skies 34 Blue sky, white clouds 36 Cloudburst 48 Windy Weather 60 Vivid Sunset 72 Stormy Sunset 84 Delicate Sunrise 96 The pastel sky clinic 108 Index 128

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Book SynopsisColor in Reverse: Watercolor Florals encourages creativity, relaxation, and mindfulness through pages of watercolor artwork that are meant to be doodled and drawn over.Trade Review"Hours of DIY watercolor painting fun." * Midwest Book Review *

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Book SynopsisLearn how to use traditional watercolour techniques to produce beautiful, contemporary paintings that are full of light, colour and life. Packed with inspirational finished paintings and step-by-step projects, this engaging book teaches you how to use watercolours in their purest form, without the addition of any other media, to create art that has a radiancy and luminosity that cannot be achieved in any other way.Trade ReviewMarch 2018 Watercolour is a magical medium when used correctly, adding sparkle and life to your paintings. Here, Peter Cronin, takes you back to basics, learning the traditions of watercolour in its purest form, allowing the radiancy of the medium to shine through. Aimed at artists of all levels, Peter shares his 25 years at teaching experience with us, including step-by-step projects, inspirational paintings and forewords by watercolour experts, David Bellamy and David Curtis. * The Leisure Painter *What a pleasure this book is. The kind that makes you want to pick up your paints and create a painting. This book helps you to master traditional watercolour skills to create watercolours with atmosphere. This course in a book gives tips on painting both indoors and out, painting from photographs, sketching, washes and a lot more. There are 5 step-by-step projects to practise your skills. This 144 page book is longer than many on the subject. It is filled with wonderful examples of watercolour. Wonderful book. * www.Yarnsandfabrics.co.uk *February 2018 This beautiful celebration of the technical and creative capabilities of pure watercolour does the medium ample justice. Peter Cronin examines and demonstrates all the classic techniques - sketching, washes, wet-in-wet and drybrush - as well as the many ways of making mark. More importantly, he does this in a creative context, working towards a successful result rather than conducting exercises for their own sake. This is an inherently hands-on book; there is a strong sense of progression from techniques to outdoor work - something Peter is particularly keen on - and it would not be unreasonable to call this a masterclass, even though it remains thoroughly accessible at heart. Every page simply overflowers with useful information that is presented with admirable clarity. Peter is a master of his medium and it is a real privilege and pleasure to be able to work alongside him. * The Artist *As you might expect, Peter is a member of the Pure Watercolour Society and this is a hymn to the medium.. Forewords by David Curtis and David Bellamy should leave you in no doubt about how good it is. My first question on opening the book was: what is “pure” watercolour and how does it differ from any other kind? Peter helpfully enlightens us: “One may suspect that there is perhaps more to good painting than a huge toolkit, and it may be possible to take simple tools and use them well. This concept and approach to painting are at the heart of pure watercolour”. Put kindly, I take that to mean that simplicity is always best and that you should work with your imagination and media rather than your tools; they’re not what makes a painting, you do. In the wrong hands, this could come across as a fundamentalist rant, but Peter lets his brushes do the talking and the work here is simply extraordinary. If he wasn’t such a good explainer and demonstrator, you could easily be put off by his virtuosity. As it is, follow his advice carefully and you’ll stand a very good chance of finishing this book a much better painter then when you started. Watercolour is, as I think we all know, a very special medium. It’s one that does sometimes seem to have a mind of its own and is nowhere near as controllable as the opaque ones. The skill is to work with that and to learn ways of encouraging it to do what you want rather than trying to wrestle it into submission and merely working against it. Handle a wash sensitively, know when colours are going to bleed and blend and large sections will almost complete themselves. Peter explains much about the properties of watercolour and the techniques you’ll need. He also demonstrates extensively and these paintings will show you how to produce some really quite advanced work. It’s a bit of a tour de force. * Artbookreview.net *

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Book Synopsis Following the success of A Dog a Day (Pavilion, 2017), Sally Muir returns with a collection of new, but crucially old, faces. Several years ago Sally Muir began a Facebook project, posting dog art daily, which became the best-selling book A Dog A Day. Through the project she was introduced to endless people and their dogs, and the distinct personalities and complex emotions that owners attribute to them. More recently, Sally's project changed focus and she asked the public to send in photographs of their old dogs. Featuring grey muzzles, milky eyes and wobbly legs, as well as tender anecdotes picked up from a whole lifetime of companionship, Sally Muir’s paintings of our more senior canines are collected here for the first time. Sally Muir is well known for her portrayal of dogs, with Elderly Dog featuring in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in 2018 and Hound following up in the Summer Exhibition in 2019. The popularity of Elderly Dog has fuelled Sally's desire to continue to paint older dogs, and celebrate the ageing process of our favourite pets in grace and style. From loose sketches and lithographs to potato prints and oil paintings, Old Dogs includes a range of mediums that Sally has become known for, and embraces dogs of all shapes and sizes: big, small, pedigree and cross breed.Trade Review'Muir’s dog portraiture ... demonstrates the artist’s technical range and her keen understanding of essential doggishness. ... Muir’s mastery of the expressive capacity of the canine eye in particular makes these paintings live and pant.' -- Claudia Massie * The Spectator *

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Book SynopsisLine and wash is an exciting combination. This practical book shows you how to exploit the strength of ink with the transparency of watercolour to produce powerful and dynamic paintings. With over 170 illustrations, it covers a wide range of styles and subjects, before exploring mixed media, new surfaces and other ways to take your line and wash work to another level. Includes advice on choosing materials; exercises to hone your drawing and painting skills; gives inspiration for new approaches to line and wash and, finally, step-by-step demonstrations of ideas and projects. This book is a visual treat and an essential guide for all artists who want to try this exciting technique.Trade ReviewLine & wash is a subject that’s been crying out for a book for absolutely ages and this one will not disappoint. -- Henry Malt * artbookreview The Artist *

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Book SynopsisWatercolour is a wonderful medium, but it does sometimes seem to have a "mind of its own," refusing to do quite what is required. The keys to success are good planning, constant practice and a thorough understanding of your materials, so if you are new to painting, start by trying out some of the techniques and projects in this book as well as experimenting with different colour mixes and types of paper. Marylin Scott shares over 100 step-by-step sequences demonstrating how to paint a wide range of subjects, from landscapes to buildings, people, and still life. She also includes tips on presenting your finished work in a professional way, building a portfolio, and getting it seen.Trade ReviewAs someone who has enjoyed painting and drawing as a hobby in the past, I had been unable to keep up with it for quite a while and had, therefore, lost confidence. This book is ideal for helping me get back into my stride, especially as I had struggled a bit with water colour work in the past. The book contains many useful tips for anyone starting for the first time and for someone like myself who needs to go back to the basics. I would also think that the wealth of techniques described in the book would be further inspiration for any artist who, although already competent with watercolours, could enjoy experimenting with different styles and effects in their work. Initially I thought I would read through the book before starting to paint - but I couldn't wait! However, first efforts made me keep going back to the book for advice! I intend to work through it trying out the tutorials as I go along. The introduction about the different papers and paints available and the results you can expect from them was particularly useful for me. To show how long it was since I had last painted, I had to go out and buy a new bottle of masking fluid as my previous one had turned solid, despite the cap being tightly fitted. I am looking forward to many hours of fun ahead! * Sue Squibb *What an excellent book. It is a manageable size and weight with waterproof cover enabling it to be transported easily 'out in the field' to support and inform 'plein air' work. Despite not being spiral bound, the book stays relatively flat when open allowing work to be done with reference to the appropriate section. The layout is excellent with good quality photographs balanced with step by step explanatory text which is kept clear and succinct with the addition of Artist's Tips where applicable. It covers practical advice from choosing the necessary tools and equipment, choosing and mixing colours to the wealth of techniques possible with the water colour medium. The diversity of style and subject matter that is possible is illustrated by a wide variety of established artists' work and a section of 'Tutorials' which enable you to follow the artist's progress from initial planning to completion. Beginners and experienced watercolorists alike would find this book invaluable * Cas Evans *Watercolour is the trickiest painting medium to get right. The teachings in this book will really help to properly equip and to practice all the effects that can be achieved including blending, stippling and adding lustre. As someone with some experience with watercolour painting I think the book will still prove to be a useful guide to have at my side; so it is not necessarily for beginners only. And if, like me, you find it challenging to be neat with the edgings, especially when allowing the paint to bleed on the surface of the wet paper and that this may often result in colour patches with no definition; then the subjects section in this book will be particularly helpful. The tutorial 'Exploiting Edge Qualities' is definitely worth a try. Fully recommend this book, it is well constructed and the publishing quality is excellent * Debra Hall -TSS Reviews *Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION 6 GETTING TO KNOW THE MEDIUM 8 Watercolour choices 10, Watercolour papers 12, Brushes 14, Water 17, Additional equipment 18, Choosing colours 20, Mixing greens 22, Mixing skin tones 24, Overpainting effects 26 TECHNIQUES 28 Basic techniques 30 Washes 30, Graded and variegated washes 32, Dropped-in colour 34, Brushwork 36, Analysis: Brushwork 38, Blending 40, Reserving white paper 42, Masking highlights 44, Analysis: Masking fluid 46, Soft and scratched highlights 48, Lifting out 50, Wet-on-dry 52, Wet-in-wet 54, Analysis: Wet-in-wet 56, Hard and soft edges 58, Underdrawing 60, Altering and erasing 62 Advanced techniques 64 Backruns 64, Brush drawing 68, Analysis: Brush drawing 70, Drawing with a stick 72, Dry brush 74, Analysis: Dry brush 76, Glazing 78, Gum arabic 80, Body colour 82, Analysis: Body colour 84, Spattering 86, Salt spatter 88, Stippling 92, Scraping back 94, Impressing and indenting 96, Wax resist 98, Line and wash 100, Analysis: Line and wash 102, Mixed media 104, Squaring up 106 Useful hints and tips 108 Managing your watercolours 108, Travelling light 114, Paper and paints 116, Special effects 118 SUBJECTS 120 Landscapes 122 Composition 122, Fields and flatlands 124, Rocks and mountains 126, Tutorial: Foreground figures 128, Weather 134, Trees 136, Skies 138, Tutorial: Using opaque paint 140 Waterscapes 142 Waves 142, Still water 144, Reflections 146, Tutorial: Sky and water 148 Buildings 150 Lighting 150, Atmosphere 152, Texture and pattern 154, Buildings and landscape 156, Interiors 158 Still life and flowers 160 Composition 160, Arranging 162, Colour schemes 164, Natural habitat 166, Garden settings 168, Botanical studies 170, Tutorial: Exploiting edge qualities 172 People 178 Figures in landscape 178, Portraits 180, Children and young people 182, The figure in context 184, Tutorial: Working from sketches 186 INDEX 188 CREDITS 192

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Book SynopsisIdeas for encouraging a child's self-expression through watercolour painting. This incredibly practical book is based on Goethe's colour theory and is an invaluable guide for parents and teachers.Trade Review"When we paint with colours we should paint in such a way that we are conscious that we are calling forth life from what is dead" Rudolf Steiner

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Book SynopsisThis delightful wall calendar features 12 beautiful botanical watercolours of plants by Charlotte Cowan Pearson, examples of whose paintings are held in an album in the RBGE's Library. Informative text accompanies each work and the datepad features previous and next month's views. Printed on FSC-certified paper, with plastic-free packaging.

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Book SynopsisAnn Blockley is a successful artist, known for the innovative way in which she uses texture as a key element in her work, and this guide for intermediate painters looks specifically at how she achieves her stunning effects. Creating texture in watercolor can be quite a challenge, but this book brings a fresh approach to the subject. Ann explains how to manipulate the paint by lifting out color, scraping and scratching the paint, and using additional materials such as wax, salt, and metallic pigments. She also explains how the surface itself can play an important role in the effects that can be achieved, and experiments with acrylics, inks, gouache, and collage, as well as with watercolor. Ann also looks at the creative process and provides insights into how to develop ideas and portray texture in specific subjects, such as flowers and foliage, animals, still life, buildings, and landscapes. In order to provide a broader view and different styles of painting, the work of several guest artists is also featured.Trade Review‘This is a wonderful lively book that will inspire readers to take more risks with the medium, moving their work on to something perhaps truly extraordinary.’ Leisure Painter ‘This is muscular watercolour, painting for the new millennium if you must. It’s vibrant, alive and exciting.’ Artists’ Choice Book Club ‘Flowers, leaves and seedheads…also landscapes, animals and still lifes done in a way that will definitely make you look twice. [Warecolour Textures]Offers all kinds of opportunities for development.’ The Artist Magazine ‘A use of paint that goes far beyond the medium’s more demure image…this is very much the way forward. Read Ann’s book and you can say you were there when it started!’ Artist’s Choice

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Book SynopsisMany artists first learn to paint in watercolour. But this flexible, dynamic medium has an immediacy that is perfect for experimentation. Discover textures, applications, techniques, combinations of materials, and new ways of tackling the medium you love. Rub it, dab it, scratch it, scrunch it. Cut it, glue it, sew it and seal it. And above all, learn from what other people do!This little book is full of big ideas from contemporary artists to inspire you to think differently. With a new idea on every spread of the book, you will discover fresh ways of working with watercolour to create work that is original and exciting.

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Book SynopsisBestselling artist and writer Hazel Soan has distilled her art teaching into the things that matter most and can be digested in a short period of time – in just one afternoon you can start painting. Learning to paint is one of the life-long aspirations of many of us, and these techniques can be picked up faster than you think. Hazel Soan’s concise book, filled with easy-to-follow instructions and step-by-step exercises, is written in an accessible way for those completely new to painting. Chapters include: Getting Started (the materials you will need and those you can ignore in the art shop); Choice of Colours; Mixing Colours; What’s the Subject?; What Surfaces to Paint on; Basic Painting Techniques; Brushstrokes and Composition (with details on how to design paintings with horizon, focus and balance, a hint of perspective and the light and shade of a subject). Packed with illustrations for guidance, this is the most comprehensive guide to learning watercolour very quickly.

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Book SynopsisCreate beautiful botanical artworks, engage with the natural world around you, and take pleasure in the changing seasons with A Year of Watercolour. Award-winning and bestselling artist and tutor Harriet de Winton takes you through more than 30 step-by-step botanical paintings that span the seasons. Learn to paint cherry blossoms and lambs in the spring, honeybees and wildflowers for summer, oak leaves and harvest mice in autumn, and pine trees and snowdrops in winter. Plus, enjoy charming bonus features like a recipe for wild garlic pesto in springtime, or guidance on how to paint a festive wreath with winter berries and foliage. The perfect primer for creating seasonal cards, personalized stationery and stunning artworks to decorate your home or give to friends and family.

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Book SynopsisOne of Europe's most beautiful cities is celebrated through the talents of artist Tom Mairs The city of Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, is a historic city with cobblestone streets lined with buildings that tell the story of past centuries, offering an architecture that blends Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance styles. Prague is an open-air museum, where each building tells a story and each street reveals an architectural treasure, offering its visitors a journey through history and showcasing the timeless beauty of this city with its thousand towers, thousand spires, and colorful buildings.

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Book SynopsisAn essential and practical handbook on choosing and mixing colours successfully. Choosing and mixing colours successfully in different media is all about creating the maximum colour range from the minimum number of paints. In this comprehensive guide, the authors - all experts in the field - show you how to approach watercolours, acrylics and oils in terms of mixing, blending and diluting them to achieve a wide range of effects. Whether you are an amateur or a professional, The Art of Colour Mixing provides a handy source of invaluable information on how to get the most from your paints in terms of colour. This is a book that should be on all painter's reference shelves.Trade ReviewThis is a thorough and easy to use guide to mixing colours ... and it's amazing value for money. * Artist's Choice *Table of ContentsAbout this Book An Introduction to Colour Theory Colour Hue Colour Value Colour Saturation Acrylics Equipment The Starter Palette The Colour Palettes Oils Equipment and Mixing Colour The Starter Palette The Colour Palettes Watercolours The Use of Water in Mixing Colour The Colour Palettes Index

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