Book Description

This is the only title on the market that gives readers a comprehensive look at negative painting. Linda Kemp shows beginning and advanced artists how to harness the power of these often overlooked areas around a painting's focal point.

The book is brimming with easy-to-follow, interactive elements, including:
*Step-by-step techniques, exercises and projects
*Do-it-yourself tests and worksheets
*Troubleshooting suggestions and secrets
*Straightforward diagrams for color and design

Whether they want to paint florals, landscapes or patterns in nature, readers will come away with the skills they need to make their next work more striking than ever! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Painting negative space does positive things for your art
Linda Kemp's work is luminous and seems to float off the pages. She recommends EVERYONE to use the technique of painting negative space to improve their art. Negative painting is going AROUND the outline of a subject, the way you might lay down a leaf on a white sheet of paper. Then dab paint around it. Lift off that leaf and you have a white leaf floating on a colored ground.

The book has the following chapters:

Basic Painting Supplies

Underpaintings - laying the groundwork

Getting into Shapes - become aware of negative shapes!

Working with Glazes and Building Layers

Building Nature's Complex Shapes

Picture Planning Made Easy

Assembling the Pieces of the Puzzle

The author says this technique applies to all media (certainly those who do charcoal or pastel are well aware of the importance of negative space, as are sculptors.) As a watercolorist, if you concentrate on line and wash, this will be quite revealing. In fact, this is probably a "must-have" on the technique bookshelf. ... Read more

Book Description

Known for its simplicity and fluidity of line, traditional Chinese watercolors capture the essence of natural objects with a profound, unmatched beauty. Renowned artist Lian Quan Zhen shows newcomers how to paint in this loose, liberating style through a series of basic demonstrations.

Chinese Painting Techniques for Exquisite Watercolors:

* Combines classic Chinese painting principles with Western watercolor methods for breathtaking results

* Features 12 step-by-step mini-demonstrations covering everything from brushstrokes to composition

* Combines the use of ink and watercolor

Following Zhen's unique watercolor methods, artists will learn to paint entire compositions based on classic Chinese watercolor subjects, including flowers, birds and fish. Mini-demos ensure that artists will successfully render every detail, including eyes, scales, feathers, beaks, petals and more. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Exquisite watercolors? A Simply Excuisite Book!

The title "Chinese Painting Techniques for Exquisite Watercolors" is, by all accounts, an understatement! Of the countless dozens of art technique books I've read over the years, this one is by far the most captivating, beautiful and unique.

Rarely have I ever been this impressed by a book on any topic, let alone one on art techniques, of which I'm generally rather critical. I'm so used to art books that leave too much information lacking, are unoriginal, show sloppy technique, or simply cannot keep my interest, that this book left me salivating for more! It is truly an exception!

The author, Lian Quan Zhen brings to life an interesting blending of Chinese painting techniques and Western watercolor methods to create a style of painting that is simply, well... exquisite!

The author begins by covering the basic tools and techniques of Chinese painting, from materials and supplies, to mounting of completed paintings. He covers the difference between Chinese paints and watercolor paints, painting in ink, and even shows the *correct* way to hold a paint brush!

Zhen goes on to give one of the best explanations of effective painting composition that I've seen yet. He covers everything from linear perspective and establishing the focal point of your painting (which he refers to as 'establishing priority'), to geometric organization of objects in arcs, circles, triangles, rectangles and s-shapes, and provides clear examples of each.

Next, the author beautifully conveys the three basic styles of Chinese painting, which he identifies as "detail-style" (gongbi), "spontaneous" style, and a blending of the two which he simply calls "half-detail, half-spontaneous," and throughout the book he gives many beautiful examples, and techniques for creating each of them.

Through the rest of the book, Zhen shares the creation of many beautiful compositions, not only in Chinese ink, but also in watercolor using many of the techniques he uses in his Chinese paintings, and showing how the two different methods can be used to create very original, beautiful works of art.

I cannot recommend this book more to anyone with an interst in watercolor, but I must warn that once you see this book, its very likely you will be equally drawn to Chinese painting.

As for myself, and my growing addiction to Chinese painting techniques, I've now traded in several hundred dollars for a plethora of Chinese art supplies, and I couldn't be happier!!

Many thanks to Lian Quan Zhen, for sharing his uniquely beautiful approach to painting with the rest of us, and for introducing me to a brand new way of looking at a blank sheet of paper, particularly xuan paper!

Fabulous Book!
I am a beginner watercolorist and I found this book to be a great help! It is so easy to understand and follow.

BEAUTIFUL BOOK!
Not only do you get detailed instruction and easy to understand illustrations with complete list of supplies, you have a beautiful picture book as well! Great addition to your art book library!

Beautiful Teaching, Beautiful Art
This is one of the clearest and easiest to follow beginning art books that I have ever read. The author manages to weave together traditional, modern and improvisational oriental brush art and watercolor in a practical useful guide. Early in the book, the author gives a detailed guide to mounting sumi-e style paintings made on shuan or rice paper. I haven't found a better mounting guide in any other book. The step by step pictures for mounting rice paper paintings is priceless. In the latter half of the book, the author describes his watercolor techniques and tools. I found this section useful. He emphasizes that you don't need hundreds of colors and dozens of brushes. Beautiful results can be realized on a very modest budget. Too often, beginning watercolor artists spend hundreds of dollars before they even paint a single picture. You don't have to and this book vividly demonstrates that. It is a superb teaching tool and I highly recommend it to student and teacher.

Eastern Painting Meets West
Born and raised in China, the author, Lian Quan Zhen was trained as a physician who later emigrated to the U.S. Now living in California he holds workshops demonstrating his breathtaking approach to Chinese painting. The author's mastery ranges from strict traditional Chinese painting to combining these methods and style with some Western watercolor techniques.

In the process of "oohing" and "ahhing" over this book I learned many fascinating facts about Chinese paintings. For example, the inks/watercolors are made of plants and minerals and use glues as the binder. I also learned that the papers used for Chinese painting require a different stretching and preparation method than I'm used to for Western-style watercolors. The author also covers the differences between Western brushes and Chinese/Japanese brushes.

Mr. Zhen lists and explains the 6 Laws of Painting that were first formulated by Hsieh Ho of the Eastern Tin dynasty (317 - 420 A. D.) Along the way I learned some interesting historical facts on the evolution of painting in China during the different dynasties. The 3 styles of painting are introduced and later discussed. These are: Detail, which is what a beginner first learns. Spontaneous, also known as the Scholar Style, which is learned much later. And finally a mix of the preceding two which the author simply labels Half-Detail/Half-Spontaneous. Composition explained some of the traditional designs used. S-curve, C-curve, balance and weight, etc. Calligraphy and chops (a type of sigil-mark) are as important as the artwork to the final design.

The rest of the book explores in detail both mini-demonstrations and full step-by-step demonstrations of full paintings in Mr. Zhen's style. He effortlessly moves between traditional Chinese painting to combining it with western watercolor techniques. The result is breathtaking. The subject matter for the paintings are landscapes, birds, goldfish and Koi. There are chapters showing how to sketch and paint each of the animals listed above as well as backgrounds. And this only scratches the surface of the information and how-to's detailed. Anyone getting this book not only gets a great foundation in Chinese painting but also some interesting historical facts which makes it even more fun to read. ... Read more

Book Description

An inspirational guide to drawing and painting the fairy realm, this enchanting book looks at the origins and development of fairy art, and draws upon a wide range of art, literature, mythology, and folklore surrounding fairies. Readers are shown how to invoke the fairy spirit and bring to life the nymphs, sprites, and sylphs of a fabled realm. Easy-to-follow, step-by-step illustrations and photographs enable beginning artists to recreate flower fairies, celestial spirits, and mischievous dark fairies, as well as learn how to capture exquisite detail such as delicate wings and sheer gowns. Artists learn how to turn their brush into a wand and create an entire fairy kingdom in watercolor, the dreamiest medium with which to convey the spirit and nature of these fairy folk. ... Read more

Book Description

There's nothing more inspiring than a glimpse into the artistic lives of the country's best contemporary watercolor painters. With page after page of gorgeous artwork covering every conceivable subject matter, Splash 8: Watercolor Discoveries:

* Showcases nearly 140 paintings by about 100 top artists from around the country

* Gives readers takeaway advice with every piece of artwork--these "discoveries" cover both practical and creative breakthroughs made by the featured artists

* Includes popular mixed-media work, as well as translucent watercolor

Whether they're art lovers or full-fledged painters, readers won't want to miss the latest installment in this popular series! ... Read more

Reviews (28)

excellant book for experienced watercolor painters
No matter what anybody says, watercolor painting is difficult. There are many instructional books out on the market that says they can help you become an excellant painter in ??? easy lessons. It just doesn't work that way. You can become a profecient painter by learning the basic techniques and,most important,paint, paint, and paint some more. Nita Engle has written a book that allows you to add some fun and spice to the time you paint,paint,and paint some more. Nita is a very respected teacher and painter and if you can't arrange to go to one of her workshops, buy this book! The effects Nita has evolved is amazing and she clearly explains how to get these effects. This book won't turn you into a wonderful painter in ?? easy lessons, but if you are a watercolor painter this is one book you'll use for years. Don't miss it!

Experimental Techniques in watercolor by Nita Engle
This is a must have book for the library of any watercolor artist! Nita Engle has been in the business for years and has the added advantage of being a very popular workshop teacher. If you can't attend her workshop, buy this book! I am a professional portrait artist whose husband is also an artist specializing in watercolors. Don't look for portraits in this book-look for some of the most amazing watercolor landscapes to be found in any book! This lady explains with no holds barred! Everything is detailed with a wonderful carefree banter. She is comfortable in her medium and her attitude. The many photos are outstanding! We were captivated by this book as there are too many wishy washy watercolor books out there with no real subject matter. We are quite critical of "how to" books that don't have any "how to" in them. If you are serious about watercolor and are ready for some major changes, then realize that this book won't sit on your shelf. You will be immediately rewarded with that artistic excitement that comes with the discovery of a new method or skill in which to energize your work! This is a gem and we speak from our experiences of years of making a living as artists!

One of my favorate
I've got this book about a year ago. Still read and re read it.
Nita Engle gives you an unusual, fantastic and very fresh look at the world. She also asks a very important question: what would you do if you really could express your self in Art without having any difficulties? This question, and the answer, was improtant for me. When i'm getting tired from my mistakes i simply open this book and remind myself that watercolor has endless possibilities and will give me lot's of happy hours... in the future. I only regret that the artist doesn't have any video's. I'm going to take a workshope.

Love her painting techniques.
I bought this book and showed it to my teacher. He loved it and asked me to purchase another book for him. If you find it difficult to paint trees with your brush, Ms.Engle shows you how to paint without a brush. It would never be difficult anymore.

WAY TOO HARD FOR A BEGINNER!!
MUCH TO MUCH HARD FOR A BEGINNER AND SHOULD UNDERSTAND A LOT TO BUY IT. ... Read more

Book Description

This is a landmark book for artists.

This edition catalogues the changes in watercoloor paint manfufacturing since the first edition in 1991 and 1995. Ten new companies have been featured, bringing the total to 29. The information in this book enables the caring artist to buy their expensive materials with confidence. The 'bible' to many and a must for the concerned artist. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

The least favorite book of my collection
Inaccurate information abounds. Tiresome reading. Little good information. Overly expensive...sorry I bought it.

valuable resource
This exhaustive (not to be confused with exhausting) research-based volume should be mandatory reading for all those artists interested in giving their customers their utmost quality of paint on works of art sold.So many paints are not light-fast, or are 'fugitive' (absolutely unreliable), or are packaged by the manufacturer as 'new' colors when they are, in fact, only creative blends of basic colors that any artist can create with colors they likely already have.This book, covering many of the watercolor paint producers in the Western world, exposes these flawed paints, but also gives credit where due to the top-notch pigments and their manufacturers.Details of content, health ratings, color-fastness and quality of brush use are easily understood.Fantastic color swatches (before and after exposure to light) are beside each manufacturer's sample.My only complaint is that this is the only edition available (pub. 1991), as the author said it would be updated periodically, which does not yet appear to have happened.There were only a couple of Quinacridone colors 12 years ago at the time of publication, whereas there are many more now.

outdated poor quality book, dont waste your money
a poor quality book, badly written and full of mistakes. wilcox is clearly a charlaton, he rants on about other paints being poor quality whilst trying to sell you his own.
I do not recomend this book to anyone.
buy it at your peril

An Informative Book
M. Wilcox's book is a goldmine of information, especially if you are new to watercolor paints.He discusses several topics that are of interest to the artist:discriptions of color on the tubes of paint; individual pigments and what is known of them; and while this is aside from the main topic - a brief history of the individual neutrals, primary & secondary colors.While he doesn't explain the exact methods of testing for each pigment, he states that he uses the ASTM ratings as far as possible and that his own "controlled" testing is for confirmation purposes and through out the book one can find examples where there were no ratings given with an explanation why. He also states that his own ratings for lightfastness, his ratings in "Box 4" and his written assessments of the paints are "my own assessment and should be treated as such" (pg 14).
I noticed that some color lines were no longer available, he includes details about them because many still have a supply on hand.He also gives descriptions of the various companies and a picture of the tubes of paints and gives some kind of idea the strength of the tubes themselves.While this may not be helpful to some, it was to me.I have neurological problems with my hands and there are certain caps I can open more readily than others.Another part of the book I liked were his "confessions" and admitting that his word was nothing but his own opinions.
The color examples I never paid attention to except generally, because, being an artist (albeit in another area) I realize there is a vast difference in reality and the printed version.On the down side, I found the arrangement of pigments annoying, I think that portion could definately use some rework.Also, annoying - the incorrectly spelled words.Where were the editors?There are some of his deductions that I totally disagreed with, due to the fact that I have used a few watercolors in my monoprints.But I believe that each one of us has his/her own opinion and naturally there will be disagreements about whether this color is good or not.Also, it is possible that a "bad" tube of paint escape the company's quality control people.
Overall, I think this book is a must read, especially if you are new to theworld of pigments. Thumbs Up!

Out-Dated and Misleading Information
I bought this book expecting scientifically verified tests of the various pigments used in all the major (and some minor) brands of watercolor paint. Sadly this is not the case. First of all nowhere in this revised edition is it stated real-world testing of the various paint brands and pigments was re-done. Since the book was first published practically every watercolor manufacturer has revamped their line to offer more lightfast and permanent pigments. Nowhere in this book did I see evidence of new testing and a lot of information is out-dated. Quite a few brands that don't exist anymore are still included. For example, the U.S. corporation Colart Americas, Inc. (owners of Liquitex since year 2000 [and now also the owner corporation of famed Winsor & Newton!], quit making Liquitex watercolors years ago in order to focus that brand more on the acrylic market.

The guide states no evaluation of any companies' brands of student grade watercolors was done - only artist grade paints are covered. But here's an example of why I'm suspicious of the testing claimed by this book - I bought some DaVinci watercolors based on the praise they received in the book and immediately noticed the brand is "student grade" in quality. The filler used is so high that the chalky appearance of the watercolor squeezed out onto my palette is visible to the naked eye once its had a few minutes to begin to dry. It doesn't have any clarity or beauty of my Winsor and Newton, Daniel Smith or Holbein watercolors. If you wish to see it for yourself merely buy a single tube of DaVinci watercolor, squeeze out some onto your palette, mix a small puddle of the paint with water then let the puddle of paint dry a bit. You will see exactly what I'm talking about. If visible-to-the-naked-eye chalky filler doesn't shout "student grade paint" I don't know what does.

Another note about DaVinci watercolors - Mr. Wilcox has contracted the DaVinci company to supply the watercolor paints used in his own paint brand for the School of Color correspondence color mixing course. Nowhere in the guide does he disclose this commercial arrangement with the DaVinci paint company. I think it only fair that artists should be made aware of this fact in a guide that posits itself as an un-biased guide to watercolor brands.

I also found his constant harping on "gummy" paint odd. Since I like to be able to control the runny-ness of my paint I don't see thick-or-thin-ness of paint out of the tube as a problem. How difficult can it be to simply add water or ox gall medium anyway? And what does "gumminess" have to do with the lightfastness of the paint being discussed - which is the main thing this book claims to be handing out grades on?

Given these flaws - inaccurate information, very out-of-date information and less than un-biased reporting I can not recommend this book for watercolorists in good conscience. A better book is Hilary Page's Guide to Watercolor Paints. Furthermore, she explains exactly how she conducted her tests and under what conditions. An added bonus is that she tries to keep the book current by giving regular updates on new pigments, new watercolor brands or reformulations of existing brands on her website. It's really sad that I give such a low mark to Wilcox's Guide to Best Watercolor Paints. If the author took the time and effort to conduct tests similar to what Hilary did it could be a great resource. What a wasted opportunity.... ... Read more

Amazon.com

Award-winning artist Charles Reid wants his students to concentrate on three basic themes in his book Painting Flowers in Watercolor: "Keep it small. Keep it simple. Avoid overwashes." Economy is stressed throughout, as when Reid writes, "The fewer the strokes and the smaller the amount of color mixing, the fresher the painting." He explains how to get started with brushes, mixing paint, and the basics of composition and contour drawing, and provides exercises in these fundamentals. Reid then guides the watercolorist in painting fruit, vegetables, leaves, and flowers. He offers mini-demonstrations here, such as how to paint a bunch of carrots, an avocado, or slender leaf forms, and finishes with advanced, step-by-step demonstrations in composing still lifes with flowers. Experienced and beginning watercolorists will appreciate the wisdom in Reid's philosophy of "less is better." Somehow he manages to invest a bowl of yellow tulips and mixed flowers with a splashy, vibrant expressionism while expertly exploiting the blurry and translucent delicacy of the medium itself. --Mary Ribesky ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Fun and Skill-Improvement Are Possible!
I discovered Charles Reid at my local library and was smitten with his loose, colorful, gorgeous pictures. This book is a clear, helpful guide to making juicy watercolors of still lifes that sing with color. He has practical tips on brushwork, contour drawing and composition that are easy to follow and clearly explained. He also has step-by-step instructions for several of his pictures that show you how he goes about making his own pictures (often from everyday objects and flowers on his kitchen counter). I'm fairly new to watercolors and I found this book invaluable to improving my pictures and getting me to loosen up and feel creative and find beauty in simple objects.

Indispensable to the serious watercolorist
I wish I had had this book years ago. It contains exercises to enable the reader/student to experience and learn direct painting techniques that bring freshness, spontaneity, bright vivid color and realism to one's paintings--inspite of an "untidy" style. If you're serious about watercolor, Reid can take you where you really should go. Reid embodies the principles of the best of watercolor and painting teaching of the past (particularly Hawthorne, Henri, Manet). He puts it all together into what I call a meditative painting style (stroke on color and pause to consider, then soften, add other color wet-in-wet, and so on. Doing the exercises in this book can revolutionize your painting and will, at the very least, bring immediate and important improvements to your technique and approach to watercolor. If you like Reid's paintings--flower, figures, portraits, etc., do yourself a favor--get the book and the two corresponding videos.

Great book to help you "loosen up" in your painting style!
I have just purchased this book, as well as 2 instructional videos by Charles Reid. I would highly recommend the set to anyone who needs to "loosen up" his or her painting style. He shows you how to get the color right with a minimal amount of strokes, and how to keep from overworking a painting. He is an excellent instructor and author. You won't be disappointed!

More Than a Workshop
Charles Reid has shared with the reader all the amazing sensitive

movements of his brush, the freshness of his colors, the lyrical line of his pencil.I have taken many workshops with him, and I feel that I am actually in a studio painting. Do as he says, step by step, and your watercolors will come alive. You will take a journey through a page-negative to positive,warm to cool,dark to light,lost and found edges. Less is more, one or two strokes tell an entire story.

Natural style
Charles Reid art style is very natural and refreshing. ... Read more

Book Description

Watercolor School offers clear, visual explanations and easy exercises that build up skill and confidence. Eight specially devised demonstrations show how to deal with the most popular subjects from beginning to end. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The Best Book For The Beginner
Being a beginning watercolorist I knew I needed some help, so I searched all over for a good book on the subject but was unsuccessful. Then I found this book and I'll have to say it is excellent. It covers many of the techenics that new watercolorist need to know like how to stretch paper, the use of masking fluid, how to set up a still life, and how the watercolors work. I recommend this book to everbody that's interested in becoming the serious watercolorist.

A useful guide on watercolour techniques
As a novice watercolour painter and devoted bibliophile, I have found a new way of spending my hard-earned money: Watercolour books. However, this one might be one of the last I buy, as it's really useful. bought the book yesterday and I am delighted with it. The advice on how to do things is sound, and this is a book that encourages you to find your own style and shows you how the same image may be rendered in such a different way by different people. Unlike other books I own, this one is not only a set of beautiful pictures. In fact, I didn't like some of the art displayed in it, but this is in fact a plus, as it shows the variety of styles and effects you can achieve with watercolour. I know that there are other techniques not displayed in this book, but as a beginning step it's definitely worth every penny. It's got a lot of demos (which are implicitly exercises) and it might end up being a classic on the subject.

Watercolor School by Hazel Harrison is an excellent resource
This book is an exceptional resource for the watercolorist. I highly recommend this book for both beginner and advanced artists. Terms are explained in plain English. Many watercolor techniques are reviewed and numerous artist's works are described in detail. Hazel Harrison has also written Acrylic School and Pastel School for Readers Digest, and they are all excellent reference sources. I recommend them to all my students.

Very useful for the beginning watercolor artist.
This book has good basics for the beginning watercolor painter. It discusses selection of brushes, paper, color mixing and other beginning basics. It covers landscape, still life, figures, and portraits. A plus to me was the fact that this book has no nude art. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning the art of watercolor. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Timeless Tomb on Watercolor & Use of Color
An excellent volume and companion to use in conjunction with Jeanne Dobie's book Making Colors Sing. While Dobie's book is outdated with all the advances in watercolor pigments and newer more permanent lightfast color, Hill's book not only picks up with the use of newer pigments, but his suggestions are excellent. This book is a wonderful addition to any library. I kept it nearby as I do Dobie's book. A must have book with excellent demonstrations and illustrations. Also the artist's style and work is wonderful too. A must have for anyone serious about watercolor, beginner or advanced.

Watercolor enthusiast's paradise ...
This book gives an excellent idea and keeps an idol in front of the reader as how a watercolor painting should be. Nice simple language and examples chosen are truly magnificent. Tom's style of painting is simply out of the world.

You can't understand the color in watercolor without this.
Hill's painting style is loose, and ideal for the usually spontaneous nature of watercolor. This is a fine and needed book on color. The technique of painting receives a concise two chapters, yielding space to the problem of making watercolor paints behave. Hill's study of color is based in physics and reality, not taste. I much prefer it this way. Full and detailed descriptions of "all the paints you will probably ever use" tell how they perform, how to test your paints, and what to expect when you mix them. If blue and yellow do not make green for you, but brown or gray, this book gives insight into why this happens. To show what effect color selections have in a painting, one scene is painted with seven palettes, from minimal (monochromatic) to full colors. Chapter Seven, "Color in light & shadow", shows photographically how light and shadow effect color and how to duplicate the effects. I have not seen this covered in other books. Through ten demonstrations you will learn how to render colors in shadows, in colorful subjects, and in not-so-colorful subjects by making colorful grays. You will learn to use color to paint "white" subjects, the greens in nature, clouds and skies, and even colors that are not in a scene, but should be. This is a valuable an informative book. I have given away some twenty or so books to my artist club library, but not this one. It is worth the price, to me, for Chapter 7 alone. I would have rated it a 10, if it were on color only, minus the first two chapters, but these are helpful to beginners. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Capturing the Spirit of Chinese Brush Painting
What a delightful treat for painters of all stages!!! Nan Rae's book is a very lively and spiritual work that draws you to her obvious passion for her art. I'm a beginning painter and have bought several brush painting books. The Ch'i of the Brush is a very dedicated book with beautiful illustrations that are easy to follow-her directions and explanations make you feel that she were giving you the lessons right in your own home!! This book gives you an exciting confidence and enthusiasm for the art that makes you want to learn all that you can do. The histories and works included are very appreciating and thorough--very interesting to read. Plus, the most beautiful part--Nan Rae's wonderful illustrations and paintings are displayed page after page and her happy spirit lifts right off of those pages!! If you could pick only one book on Chinese Brush painting, this is definitely the one to have.

Lacks the True Spirit of Chinese Painting & Culture
Being a collector of traditional and contemporary Chinese paintings for over 25 years, I am also very interested in the variety of techniques different Chinese painters use. This book covers the basics of Chinese brush painting, ideas and concepts taught for hundreds of years so there nothing new in this book. Not seeing Nan Rae's work prior to purchasing this book, I was very surprised by the mediocre level of her paintings. Her paintings have a western influence but her ability to merge the two cultures just doesn't work. For myself and other fellow collectors, her paintings in no way capture the essence of what true Chinese culture and its painting is all about. Another disappointment about her work (from this book and website) is that many of her paintings are copied (and not very well at that) from older Chinese paintings and famous artists works. If your really interested in Chinese painting techniques, find books by true Chinese painting masters such as the Chinese painting series by the Asian based publisher Art Book Co. (with English text) and not someone who paints as if it were a casual hobby. Buy this book if you're interested in "reading" about simple Chinese brush techniques but once your actually begin painting, find some reference paintings created by actual Chinese artists who capture the true spirit of Chinese painting and the culture.

A Must Have Book! A Real Treasure!
This is a book filled with beautiful art. From the helpful detailed instructions for the beginner to the inspirational techniques and compositions for the experienced artist, this is the one book you must have on oriental brush painting. I teach brush painting and every student lights up when they look through this book. This book goes to every class I teach and every student wants a copy to take home. I have many books on brush painting but this is one I will always treasure.

Exquisite Eloquence: The Art of Explaining Art
The first thing that struck me as I thumbed through this graceful publication was how visually beautiful it was. I thought perhaps I had purchased a lovely coffee table book! Ms. Rae's work is beautifully reproduced on its pages and alone is reason enough to buy this book. As I dug deeper, I have discovered the author writes as eloquently as she paints. Her explanations are clear and concise and the illustations are very helpful. But more importantly, perhaps, woven throughout the book is an underlying sense of encouragement. This author doesn't just want to show you "how-to," she wants to inspire you. And I must say, she succeeds. I also suggest checking out her website. She is a prolific and exuberant artist!

a wonderful and perfect book for painters and art lovers ali
This is **THE** Ultimate Chinese brush painting book
Being a student of chinese brush painting I have bought quite of few books on the subject. This one is simply the best and... the most beautiful. It's a perfect book for book beginners and advanced painters, but it is also a book that should make the day of people who simply want to understand chinese painting better.
Nan Rae's paintings are incredible, her writting style is easy to follow, precise but humourous, never boring or too technical.
A must buy for any one interested in arts.
I know what I'll get my friends for Xmas this year! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Numerous step-by-step watercolor techniques
As a beginning artist, I tend to accumulate technique books. "The Big Book of Painting Nature in Watercolor" has been one of my most useful watercolor books. It is, in fact, the book that my watercolor instructor uses for reference material for her students.

The book covers a wide variety of techniques, each in the context of a short, complete, step-by-step project which results in a good-looking painting (I occasionally frame one). Techniques covered include seeing colors, mixing, washes, underpaintings, tilting paper, dry brush, use of wet vs. damp vs. dry paper, various uses and methods for lifting, reflections, lighting, contrast, and many, many more techniques, settings, and approaches to challenging scenes. I learn something different from each project.

One implicitly learns the art of simplification and watercolor expression by comparing each projects' nature scene photograph with its respective final painting. That mindset, plus the book's setting-specific techniques, carries over to painting similar scenes outside of the book. It is important to supplement the cookbook nature of the book by applying the same techniques to one's own photo references, and to painting live in nature.

Nice for all levels
This book is a nice tutorial for different levels of painters looking for activities. Not super loose and not super overworked, the activities are a good primer for more complex paintings down the road. Good color pictures that are not too small. A good skill builder.

THIS BOOK IS AMAZING!
I have been doing watercolors for a while now and there were certain things about painting nature that I didn't know how to approach. Buying this book, really helped me. It shows you how to paint skies, water, trees and so much more at various times of the day and in different seasons. This book has helped me gained more confidence in landscape painting. It has taught me so much. This book is THE ONE for watercolur landscapes,it is COMPREHENSIVE and COMPLETE and if you buy it you will never be sorry. I'm glad for the day I got a copy.

Fantastic, easily crate a vast arry of beautiful scenes
This is a fantastic book that shows you how to create a vast array of beautiful nature scenes and landscapes seamlessly. It is a must have for anyone wanting to paint nature in all its glory.

The book starts out with a discussion of tools and materials. It then explains color and its characteristics. A list of all the colors used in the book is provided here. The basic watercolor techniques are covering including laying washes, working wet-in-wet, using a dry brush, masking, creating highlights with an eraser, stippling and more.

The book is packed with over 130 lessons that teach you to paint trees, leaves, skies and water. Some projects include painting a delicate tree in a cloud-filled landscape, simplifying a close-up lacy crystal pattern, sorting out a maze or snow-covered branches, paining rapidly flowing water, capturing dripping rain and rendering water reflections.

Each lesson deals with a particular subject taken directly from a photograph and a specific problem such as capturing a stormy dawn with mostly dark color but making a thin reddish band look unforced. It then offers a basic solution and provides a step-by-step demonstration of how to go about painting the scene.

The wide variety of subjects and the consistent and detailed format of teaching in this book have really helped me improve my painting. The author has a great knack for breaking complex subjects into simple steps and focusing on what is important in making the painting a success.

A Cookbook for Beginning Landscape Watercolorists
This is a "Joy of Cooking" of nature watercolor images and recipes. The book has hundreds of photo-watercolor pairs to help a watercolorist who might be struggling with a particular problem in representing a scene in nature in watercolor.

There are pages on basic techniques and what they look like.

There are very specific examples. I had to chuckle at the sheer number of pages and pages of different kinds of cloud formations, for example.

The reason why I give it 4 and not 5 stars is that some of the examples were flat and the descriptions too pat. The best advice to give a budding landscape artist is to go LOOK at the world and (as Frida Kahlo said) paint what you see. The examples were a little too cookbook and there is the danger of the student spending too much time at the feet of the master and not enough time at the feet of Mother Nature.

So, go look at a nature scene, take a crack at painting what you see, maybe take your own photos of it for draftsmanship later, and then refer to Petrie's book if you get stuck. Or just enjoy it over a cuppa tea when relaxing at home. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Excellent Intro
This is an excellent introduction for the beginner. I also love her art. Other excellent, but more advanced, books are "The Art of Watercolor" by Charles Le Clair and "The Watercolorists Essential Notebook" by Gordon MacKenzie.

watercolor for the serious beginner
I have just joined up with AMAZON and am so excited about the selection of art technique books. I teach in the water medium and own many of the books listed. There is one review I would like to add and that is "Watercolor for The Serious Beginner",by Mary Whyte, 1997. The title sounds simple, however there is a a wealth of info for the students as well as accomplished artists. It is far from the basic of basics, which we all need periodically. I have viewed Mary's watercolors at a gallery in Charleston, S.Carolina. The paintings place you in there settings of great nostalgic memories and personalities. You would like to visit with Mary and tell her you,too,have been there. Mary shares all of her w/c knowledge in this book,and has been published in American Artist Watercolor as well a monthly publication, focusing on portraiture. Her still life ptgs. in the book are equally as instructional again and again.

One of my favorites!
This is a comprehensive book well worth your time and money. I especially like the instructional step-by-step color demonstrations which include still life, landscape, and figures and portraits. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Lots of hidden jewels in the book
A wealth of information at your finger tips from some of the greatest watercolor artists of our time. There are enough practice exercises to keep you busy for many many months. Everytime I pick it up I discover something new that I had overlooked before.

Wondeful book for beginers
My experience with water colors is not broad. In fact, I just picked up painting with water colors. I found this book to cover most everything I needed to know. The book discusses paints, paint quality, demystifies the selection of paper, and spends a good deal of time on technique. The book also has tons of exercises to help you better your skill. The projects are interesting too. I liked that they used a variety of authors to discuss things, as different people have new perspectives and experiences to share.

If I could have only one watercolor book, I'd want this one!
A collection of how-to-do-it articles by many famous watercolorists. What makes this book special is the wide spectrum of approaches, from the traditional to the experimental. It's got everything from selecting material and preparing paper, theory and practice of color (selecting, mixing, schemes), basic painting techniques, collaging and less traditional techniques, artisitic principles (value, composition),perspective, and painting of textures, landscapes, figues, flowers, and special effects. Great for beginners and more experienced painters. It's simply the best, most comprehensive, watercolor book.

Unveils a Fantastic World of Possibilities in Watercolor!!!
If my experience is typical, then most beginners watercolor havent the slightest idea what an amazing range of visual expression is possible with watercolor...even with a novice's palette of nine colors.

This wonderfully illustrated anthology of techniques provides both inspiration and instruction. Starting from the beginning, with tips on choosing paper, brushes, paint, and which colors to use to set up a novice, intermediate and advanced working palette, the book then moves on to cover hundreds of well-illustrated micro-lessons in watercolor techniques. These lessons are organized in sections:

Color
Basic Painting Techniques
Textures & Special Effects
Collaging & Other Unusual Techniques
Artistic Principles
Perspective
Landscape Painting
Figure Painting
Flowers

Each section has 15 - 30 lessons, each of which is illustrated with color photographs and good text instruction, and often with a series of photographs to show how the artist progresses to achieve the desired effect.

This book shows there is a wide array of special techniques and effects that can be achieved in watercolor that you could never dream of in acrylic or even oil.

A Great Reference Tool for the Intermediate Artist
This book is a wonderful technique book, not a project book. This book shows you the actual mechanics of how to accomplish many varied techniques. It also has a lot of information about good design and color usage. ... Read more

Book Description

Enclosed in a handy, portable case, this kit includes paints, brushes, and a blank pad of absorbent watercolor paper -everything you'll need to begin creating right away! The instruction book details watercolor materials and techniques ranging from laying down tones to using complementary colors to developing your own painting style, while the watercolors dotting each page provide subject ideas. ... Read more

Book Description

Featuring a detachable fold-out color wheel and clear guidelines, this unique book solves the problem of muddy blends, taking the guesswork out of mixing clean watercolors every time.

While the color groups of a standard wheel are shown, this wheel goes much further, organizing pigments into five categories: transparent nonstaining colors; semi-transparents; opaques; semi-opaques; and whitened and blackened colors. Detailed text explains how color groups interact, some resulting in dull blends, others producing luminous, transparent effects. Readers are treated to abundant examples, step-by-step exercises, and analyses of work by several of today's outstanding watercolorists ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Transparency vs Staining Power
Ohhh, so that's why that color mix only went to a gray scale instead of black! Kosvanec gives great tips on the juicy wash; now my $300 worth of paints actually have color. Well worth the price. Be sure to read this book; don't just look at the pretty pictures. I'm still laughing about the quote, "If tube greens were people, I'd beat them up."

Mud or magic--Kosvanec steers you safely through
Watercolor is notoriously tricky. One moment, colors gleam from the paper like jewels. The next moment, a touch of the brush to a color yields nothing but muddy results. The mixing of the pigments is a true science mixed with art because the colors are actually chemicals that interact not only by reflecting light on their own, but also by interacting with other pigments, and reacting with the paper as well.

What to do when you want a particular color effect? Well, you can refer to this book. It has a color wheel organizing the pigments according to how they mix with each other to form secondary tints. Kosvanec gives examples of mixing greys, browns, intermediate tints that are guaranteed NOT to result in a blob of disaster on your painting. He gives quotes from famous artists who reaffirm the problem; one dab of just the wrong color and disaster results. He also includes some fabulous paintings, not only his portraits of native Americans, but those of other well-known artists.

I can't wait to try out Kosvanec's mixtures and suggestions on my next painting. I know I will be referring to this book over and over again.

Great book.
Helpful for anyone interested in transparent watercolor - worth the investment!

Sparkling Watercolor
This is a great book if you really want to understand why some color combinations work and others don't. Mr. Kosvanec has developed a color wheel that goes beyond the standard color wheel. The book's color wheel is a fold out and is perforated so it may be torn out and used easily. This new wheel deals with the actual pigments and their characteristics used in the majority of watercolor paints.

He divides the paint into nonstaining:transparant & semitransparant - staining:transparant - opaque & semiopaque and finally whitened & blackened colors. The book then shows in detail the results of mixing these different types of pigments to achieve luminous paintings or why some mixed together usually result in "mud".

There is a chapter that analyzes both some of his own and guest artists' paintings for their color mixing & pigment choices and why they worked. There is a chapter on water-to-pigment ratio and keeping colors clean. There is a chapter on achieving luminous grays and another discussing various types of paper from different manufacturers and how this too can change the results of a watercolor. He shows in one chapter the difference student-grade paints make compared to artist quality.

Throughout the book there is a wealth of detail and illustrations for the book to be a joy to read simply for generating ideas. This book is not really geared to be a beginning watercolor book. But if you are ready to go beyond the many beginning watercolor books available then this book will not disappoint.

No more mud when painting
James Kosvanec is a wizard. His understanding of transparent color is wondrous. Before this book I struggled with inconsistent results. My first painting after reading this book was clean and every color sparkled. If you want consistent results get this book. ... Read more

Book Description

With easy techniques and clear, step-by-step instructions, Lian Quan Zhen draws readers into the enchanting world of Chinese painting. This gorgeously illustrated book teaches artists how to re-create the power and simplicity of this popular artistic style with:

* Page after page of easy-to-follow demonstrations that can be completed with watercolors or traditional Chinese materials

* A wide variety of appealing animal subjects, including horses, cats, tigers, dogs and more

* Concise lessons and illustrations that show readers exactly how to use the Chinese watercolor brush--a technique that's rarely covered in workshops or books

Chinese Watercolor Techniques: Painting Animals provides a powerful look at the contrasts between painting philosophies in the East and West. It's the perfect way to step into the international art world! ... Read more

Book Description

My mother gave me the moon...the stars...her time and attention...and all the love her heart could hold.This heartfelt gift book from watercolor artist Becky Kelly captures the beautiful moments of motherhood with tender words and evocative artwork.Give back to your mother now with this perfect statement of your appreciation for her love and affection.In all the universe, there's no one more deserving of gratitude than your mother. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A truely special book for MOM
This book is so touching it will probably make you well up with tears at the thought of your own mom! Becky Kelly's art work is amazing! This would make a great Mothers Day or Birthday gift and is well worth the price...especially knowing that your mom will cherish this for many years! I also recommend any other book by Becky Kelly...especially Little Birthday Wishes. This one is great to give to girls of all ages!!

What a sweet little book!
My mother gave me the moon and this adorable book! Each page has one of Becky Kelly's beautiful watercolor illustrations and a sweet note about the woman in our lives that we all hold so dear - our mother. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the wonderful sense of color and design - a hallmark of Becky's artwork. This tiny treasure makes a perfect addition to my growing collection of Becky Kelly books and journals. I cannot say enough wonderful things about this tiny book that I will treasure forever.

My Mother Gave Me The Moon
I originally got this book for myself because of the exquisite illustrations. If you are familiar with Becky Kelly, you know how beautiful her art is. Just looking at the pictures takes me back to my wonderful childhood. However, after I read it, I had to give it to my mom for Mother's Day because everything in it is my mom! She also loved it - it left a tear in her eye! If you want to give a gift that will really touch a mom's heart, this is it. ... Read more

Book Description

Every truly great watercolor painting hinges on the qualities of light and texture. In this concise guide, James Toogood shows readers exactly how to use these elements to add more drama, depth and believability to their work. Beginning and advanced artists will appreciate the wealth of instruction, including: - Clear explanations of natural and artificial light, as well as how light influences texture - Complete step-by-step demonstrations that show how a whole painting comes together - Basic color theory and pigment lessons to help artists get the most from their materials - Mini demonstrations with close-up views of techniques for light and texture - Drawing and composition basics to build a strong foundation for any piece of artwork

It's never been easier for painters to enrich their work with breathtaking light and texture! ... Read more