Description

Book Synopsis

Even 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 Review

To 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 Contents

Introduction 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

Take Three Colours: Watercolour Lakes & Rivers:

    Product form

    £8.54

    Includes FREE delivery

    RRP £8.99 – you save £0.45 (5%)

    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Wed 17 Jun 2026.

    A Paperback / softback by Stephen Coates

    2 in stock

      Trusted by thousands of customers. See 2,385+ Customer Reviews

      View other formats and editions of Take Three Colours: Watercolour Lakes & Rivers: by Stephen Coates

      Publisher: Search Press Ltd
      Publication Date: 23/08/2019
      ISBN13: 9781782216971, 978-1782216971
      ISBN10: 1782216979

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      Even 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 Review

      To 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 Contents

      Introduction 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

      Recently viewed products

      © 2026 Book Curl

        • American Express
        • Apple Pay
        • Diners Club
        • Discover
        • Google Pay
        • Maestro
        • Mastercard
        • PayPal
        • Shop Pay
        • Union Pay
        • Visa

        Login

        Forgot your password?

        Don't have an account yet?
        Create account