Watercolours or pastels Books

Book SynopsisA beautifully produced companion that provides 100s of solutions to the frequent problems faced by the watercolour artist.

Read more less

Book SynopsisBring your watercolor art to new depths with this helpful guide to mastering color theory and applying it to your practice. These beginner-friendly lessons teach you the basics of color theory through fun and intuitive painting projects, so you can build up your skill with each mini masterpiece you create. And with essential color recipes that show you how to perfectly mix vibrant, cool and natural tones, you'll have an arsenal of hues at your disposable to use in the book and beyond. Agus di Stefano, a watercolor artist who specializes in color theory, uses a unique, meditative approach to help you seamlessly learn this skill. Curated lessons on pigment, the color wheel, saturation and more give way to relaxing painting projects that reinforce each topic. Make an array of hues, then paint a cheery rainbow that highlights each one. Practice darkening and lightening colors, then get lost in a jungle scene full of different values. Agus's beautiful art and whimsical style will

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisMany novice artists are intimidated by the prospect of trawling through very technical drawing books, especially given our busy day-to-day lives. Five-Minute Watercolour is a handy companion as you explore your artistic potential by sketching in watercolour – in five minutes you can produce a great painting that you'll be proud to keep and share. Discover 55 bitesize exercises, written in jargon-free language, to help you make watercolour painting a part of your day. Starting with advice on the basic supplies you will need, professional urban watercolour artist Samantha Nielsen takes you through all the techniques required to begin and pursue your creative journey - from brush control to using warm and cool colours, followed by advice on implementing these techniques such as painting skies, seascapes or people. Samantha then helps you take it further by showing you how to capture movement and create depth. Every spread in the book features five expert tips and ideas, as well as examples of amazing five-minute watercolour sketches to inspire you. For new and aspiring artists everywhere who've dreamt of making art a part of their working lives, this pocket book is perfect for you.Trade ReviewSamantha will show you how to capture warm and cool colours and use washes and blending. In 60 bite size exercises, subjects range from landscapes and seascapes to people and busy urban streets. There's no jargon or fiddling and everything is explained in simple, concise terms. Even watercolour's best-kept secrets and key techniques become easy to understand and you'll find it impossible not to get your paints out and start working the moment you open the pages. -- The SAA * The SAA Catalogue 19/20 *This isn't silk painting, I know - but try pre-treating silk to inhibit dye flow, ironing on to freezer paper and experiment. I find loose sketches hard to achieve, however, this book does give lots of tips on how to achieve them. Often an idea pops into ones head and clarity disappears before painting, a quick sketch in paint or dye can keep the best details ready for the final painting. This book, in bite size exercises, encourages the painter to loosen up whilst keeping the details clear. Most watercolour techniques are adaptable to silk painting, the use of painters' tape and masking fluid are very effective to preserve elusive 'white' areas. The book quickly covers: Create a basic sketch, finding a subject, five minute skies, trees, water, in fact, every subject in five minutes. Most of us lead busy lives, more knowledge of painting in five minutes is amongst my most wanted! This is a good book to pick up when inspiration fails us, giving a different slant on many subject. -- Margaret Dunning * Guild of Silk Painters *'There’s a wealth of ideas, subjects and techniques here and plenty to pick up and run with. The illustrations are attractive (essential given what’s being presented) and, although Samantha analyses them, they’re not demonstrations and you’re not intended to copy them. You should instead go out and find your own ideas, but what’s here will give you plenty of inspiration and jumping-off points.' Read the full review here. * Artbookreview.net *A tempting cover with the glorious qualities of watercolour for all to see and a mastery of the ever-difficult green. This book offers learners 'Super-quick Techniques For Amazing Paintings' claims the cover. Its small size belies the fact that this book contains 55 exercises to enhance your familiarity with watercolour. Practice is the key states the artist in her introduction and that is true of everything. As painters we tend to want to create a masterpiece straight away. Often with watercolour, we quickly become discouraged. It does not behave how we want it to. Will this book help? It begins with tools - you'll find suggestions for choosing the right tools. The next chapter is about techniques. This is all about washes, blending colour, lifting colour, glazing, edges, blooms and brushwork. The book moves on to applying those techniques. I liked the pages on skies best in this section, especially the image of Pamela Harmois' Beach Walkers, which is very inspiring. This section includes the essence of the book in that it gives five-minute chosen themes for skies, rocks, trees, water and waves, landscapes, cityscapes, seascapes, floral. There are more ideas for quick ways to paint night scenes, the four seasons, people. The final section is Take it Further, which gives suggestions for improving on your new-found skills. If you wish to make watercolour part of your everyday activities, this book might well show you the way. Interesting and worth a read. Any artist will improve if he paints daily, given he understands the techniques and how to apply them. -- Karen Platt * www.karenplatt.co.uk *Aimed at artists who are just starting out and busy painters short on time, Five-Minute Watercolour by Samantha Nielsen will help you explore the medium through 55 bite-size exercises. Starting with tools and basic techniques, Samantha then shows you how to implement those techniques, including sections on painting landscapes and skies, flowers and people. The final section deals with more advanced skills, such as understanding colour, watercolour mediums and adding impact. The instruction is accessible, jargon free and concise so there's no excuse for not finding time to practise every day. * Leisure Painter, November 2018 *This is much more than a book for the time-poor and is a rather delightful treasure house of ideas for sketching and note-taking. Here, working quickly is something to aim for. Get it down before it moves, the light changes or you simply forget what it was that caught your eye and your imagination in the first place. It's quick-fire and brimming with hints and tips, and it's really rather fun. -- Henry Malt * Paint magazine (November 2018) *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: Tools - Essential art equipment you'll need and advice on how to use them before you start Chapter 2: Techniques - Basic watercolour techniques Chapter 3: Implementing Techniques - How to use the techniques in the previous chapter to paint your chosen subject, from painting landscapes and skies to individual subjects such as flowers and people Chapter 4: Take It Further - With the techniques from the previous chapters under your belt, learn more advanced skills and theory to take your paintings to the next level; from capturing movement and exploring artistic license to understanding colour swatches and what other materials you can use, in conjunction with watercolour, to add depth and interest Key Elements - Bitesize chapter summarising basic art theory, from perspective to essential shapes Index Acknowledgements

Read more less

Book SynopsisLearn to paint 50 beautiful botanicals in 30 minutes or less. The patterns are included, and you can paint right inside the book!

Read more less

Book SynopsisLet this innovative and indispensable book be your painting companion: simply dip in and out whenever you need advice and guidance from best-selling author, Matthew Palmer. Start with watercolour basics and learn to plan successful pictures, then select expert guidance, tips for success, and beginner-friendly troubleshooting from within the sections on flowers, trees, buildings, water, people and wildlife. Discover how to make your moonlit sky really glow; learn how to paint lush, realistic foliage; add believable figures; and create driving rain and sparkling water. Unique to this book are Matthew’s key mix swatches. These allow you to achieve perfect results every time; explaining the colours you need and in what proportion. The paint mix is shown both wet and dry, so you can compare your palette with the wet mix, and know what it'll look like once applied. The dry swatches stretch to the edge of the page, so you can also simply hold the book up to the object you’re painting, find a colour match and create the right mix with ease. The book also includes a pull-out picture finder, which will help you create the best composition from the scene in front of you, isolate and identify a colour, try different picture formats and help with proportion and size. Designed to aid you whilst painting either indoors or out, the small format and hard cover make the book easy to transport and to store with the rest of your painting kit.Trade ReviewIt's always a good sign when a book feels welcoming before you even get to the content. This small-format hardback fits nicely in the hand and has just enough heft to make you feel that it's taking both you and its subject seriously. An elastic closure betokens a vade mecum that'll accompany you everywhere. But enough of the form, what of the function? At heart, this is basically a hints and tips book. There are plenty of basic ideas, simply presented, for handling a variety of subjects: trees, flowers, animals, buildings, water - the usual gamut - as well as technical matters such as colour selection and mixing, which are handled rather well. A handy viewfinder is included too. -- Henry Malt * The Artist *A very handy book packed with information, but small enough to take out with you or to refer to in the studio. The mixing proportions are useful and explained very clearly. The pull out picture finder has handy proportional rulers for estimating distance. Matthew Palmer is a good teacher and explains everything well. -- Lynn Woodcock * Amazon Customer Review *This brilliantly simple book brings all the watercolour techniques together under one pocket-sized cover. Designed to be used in the field, this book covers a wide range of techniques and subjects including skies, flowers, buildings mountains, people and much more. Each section is complete yet concise and Matthew's straightforward explanations are a breath of fresh air. Matthew is a master of explaining things in a way that's always east to follow and understand and his illustrations are pitch-perfect. * Paint & Create, March 2023 *Table of ContentsPainting basics: Getting started 6, Preparing paint 8, What are key mixes? 10, Water and flow 12, Test your strength 14, Brushes and brushmarks 16, What paper? 18, Selecting colours 20, Adding more paints 22 Planning successful pictures: Using the picture finder 24, Finding time to paint 26, What to paint 28, Skies and light, Clear sky 30, Fresh cloudy sky 32, Evening sky 34, Key mixes for shadows 36, Sunset 38, Silhouettes 40, Moonlit sky 42, Stormy sky 44, Rainfall 46 Flowers: Masses of flowers 48, Daisies 50, Foxgloves 52, Poppies 54, Carpet of bluebells 56 Trees and woodlands: Trees in your paintings 58, Midground trees 60, Mixes for spring foliage 62, Cherry blossom 64, Distant woodland 66, Key mixes for summer foliage 68, Palm tree 70, Trees in rows 72, Key mixes for autumn foliage 74, Branches 76, Woodland 78 Building and mountains: Buildings in the landscape 80, Stonework 82, Doorways 84, Architectural accuracy 86, Rocks and cliffs 88, Mountains 90, Snow-capped peaks 92 Water and the sea: Key mixes for the sea 94, Waves and sea spray 96, The beach 98, Reflections 100, Boats 102 People and wildlife: Key mixes for skintones 104, Figures in your pictures 106, Adding a sense of life 108, Stag in wood 110, Small animals 112, Animals in the landscape 114, Kingfisher 116 Watercolour secrets and special effects: Falling snow 118, Fixing cauliflowers 120, Splashes and splatters 122, Leaf stencils 124, Beams of light 126 Glossary 128

Read more less

Book SynopsisFidelia Bridges (1834-1923) painted pictures that critics praised for their ability to exude the fragrance of field flowers and glow with the plumage of birds. Raised in Salem and long residing in Connecticut, she maintained a studio in New York City, where she exhibited her art for over forty years at the National Academy, American Watercolor Society and other prestigious venues. Transforming flower painting from a domestic outlet for female amateurs to a marketable commodity for professionals, she never wavered in her conviction that women had the right to shape independent careers on their own terms. She delineated both cultivated flowers and clumps of weeds with an intensity of focus unmatched by any other artist of her era. Often, she combined plants with local birds to convey a sophisticated understanding of their environmental interaction that encouraged others to appreciate and conserve nature. She made an extended European tour in the 1860s and regular trips to Great Britain in later years but preferred home nature.Assembling a cross-section of her stunning oil paintings, watercolours, chromolithographs and illustrated volumes for the first time, and analysing them against letters, diaries and periodical reviews, Fidelia Bridges combines a recovery of the artist’s biography with close readings of her artworks. Living an outwardly conventional life, she embraced the bicycle and later the automobile as vehicles of female liberation, cultivated her garden with the skill of a horticulturalist, and left a lasting pictorial legacy to be found in US public museums and private collections nationwide.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements; Preface; Introduction; 1. Apprenticeship, Ambition and Adventure, 1850s-1860s; 2. Becoming a Professional Artist: From Brooklyn to Europe; 3. Success in the ‘Seventies; 4. Travel, Birds and Holiday Cards, 1880s-1890s; 5. Gardens and Friendship Circles: Canaan, 1900-1923; Appendix: Library of Fidelia Bridges; Notes; Picture Credit; Select Bibliography; Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisWatercolour offers great potential for expression. Its fluidity, full colour range, generous spread and variety of marks can portray a likeness, a response, a feeling - even the notions of time and speed. This book is a practical guide to watercolour painting and more. It explains the importance of colour, tone, shape, texture andscale through exercises and shared techniques. But it also encourages the artist to express sensations and ideas in watercolour - and by exploring the joy of the medium, to develop handling skills, confidence and a unique painting 'voice'.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWatercolours are the first choice for many painters, but few master the full potential of the medium. This book encourages you to be bold and colourful. Written by an internationally respected artist and teacher, it offers practical ways of working with watercolours, and shares ideas and thoughts that can make your painting methods more exciting and adventurous. With over 180 illustrations, it is a beautiful book that will be invaluable for both new and experienced painters alike.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn inspirational and practical art manual, packed with step-by-step projects. Artist Ann Blockley is renowned for her innovative approach to watercolour painting. Her highly anticipated new book provides a series of workshops demonstrating how to push the boundaries of watercolour, using key techniques to develop your own work and take your paintings to the next level. Ann's easy-to-follow, step-by-step projects demonstrate how some of her most dramatic paintings are created. She describes in detail some of the key techniques used and how you can experiment with alternative methods to create your own interpretations. Finally, her beautiful and inspirational artworks demonstrate how different interpretations of a subject might take an unexpected or unusual direction, and how to make the most of these opportunities. The book moves, with progressively challenging projects, from loose wildflower meadows, textured woodland and rustic rambling walls to atmospheric or semi-abstract landscape corners, all rendered in Ann’s adventurous signature style. Loose, expressive mark-making and unusual techniques include combining water-based paint and ink with granulation medium for dramatic texture, drawing with twigs, using gesso and collage to create unique effects; manipulating paint with materials such as plastic wrap (clingfilm); developing printed marks made using found materials. Following the huge demand for more practical guidance in experimental painting, the book provides plenty of techniques and instruction. Ann’s personal commentary also gives a unique insight into the mind of the artist – ways of looking at your subject, how to explore and experiment – to unlock the potential of your watercolour painting.Trade Review‘This is both a masterpiece and thoroughly enjoyable and inspiring.' -- The Artist * Book Review *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe really easy way to learn how to paint flowers in watercolour! Using a simple ten-step process, learn how to draw a basic outline starting with simple shapes, then add washes of colour and fine details to complete your work. Arranged in three chapters based on skill level, this book features 25 lovely projects, each showing you how to paint a flower in ten steps. There are paint swatches for every plant, showing you the colours you need to mix for each step of the way and the finished painting serves as a reference to guide you. It couldn't be easier! Also included is a useful techniques section at the beginning, and clever painting tips from the author throughout the book. With flora as diverse as a tulip, a magnolia, a bunny ears cactus and a passionflower, there is plenty to choose from and practise with, to develop your skills.Trade ReviewWho doesn't love a beautiful bunch of flowers or a leafy houseplant? Well, with Eleanor Longhurst's 10 Step Watercolour: Flowers and Plants you can learn how to draw and paint them too! Arranged in three chapters based on skill level, this guide features 25 blooming beautiful projects, each showing you how to paint. With watercolour paint swatches for every plant and how to achieve these through mixing, Eleanor talks you through every step of the way and shows you that it couldn't be easier to develop your skills. * Crafts Beautiful *Eleanor Longhurst is a Bristol-based illustrator who specialises in painting flowers and woodland animals. In this new 10 Step Watercolour series from Search Press, she focuses on the popular subject of: Flowers and Plants and Birds. Both books use a simple ten-step process, which shows you how to draw the basic outlines using simple shapes to achieve realistic proportions. Eleanor then adds washes of colour and fine details to build the work up to the finished painting. A techniques section at the beginning of the book includes painting tips to build ability and confidence. In 10 Step Watercolour: Flowers and Plants Eleanor includes paint swatches for every plant, showing you how to mix them so that you can get started straightaway. The 25 projects include tulips, poppies, cherry blossom and sweet peas. * Leisure Painter *Loved this book. Followed the step by step guide and ended up with a painting I was very proud of. Suitable for complete beginners and more experienced artists wishing to improve their technique. -- Kathryn Osborne * Amazon Customer Review *Table of ContentsIntroduction 6 How to Use this Book 8 Using Watercolours 10 GETTING STARTED Bunny Ears Cactus 20 Triostar 24 Field Poppy 28 Pansies 32 Cherry Blossom 36 Magnolia 40 Maidenhair Fern 44 Mountain Laurel 48 BUILDING CONFIDENCE Jekyll Rose 54 Snake’s Head Fritillary 58 Forget-Me-Not 62 Winter Aconite 66 Fuchsia 70 Tulip 74 Sweet Pea 78 Peony 82 Camellia 86 MASTERING THE ART Cornflower 92 Zebra Plant 96 Hydrangea 100 Lady Slipper Orchid 104 Monstera 108 Dandelion 112 Passionflower 116 Chrysanthemum 120 Resources 124 Index 126 About the Author 128

Read more less

Book SynopsisThere are some areas of watercolour painting that beginners often have trouble with, and one of these is skies. A sky can make or break a landscape painting. In this invaluable guide, Stephen Coates leads you through some highly effective techniques that will demystify sky painting and turn a good watercolour landscape into a brilliant one. Stephen takes a unique, no-fuss approach to watercolour, emphasizing the importance of planning, preparation and practise and explaining clearly which tools and materials you need, and how to prepare your palette before embarking on a painting. He then guides you through seven awe-inspiring skies, from blue summer skies to dramatic sunsets and storm clouds, introducing new skills and techniques as you progress through the book. With numerous handy tips and many examples of Stephen’s stunning landscapes throughout, this book will both instruct and inspire you to create beautiful, realistic skies with confidence.Trade ReviewStephen Coates will be well known to many amateur painters for his courses to art societies all over England and his articles in Leisure Painter. His new book, The Easy Guide to Painting Skies in Watercolour, addresses the problem of skies – a common issue for beginners. All-important to a landscape painting, a successfully painted sky can turn an average painting into a fantastic one. In his clear and concise style, Stephen shows you how to plan ahead for success, exploring materials and techniques, including watercolour, brushes and paper, so that you are prepared to make those first marks with confidence. There is also useful advice on working from photographs before Stephen embarks on describing how to paint skies of all kinds, from white clouds and sunbeams to the drama of stormy clouds, mist and sunsets. * Leisure Painter *Books on skies are not too hard to find and this important element (arguably the most important) of any landscape has been well-covered. The danger, of course, is of producing a masterclass that only serves to muddy the waters with over-complication. Regular readers will know how wary I am about “easy” guides. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it and it wouldn’t take a lifetime of study. Intelligently approached, however, they can be reassuring and progress in simple, straightforward steps that don’t tax the beginner or those struggling a bit to keep up. On those counts, this is absolutely admirable. Stephen starts with an analysis and explanations of materials and equipment, moving quickly to basic techniques, of which the first is a large, blended wash. The initial exercise uses one colour, then we move to two. It’s simple and progressive and we’re ready to start looking at white clouds. Nothing to frighten the horses, results that will satisfy and I think we’re ready to agree that, yes, it was pretty easy. Moving on, you’ll find heavy clouds, sunsets, storms, shafts of sunlight and mists as well as a look at perspective and focal points. Throughout, you’re really only painting skies, with rudimentary foregrounds that add only balance, without becoming an exercise in themselves – actually, if you want lessons in simplicity, you have them right there, an unexpected Brucie bonus. Easy? Well, maybe. Not too taxing? Absolutely. -- Henry Malt * Artbookreview.net *This book gives you a better view on painting many different skies. Easy to understand and in pictorial format. Step-by-step guide that holds your hand through every brush stroke. Thoroughly enjoyed reading the book, giving me a better view on those dramatic skies, I could never work out. I know now with Stephen's guidelines, I can produce a much better sky. This is a must have book. -- Jean Scott * Customer Review *I was given this book in exchange for an honest review, so as a beginner to watercolour I was looking forward to the contents of this book and I was really pleased with it. Firstly it is a very visual guide; not only do you get lots of photographs of the painting process but the Author has included pencil sketches to guide you and also source photographs so you can see the view that's been used to develop the painting. The author also has dotted the text with teaching points and these have pictures of how the effects should be accomplished and also what happens if you don't follow the author's advice. He even provides pictures of the consistency of different mixes of paint to water. Although the books is aimed at painting skies There is plenty of help to turn these skies into simple landscapes and seascapes that any beginner would be proud to produce. This is an excellent book, well written for the beginner to painting skies and I highly recommend it. -- Christine Jones * Customer Review *Books on skies appear from time to time, and most are based around a particular artist's methods of interpretation. Anyone with a reasonably comprehensive library will probably have Norman Battershill's and Ron Ranson's and refer to them for both information and pleasure. The practical approach is more usually a chapter in a wider guide to landscapes. So, do you, gentle reader of this august journal, need something that is clearly a beginners' guide? Well, there will be plenty there that you'll check off as 'knew that', but if I added the word comprehensive to the description, I'd probably have at least half your attention. There's light here, there are clouds, composition and balance as well as washes, wet-in-wet, perspective and recession. The book is a pleasure to read and full of ideas and information. Even if you are well experienced, the clear layout and excellent execution make it all worthwile. -- Henry Malt * The Artist *The sky is probably the most important part of any landscape painting. Stephen will show you not just how to look at colours and clouds, but also how to use washes and all the properties of your palette to capture look, feel and aesthetics. Stephen is well-versed in the techniques required to do all this, and he explains them clearly and concisely. This is a thorough and complete guide that will tell you everything you need and want to know. * SAA Catalogue *Table of ContentsIntroduction 6 The challenge of watercolour skies 8 Planning 9 Understanding the paint 10 Brushes and brushing techniques 16 Watercolour paper 21 Tools and materials 24 Working from photographs 26 SKIES Large Blended Washes 30, White Clouds 38, Sunset Skies 50, Sunbeams 60, Stormy Skies 70, Low Clouds and Mist 84, Perspective and Focal Points 94 Building your repertoire of skies 106 Index 112

Read more less

Book SynopsisDuring the course of 2020, artist Charlotte Verity made more than 100 watercolour monotypes in response to the plants and flowers growing in her London garden. Echoing Green: The Printed Year is the result of a year's fierce observation of urban nature. Week by week, through a painter''s eye we watch the seasons unfold through technical experimentation, colour and format. Verity's poetic images are contemplative and spacious, surprising us with their luminosity and intensity of colour. They insist on the enjoyment to be found in simply taking the time to look.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis guide to painting watercolour landscapes is ideal if you want to learn to paint but are short on time. Broken down into 33 quick and easy paintings that take no more than 30 minutes to complete, this basic course will teach you all the skills you need to paint landscapes and their components, including trees in winter, sparkling water, hedgerows and gates, animals, human figures and buildings in the landscape. The 30-minute paintings are all worked at postcard size – ideal for a 6 x 4in (A6) watercolour pad, and tracings are included for those with limited drawing skills. Each small painting is a work of art in its own right, and can be stored in your portfolio for reference later, or framed and hung on the wall to impress your friends. The book is broken down into chapters that focus, respectively, on essential watercolour techniques including colour mixing and glazing; laying washes and creating skies and realistic-looking clouds; the rudiments of composition; trees and flowers in a landscape; water– still and moving, from stream to open sea; and the living landscape – human and animal figures, structures and buildings in the landscape. The final section of the book contains three complete paintings that demonstrate how to combine all the techniques and elements of painting landscapes, as gleaned from the preceding chapters. These paintings, too, are accompanied by actual-size tracings. There are 33 tracings in all to help you compose your own landscape paintings. Praise for the Ready to Paint in 30 Minutes series: “This is a genuinely exciting evolution of a popular series. You’ll be guided through some simple exercises and on to complete paintings, gaining valuable insights that will develop and improve your skills.” – Henry Malt, Artbookreview.netTrade ReviewFor a general appreciation, please look at the series tag above. I like the new iteration of the old Ready to Paint series a lot and these latest volumes diminish that not a jot. Dave Woollass is a new author and one I hope we’ll see more of. He has a pleasantly loose style that’s readily achievable and explains his working methods well. He’s also comfortable with the variety of subject matter that the series demands and this would be a book worth seeking out even if the series in general isn’t your regular cup of tea. * Artbookreview.net *May 2018 Landscapes in Watercolour by Dave Woolas is a new addition to the popular Ready to Paint in 30 Minutes series from Search Press, which is ideal for anyone keen to get started but short on time . Dave introduces 33 quick and easy paintings all postcard sized to make them easier to paint within 30 minutes. As well as any step-by-step demonstrations tracings are provided for anyone who struggles with drawing and simple wishes to get straight on with colour adding. * The Leisure Painter *Broken down into 33 quick and easy paintings that take no more than 30 minutes to complete, this book will teach you all the skills you need to paint landscapes and their components, including trees in winter, sparkling water, hedgerows and gates, animals, human figures and buildings in the landscape. Dave focuses on essential watercolour techniques including colour mixing, glazing and laying washes as well as creating skies, trees and flowers in a landscape. -- The SAA * The SAA Catalogue 19/20 *Table of ContentsTracings Introduction 6 Basic painting equipment 8 Colour mixing 10 Colourful greys 12 Mixing greens 14 Glazing 16 Winter scene 18 Figures in a glade 20 Washes and skies 22 Calm landscape 24 Morning sky 26 A darker day 28 Clouds 30 Stormy night 32 Pale dawn sky 34 A moody sky 36 Composition 38 By the lake 40 Fences 42 Fence line in the snow 44 Trees and flowers 46 Hedgerows 48 Layered foliage 50 Spring foliage 52 Summer tree 54 Autumn tree 56 Winter trees 58 Poppy field 60 Wildflower patch 62 Flowerbeds 64 Water 66 Giving water depth and sparkle 68 Boat on open water 70 Waterfall 72 The living landscape 74 The rambler 76 Watching the gondolas 78 Distant sheep 80 Dry-stone bridge 82 Farm building 84 Distant buildings 86 The urban landscape 88 Country Cottage 90 Boats on a Lake 92 Autumn Walk 94 Index 96

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisGlen Scouller’s paintings are full of vibrant colour and light. In Colour and Line in Watercolour – his first book – he explains how he achieves these effects. He combines traditional watercolour techniques with adding pen and ink, pastels and crayons to create paintings brimming with colour and spontaneity. Using step-by-step demonstration paintings, Scouller shows how he builds up his paintings, working first in watercolour and adding other media to create his original style. He gives advice on his methods and techniques and encourages the reader to experiment with mixed media. He believes that keeping a sketchbook is very important, especially when travelling and shares tips on how to start and use one. There are also sections on painting outdoors and in the studio. The subjects covered are boats and boatyards, landscapes, still life, animals and figures and portraits. Colour and Line in Watercolour encourages all watercolourists, whatever their level, to experiment with the medium and produce exciting and challenging work of their own by adding line in various mixed media to their watercolours.

Read more less

Book SynopsisKeen to paint, but your drawing skills let you down? This book provides pull-out tracings for five beautiful floral paintings, along with full step-by-step instructions for how to bring them to life with watercolour paint. A clear guide on how to transfer the tracings to your watercolour paper is included, along with a helpful section on what materials to use. Ready to Paint: Watercolour Flowers makes painting flowers simple and accessible, and offers guidance on how you can develop your new painting skills.Trade ReviewJune 08 People often want to take up painting when they retire and have more time. Others start sooner, once their kids are grown and in school. The drawing part of painting can be hard for beginners – enough of an obstacle so they give up or never get past painting by numbers. My friends who paint have always had a natural ability. They drew as children. I don’t have that at all. Now two new books promise to make watercolor painting easier for beginners by following what I call an old-but-new approach. The “Ready to Paint” series from Search Press in England is designed so that novice painters can pick up a brush and create appealing paintings with easy-to-follow tracings. The tracings can be reused. The idea is that you gain confidence as your hand-eye coordination is trained, by following the tracings, while you have some pleasing results to motivate you to keep trying. “Watercolour Flowers” by Wendy Tait has nine reusable tracings to pull out. “Watercolour Landscapes” by Terry Harrison has six reusable tracings to pull out. Both are to be published in June. The artists explain how to compose a painting with simple instructions and tips. Both Tait and Harrison are authors as well as artists. * A Good Age *Table of Contents All of the paintings in the book are provided as tracings in the centre pages for you to pull out and use to learn how to paint beautiful pictures with Wendy Tait. Go straight into painting: no need to draw! Five easy to follow demonstrations Step-by-step photographs and clear instructions Nine reusable tracings to pull out

Read more less

Book SynopsisDiscover the joys of creating dazzling watercolor landscapes and scenic skies with this beginner’s guide, from painter and nature-lover Rachael Mae Moyles. Through Rachael’s gentle guidance and expert tips and techniques, you’ll paint your way through 20 showstopping but approachable projects. What’s more, Rachael’s in-depth guide to universal watercolour techniques will have you mastering the fundamentals and will deepen your appreciation of all the hues and variations present in nature. From sunny vistas and foggy horizons all the way to atmospheric mists and stormy clouds, Rachael takes you on a celebratory tour of all the versatile beauties of nature. Projects include gems like Serene Pine Sunset, Winter Morning Sunrise and Milky Way Over the Desert as well as gorgeous, moody scenes like Rainy Morning in the Adirondacks, Stormy Beach Day and Dancing Northern Lights. Wherever you are in your artistic journey, these projects will inspire you daily to look up at the skies and soak up all the vibrant beauty therein.

Read more less

Book SynopsisCombining her passion for teaching with her mastery of both mediums, Camilla Damsbo Brix introduces budding artists to the whimsical beauty of watercolor, with the definition that ink offers, through 22 step-by-step floral compositions so exquisite they won’t believe how easy they are to make. Camilla gives insight into the respective fundamentals of ink and wash through basic techniques and preparatory sketches, where artists will learn crucial things like the difference between wet on wet and wet on dry, varying lines while inking, observational sketching of flowers and capturing harmonious floral compositions. Additionally, with a chapter entirely dedicated to sharing art with loved ones and with a larger artistic community, everyone will be well on their way to confidently and consistently blossoming in their practice. With Camilla’s gentle guidance, readers will be inking and painting classics like roses, lilacs and daisies, as well as annual beauties like dahlias, cosmos and sunflowers and lesser-known species like plumerias, gerberas and hellebores. This book has something for everyone, be it watercolor lovers trying to explore ink and vice versa, beginners wishing to grasp the intricacies of mixed media, or artists looking to strengthen their skills with elegant compositions they can proudly display. This book contains 22 projects and 22 photographs plus step-by-steps.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA voyage of discovery into color, this comprehensive visual guide from renowned watercolor artist and teacher Richard Taylor opens the door to the world of watercolor paints, exploring their properties, color combinations and transformative potential, to inject vibrancy and life into your paintings.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade ReviewVibrant Botanical Painting gives the botanical artist a thorough grounding in every aspect of achieving a successful plant portrait. I appreciate the fact that Jarnie has both written and illustrated her book; her no-frills approach comes through and you feel as though you are in safe hands! -- Emma van Klaveren, Association of Botanical Artists' * Association of Botanical Artists' *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade ReviewWhether you’re an experienced outdoor worker or thinking of having a go, for thorough and warm-hearted advice on plein-air painting, Geoff offers a wealth of advice based on both experience and enthusiasm. -- Henry Malt, The Artist * The Artist *

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn easy introduction to the enjoyable art of watercolor sketching!A Beginner's Guide to Watercolor Painting is the perfect book for anyone who wants to experience the spontaneity of watercolor sketching with a water brush pen—a rewarding hobby that enables you to paint anytime, anywhere with very simple materials. The beginner-friendly lessons in this book contain all the information you need—detailed tips and instructions along with step-by-step photos to walk you through the process of painting everything from still life to portraits and landscapes.The 15 lessons in the book show you how to paint the following popular subjects: Lifelike fruits and vegetables such as zesty lemons, sweet cherry tomatoes and crisp sugar snap peas Beautiful flowers like brilliant yellow sunflowers, pastel pink roses and stunning floral bouquets Adorable pets like friendly calico cats and fluffy Shibu Inu dogs Tasty treats including indulgent strawberry shortcakes, coffees and teas Charming buildings and landscapes such as quaint canal-side buildings and exotic tiered pagodas And much more! Each lesson opens with a reference photo and suggested color palette, followed by the step-by-step process of creating an underdrawing and applying brilliant watercolor paints. This handy book is the perfect companion for vacations and weekends. Toss it into your bag with your paper, paints and brushes—and go out and capture interesting subjects in the world around you!Trade Review"A wealth of practical and clever advice that beginner artists will find useful." --Sara Shreve, Library Journal Life+Style

Read more less

Book SynopsisLearn to draw any animal and turn it into a sweet, delightful creature that always inspires a smile. You Can Draw Cute Animals features easy techniques for turning up the charm on 30 animals that run, fly, swim, slither, and waddle. Discover how to create sparkling eyes, blushing cheeks, joyful smiles, and button noses, transforming even the most ferocious beasts into delightful, appealing characters. This comprehensive guide to understanding the secrets of cute begins with basic drawing techniques and exercises and a rundown of what factors make things adorable. Yasmina Mattson of Yasmina Creates (Instagram: @yasminacreates) has devised a unique, easy, three-step drawing method that includes observation, simplification and exaggeration using simple shapes, and refining and adding details. Those techniques are incorporated in creating a diverse array of animals, including a panda, monkTrade Review"Great for artists with the desire to learn more about drawing." * Library Journal *"An ideal DIY instructional guide." * Midwest Book Review *Table of ContentsContents 1 Introduction 2 The Three Simple Steps to Drawing Cuties The Science of Cute The Three Simple Steps 3 Let ’s Play! Line & Texture Color Shading The Face The Body Accessories & Clothing Backgrounds Story 4 Step-by-Step Cuties Duck Hedgehog Alpaca Snail Chicken Elephant Frog Flamingo Bunny Monkey Seal Giraffe Panda Owl Chinchilla Axolotl Deer Fox Goat Koala Pig Pony Raccoon Hippo Chameleon Squirrel Tiger Turtle Parakeet Red Panda Parting Advice for Artists Resources About the Author Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisTake a walk through the seasons with Waltraud Nawratil in this vibrant guide to painting nature in watercolour. Discover new and traditional watercolour techniques: textural effects, backgrounds, exciting colour combinations and much more to create 30 stunning watercolour paintings that bring the natural world to life. Paint your way through a luscious landscape of flowers, fruits and trees, including a vibrant vase of impatient spring blooms, dreamy waterlilies floating on a still pond in summer, a golden forest and a copious autumn harvest, and ending with an exuberant pink poinsettia complete with frost-tipped leaves, which marks the coming of Christmas and the closing of the year. Each painting is worked in watercolour in the author's loose, delicate style. An ideal introduction to watercolour painting and an unmissable guide to developing technical skills – with plentiful inspiration for creating your own works of nature-inspired art.Trade ReviewDrawing inspiration from her garden around her home in Schönering, Austria, artist Waltraud Nawratil's Nature in Watercolour is aimed at beginners and encourages us to look at the world around us throughout the year for our painting subjects. Working through the seasons, Waltraud shows us the techniques needed to paint spring flowers, waterlilies on a summer pond, autumn harvests and a bright Christmas poinsettia, in her loose watercolour style. * Leisure Painter, August 2023 *Table of ContentsOpening reflections 6 Materials + Equipment Painting surfaces 10, Brushes 10, Accessories 11, Paints 11 Technique Focus Composition: Flower meadow 14, Details: Poppy flowers 18, Chance: Blue and purple flowers 22, White: White daisy 26, Contrasts: Birch trees 30, Focus: Sunflower 34 Projects Spring Message 40, Flowers from the Wayside 42, Summer is near — Poppies & Dandelions 44, Lime Tree in the Spring Light 46, Apple Tree in Blossom 48, Sun-dappled Spring Forest 50, A Profusion of Spring Flowers 52, Spring in the Mountains 54, Shaded Woods 58, Early Summer Meadow on the Forest Edge 60, Summer Harmony 62, Down by the River 64, Daisy Stars 66, The Ripening Grapes 68, Cow Parsley with Poppies 70, Dreamy Waterlilies 72, November Mood 76, Flaming Forests 78, Colourful Autumn Bouquet 80, Fiery Canopy 82, Autumnal Apple Harvest 84, In the Warm Autumn Light 86, The Forest is Colourful 88, Fading Summer 90, A Bouquet of Christmas Roses 94, Winter by the Lake 96, Rosy Red Amaryllis 98, Tree in a Snowstorm 100, White Flowers in Winter 102, Pink Poinsettia 104 Gallery and final words 106 About the author 110 Acknowledgements 111

Read more less

Book SynopsisCapture all the hues of the garden with a few simple brushstrokes and Lorene Edwards Forkner’s inspirational advice on observing color in nature, painting with watercolor, and gardening with joy and intention. If you love flowers and the rich colors of the garden, Color In and Out of the Garden is for you. Artist and garden expert Lorene Edwards Forkner shares her simple watercolor techniques for capturing every lovely hue in a miniature artwork. Along the way, she also offers practical advice on topics from painting (no matter your skill level) to gardening mindfully to celebrating life. This delightfully useful and addictively readable little book may just inspire you to begin keeping a garden journal of your own, so you can record favorite plants with just a few simple brushstrokes. Arranged by color, each chapter helps readers sharpen their powers of observation and capture nature’s lovely palette. Plant profiles and personal reflecTrade Review“Color In and Out of the Garden pays homage to plants and processes, to seeing and believing in small acts of creativity as a means connecting to ourselves and the natural world. A gem of a book.” -- Christin Geall * author of Cultivated: The Elements of Floral Style *Color In and Out of the Garden so honestly taps into our visceral yearning to experience nature. Lorene Edwards Forkner's watercolor studies give the gift of sight and insight, inspiring any of us to make a personal practice of observing the palettes of our environment—during any season and at any place on this planet. -- Debra Prinzing * Founder/Creative Director, Slow Flowers Society *Color In and Out of the Garden is a rich visual feast for gardeners and artists alike. Lorene Edwards Forkner brings horticultural wisdom to the daily, restorative practice of painting. With a few tubes of paint and a bit of time and attention, she immerses herself in the wonder that can be found in her own backyard. What began as a hundred-day project in the aftermath of a devastating loss has become a personal journey, sustained over many years. With this gem of a book, we are all invited to take that journey with her. -- Amy Stewart * New York Times bestselling author *From the evocative title of this heavenly missive, you might think you need to be a gardener or a painter to harvest the full richness of its many gifts, but you do not. You need only be human—as worried and full of wonder, as pained and patient (or impatient), peculiar and particular as all of us. This collection of careful color studies of botanical (flowers, leaves, seeds, stems) and botanically adjacent (think time worn stones, beach bleached shells) treasures is offered out to us by the knowing hands of a gardener, the refined eye of an artist, the time-tested taste of a cook, and the heart of a compassionate mother. On one level it is an encouragement to practice being present to practice paying attention and taking good care in and of the natural world, to practice really seeing; but on its highest level, it is a much needed (longed for?) reminder born of both joy and deep grief to live your own days (and thus life) in full color, in and out of the garden. A plea to savor and cherish every last living vibrant cell of it in the process: the extraordinary, the quotidian, the steadfast constants, and the heartbreakingly fleeting. A sometimes funny, sometimes sobering prayer to notice and celebrate all the variations and permutations of green (for survival), red (for ripeness), pink (for extravagance), yellow (for luminosity), orange (for energy) and brown—the foundation of all living things—in all their colorful diversity. As Lorene might say, “Yes, please.” See for yourself. You will never see your garden, food, art, sky, ground (life) quite the same again. -- Jennifer Jewell * creator of the Cultivating Place, Conversations on Natural History and the Human Impulse to Garden podcast *“While I walk away from this book with some [ideas for] plants I'd like to find room for (and a new appreciation of the role of color in my garden), the real lessons of the book are in the insights gleaned—and so generously shared with us—from blending a daily painting practice with a lifelong love of plants. Edwards’s poignant wisdom leaves me feeling grounded, grateful, and in really good company, whether with her words or with the living things right outside my door.” -- Johanna Silver * gardener and author *“Lorene Edwards Forkner's Color In and Out of the Garden is a gentle call to attention, ‘looking in and looking out.’ Open it anywhere to find yourself transported to the lush offerings of a garden, to ‘seeing’ color you hadn’t noticed, and the poetry, philosophy, and natural history of plants: revelations with life lessons that will expand your view.” -- Sally Schneider * creator of Improvised Life *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhat if you could create any colour you wanted, from a basic palette of just 11 colours? That is what the art of colour mixing is all about. And once you master it, you will be able to create a broad range of all the colours you might need. Your options will be limited only by your imagination. In this colour mixing book, Isabelle Roelofs and Fabien Petillion first walk you step by step through the basics of watercolour pigments, paper, and colour mixing techniques. Using just 11 colours, you ll learn to bring more variety to your primary colours, create basic colours (such as Payne s Gray and Van Dyck Brown), and create your own secondary colours. This approach works no matter what brand of paints you use, as each of the 11 colours is identified by its universal pigment colour (such as PY154). Once you re underway colour mixing, you ll see how four artists interpret that basic palette to create thematic colour palettes tailored to different subject matter, such as flowers, landscapes, portraits, and animals. Finally, you ll solidify your understanding of colour mixing by analysing five watercolour paintings to see how the colour was achieved and how the painting was developed, layer by layer, to achieve the final result.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA year's worth of tips, techniques, advice and more!

Read more less

Book Synopsis"The book is packed with step-by-step guides on drawing and painting techniques, colour mixing and clever compositions, it is an invaluable source of ideas for anyone wanting to develop their flower painting skills." – SAA Billy Showell's exquisite and technically brilliant watercolour flower portraits are beautifully presented in this highly informative, lavishly illustrated book. First published in 2009 and now back by popular demand in paperback, it provides the reader with valuable information on the brushes, paints, paper and other equipment they need, together with detailed guidance on drawing and painting techniques, colour mixing and composition. Learn how to paint white flowers, leaves and stems; add shadows; and create stamen, carpels, veins and texture. The book finishes with four stunning step-by-step projects to practice and consolidate your newly-acquired skills. This is an invaluable source of information and inspiration for anyone who wants to develop their flower painting skills. Trade ReviewBack by popular demand, Billy Showell's Watercolour Flower Portraits was first published in 2009. Billy is a renowned botanical fine artist and tutor and the winner of many awards for botanical excellence. In this practical books she shows us the drawing and painting techniques necessary for capturing the subtle beauty of flowers. Information on equipment needed and advice on colour mixing and composition is followed by detailed advice on painting individual aspects of flowers, such as leaves and stems, adding shadows and painting white flowers. Four step-by-step projects put what you have learned into practice – featuring orchids, lilies, roses and delphiniums. * Leisure Painter *The book is bigger than I expected. Lovely detail and very well laid out. I think I will find this book very helpful. Definitely good value for money. -- Maria Williams * Amazon Customer Review *Table of ContentsIntroduction 6 What you need 8 Drawing 10 Colour 18 Techniques 26 Light and shade 34 White flowers 38 Painting flowers in detail 42 Painting leaves in detail 48 Painting stems in detail 56 Composition 58 PROJECTS 66 Slipper Orchid 68 Green Goddess Lily 86 Roses 100 Delphinium 116 Index 128

Read more less

Book SynopsisLearn how to create manga art from pencil sketch to finished painting, with this comprehensive guide. Start by exploring a wide range of techniques including how to draw manga faces, poses, hair and eyes, then learn about background textures, colors and more. Finally, complete 12 step-by-step painting projects to perfect your manga art skills.Table of ContentsForeword 4 Materials 7 Paints 8 Basics 11 Paper 16 Preparation 18 Brushes 19 Techniques 21 Color theory 22 Color selection 24 Effect of color 25 Examples 26 Basics 28 Proportions 29 Faces 32 Shading 34 Sketching 36 Wet on wet 37 Dry technique 39 White areas 40 Special techniques 41 Exercises 43 Gradients 44 Doodles 48 Gemstones 56 Feathers 58 Snakeskin 60 Dragon scales 62 Walls 64 Water 66 Trees 68 Landscape 72 Gouache 74 Hair 75 Eyes 76 Projects 79 Sweet chibi girl on a slice of cake 81 Fresh steampunk chibis against a bright background 85 Chibi sorcerer's apprentice in a flying teacup 91 Chibi Harry aka a world-famous wizard 97 Young girl framed by a romantic floral design 101 Sailor boy in a symbolic sun circle 107 Girl in a kimono backlit by a window with flowers 113 Historic heroine in a voluminous ball gown 119 Melancholic schoolgirl against a fluorescent background 123 Silhouette in the evening sunset 127 Food overload: boy in the land of plenty 131 Girl's face with expressive eyes 137 About the author/Acknowledgements 142

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhile any subject can be developed with a variety of compositional strategies, in most cases, it is not the subject but the composition of the work that gives a painting its originality and appeal. How you compose your painting determines the way people will view it and how they will be affected by it emotionally.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA complete watercolor instruction guide, this long-time bestseller is full of vibrant illustrations, examples of what to do and what to avoid, and tips that make the medium accessible. Written by a true master, it presents practical information on the basics of setting up a good painting '' composition, color, and light '' before discussing the medium''s advantages and concluding with informative demonstrations.Tony Couch emphasizes practice as the key to developing watercolor skills. Starting with equipment choices and methods for controlling paint on wet paper, he proceeds to discussions and illustrations of the elements and principles of design. Other topics include working with color and value, pulling together a composition, and acquiring techniques for handling watercolor. Easy-to-follow examples chart the progress from a rough sketch into a finished painting. Watercolor: You Can Do It! is an ideal companion for beginning to advanced artists, suitable for individual study as well as a text for art students and teachers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAward-winning artist Harriet de Winton shows you how to create contemporary watercolour artworks to treasure and share. Through more than 30 step-by-step projects, discover how to paint individual flowers and foliage, as well as beautiful botanical compositions. Use your new skills to make art for your wall, unique cards, invitations, or simply paint for pleasure.

Read more less

Book SynopsisEven if you have never picked up a paintbrush before, professional watercolour teacher and artist Stephen Coates will show you how to paint lakes and rivers in watercolour using just three brushes, three colours, a plastic palette and a watercolour pad. Using just red, blue and yellow paint Stephen shows you how to paint nine realistic watercolour scenes. There is no off-putting colour theory or long-winded mixing information, just a practical absolute beginner’s course that shows the three colours in action. Build your skills through each of the nine easy paintings, starting from the simplest of scenes and ending with a more challenging, stunning picture you’ll be proud to have painted. There are step-by-step photographs for each project, clear instruction and advice throughout, and handy tips and jargon busters. Each of Stephen’s finished paintings is shown at full size for easy reference, which you can even use to trace from for a stress-free painting experience. This is a straightforward, economical, practical progressive course to painting lakes and river scenes in watercolour. Stephen uses the following paints and brushes in this book: Winsor & Newton Cotman watercolours - Raw Sienna, Light Red and Ultramarine. Brushes - Proarte Series 101 round size 2, Series 101 round size 8, Proarte 3/4inch Mini hake flat goat hair brush. Trade ReviewTo build anew, you first have to take apart what was there and this delightful book will help you see the world through fresh eyes. * Paint Magazine *From the oopular Take Three Colours series comes Stephen's Coate's Water Lakes & Rivers. Using just three colours- red,blue and yellow- Stephen shows us how to paint lakes and rivers in watercolour. And it's not just the colours that are limited: a plastic palette and watercolour pad and three brushes are all you need to begin. The projects have been carefully chosen so that even the most novice painter will be able to achieve encouraging results straight away. Clear step-by-step photographs cover each stage of the process and the finished paintings are shown full size so that you can trace over them to further ease your journey. * Leisure Painter *Take 3 Colours is a brilliantly simple idea that’s been brilliantly presented. All of the authors so far have understood the brief impeccably and Stephen Coates is no exception. The strapline is “3 colours, 3 brushes, 9 easy projects” and it’s not just a superb way to get started with painting, but also an approach that strips your technique back to essentials if you’re feeling it’s got just too complicated and that you may be over-working. -- Henry Malt * Art Book Review *Table of ContentsIntroduction 6 Using the colours 8 Using the brushes 10 Projects - Derwent Water 12 - Swans on The Broads 16 - Highland Lake 21 - Autumn Trees by the Riverside 26 - Eilean Donan Castle 32 - River Tweed in Winter 38 - River Brathay 43 - Bridge over the Stream 49 - Brograve Windmill 56 Transferring a drawing 64

Read more less