Reviews (5)

Not your usual watercolor book--interesting and stimulating
Christoph Schink is an award-winning artist who shares his unique look at the art of watercolor and using color and light. The book does not just deal with juxtapositions of color or of mixing pigments; the author goes into the compositional effects of color choices, with examples of changes if you use value (dark to light, color becomes diminished) or if you use all pastels or colors close in range on the color wheel. In addition, there is a section on how the masters employed color in famous paintings, and a section of example works by other artists. This is valuable--the inclusion of other artists makes the book appealing to a variety of painters; not everyone responds to individual artists, so the wise author of painting books is one who generously shares the canvas with his colleagues. You are guaranteed to find some inspiration in the gallery. This is a nice large format book that shows off the colors on the pages well. Excellent.

They don't get much better than this!
Christopher Schink is a terrific teacher and communicator in this lovely, and invaluable instruction book. Complete with many colorful examples and exercises, this world-class painter uses work from many different exceptional painters, along with a few of his own, to show how wonderfully expressive your own work can be by utilizing some of these techniques.He also shows and shares his deep understanding of what happens to color as it's mixed and layered, etc. And at the bottom of it all is the message that painting is about communication of ideas, and not simply a series of techniques! This core message is the most valuable of all.

It's more that the typical 'technique' book
If you can only buy one water color text book, buy this one. For a changethis painter focuses on teaching you more than just tecnical skills. Hegives you excellent information on color history, and analysis of otherwatercolorists work. Deals with problems you may run into and providesgreat visual examples. Handles subjects like controlling pictoral space,simultaneous contrast, and well as composition and design. This is book tostudy, not just look at the pictures!

An Inspiration for Effects !
I found this book to be most interesting on the topics of Colour, Tone, etc. Mr Schink goes on to apply the initial principles he outlines at the beginning of his book, to show how different effects and appearances can becreated, even from the same basic composition! It was a fascinating read,and provides a good point of reference for me.

Excellent book--I devoured it!
My watercolor instructor brought a copy of this book to class and I fell in love with it.If you want to achieve glowing, luminous color, and aren't getting the effect you're looking for in your watercolorpaintings--you need this book.Mr Schink illustrates why leaving white inyour painting won't give you a luminous effect, and also shows you how touse color and value to achieve that "glow" which is socharacteristic of his work and Skip Lawrence's.If you're a colorist, youwill find a lot to like about this book. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Making Watercolors
Harrison defines and employs standard language used in identifying watercolor effects. She also identifies watercolor usages and materials and is consistent in this regard. Her illustrative material is literally a survey of the watercolor world, with no histrionics, from abstraction to the tightest realism. It is a beautiful book and gratifyingly complete. She has no 'method' to push. With her insistence on planning as the key to realizing one's concept, she leaves the reader in peace to enjoy the experience the book offers of seeing how accomplished watercolorists plan their work.
The index is excellent. I will admit disappointment that Harrison touches only lightly on the qualities of now very expensive materials that would enable one to make useful choices. Her remarks on paper by type and maker I find useful and I wish this knowledgeable woman had given the reader more insights on other materials.

Almost half of this book is a reprint of a previous edition.
Some years ago I purchased the previous edition of this book and found it very useful. When I saw what appeared like a new edition of this book I decided to purchase it. On the cover it is marked REVISED AND UPDATED. The techniques are described well and most are new material but Part 2 - Themes is exactly the same as the first edition and this was very disappointing and will make me think carefully about purchasing a book unless I can view it in a bookshop.

Not my favorite book however
You might find it useful. If you can only have a few watercolor books, and you are short on technical experience, this might be just the thing for you. But if you are looking for a lot of creative inspiration rather than technique, this isn't so useful. I wasn't inspired by the contents, but the techniques are certainly ones that I do use.

A book that shows how to master the art of watercolor
I was requested by my editors to write the introduction to the Brazilian edition of this book and immediately accepted, because, unlike o most books on art techniques, Hazel Harrison concentrates on demonstrating how to master all the resources and effects that watercolor offers, without implying that there is any preferable way in which to paint. The techniques are clearly explained and well illustrated and, in the second part of the book, she includes many examples of how different artists used the effects described in the first part to interpret various subjects. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to master the art of watercolor. ... Read more

Book Description

This enjoyable guide takes the fear out of "letting loose" and exploiting the flow of watercolor, empowering artists to trust their instincts and create glazes, rich in depth and luminosity. Step-by-step, artists are led through the process of planning, preparing and applying glazes, covering composition, exaggeration, elimination, repition and contrast. Also inside are 30 methods for producing watercolor images, 3 basic steps to developing a painting and 5 complete demos.

These new techniques will not only improve each artist's ability, they will also make the act of painting a more fulfilling and liberating experience. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Pretty good
I wish there were even more step by step pictures in here but overall I really like this book.It describes a technique then gives a picture or two to show it. I like a lot some of the newer ideas like using salt and cornstarch to create effects. It talks about softening edges, using glazes, etc.Definitely good for a beginner or intermediate level. I actually use this book in combination with other things like rubber stamping to make my cards more interesting.

More than I expected
I was very pleasantly surprised when I got this book.
I was just anticipating lessons on the technique of pouring paint. Yet there was much more.
From brushes to paper to different techniques on how to apply
watercolor,I was definately not dissapointed.
It is very easy to follow.
A good book for any watercolorist to have in their collection.

Watercolor:Pour It On!
I am truly excited about the book, Watercolor: Pour It On!As an intermediate-level artist, I feel I have some competency with the basic watercolor skills.I am looking for ways to broaden my scope of techniques, and this book has been a treasure chest for me.It is loaded with step-by-step directions and easy-to-follow sequential photographs.
I find Jan Fabian Wallake's paintings awe-inspiring.I just want to "be there" in looking at each one of them.
The "Thirty Exciting Techniques" ARE exciting and they work!They are fun and easy and they have added new dimensions to my paintings.
I am really impressed with the section on glazing.It is a dynamic technique which has allowed me to move toward a more advanced level of painting.
This is also a visually beautiful book.In addition to the impressive paintings, the graphic layout is enhanced by the use of color, which highlights important information.
I highly recommend this book.It is an inspiration every time I pick it up.

Excellentfor creative techniques, but not all I hoped for
Here's what I like about "Pour it On"
1. Some creative techniques are given, with complete instructions, like fabric dye, spraying, foam stamping and cornstarch patterns.
2. There's a good section on framing and how to choose the right frame.
3. There's a section on negative spaces (the areas where the drawing "isn't") that helps in composition.
4. There's quite a bit of demonstrations sets of photos from start to finish.

What didn't I like? I found most of the paintings uninspiring. I didn't like the color palettes used, either.

In summary, if you haven't tried some of the more creative watercolor techniques before, this is a great guide. If you are looking for inspiration USING these techniques, I prefer some other similar books by different authors.

Loose, free watercolors!
I have been painting with watercolors for a few years and my biggest problem is a fear of "messing up" so I tend to be very controlled. I need to loosen up and enjoy this medium. This book is just what I needed. It beautifully illustrates how to paint with a glazing technique that has gotten me excited about watercolors again. By pouring paint onto wet paper, the author shows how to produce brilliant, clean colors. My paintings usually turn out pale, but now I know how to use this poured glazing technique to get livlier color.
I especially liked the section that shows how to create thirty special textural techniques. There are easy to follow demonstrations and I liked the "helpful hints" that are offered in addition to the written explainations. After reading this book, I remember why I love watercolor so much. ... Read more

Book Description

Unrivaled in scope, this encyclopedic reference on the most versatile of all painting mediums is an excellent tool to help both beginning and seasoned artists produce their best work in acrylics.

With its great flexibility, acrylic paint can mimic the appearance of oils, tempera, and watercolors in unique ways, each method pictured in a separate step-by-step demonstration. The author also examines the use of acrylics with airbrush, sculptural, and printing techniques-even three-dimensional relief painting and collagraphy printing methods are included-and how several of these different creative processes can be integrated successfully in one composition with ink, pencil, charcoal, and pastel. Inspiring examples of representational and abstract subjects are depicted throughout, and a complete survey of all the latest acrylic materials covers the best paint brands, painting mediums, supports, varnishes, brushes, knives, and palettes. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A good beginning
I recommend this for the beginner level acrylic painter. What you need to know to get started with a lot of great product information.

Everything you need to know to get started.
This book is really quite excellent. Using clear, concise and friendly language Mr. Shears starts with a short but invaluable description of what's out there as far as paints, brushes, etc., comnpares them and suggests what you need to get started. After spending an hour in the brushes aisle frozen from indecision and sensory overload, it was a huge help to have someone say 'Buy, this and this to get started.'

The chapters are well defined and the pictures are generously distributed. My only criticism (hence 4 out of 5 stars) is that it would have been nice to see a more diverse representation of artwork. I understand the book may be somewhat of a platform for Mr. Shears, but i would have benefitted and enjoyed seeing different styles represented. There are a few, but the majority is Mr. Shears own work.

That aside, after looking at MANY books on the subject, i wholeheartdly endorse this one.

Great examples, in depth backgroud info, terrific demos
This is an excellent guide to acrylic painting. It offers in depth background information as well as numerous step-by-step technique demonstrations. There are also many great example paintings throughout the book.

The book starts out with an overview of nine different paint brands including their characteristics, strengths and weaknesses. It then covers mediums, varnishes, modeling paste and gesso as well as supports, grounds, brushes, knives and other tools. Other background information such as selecting a color pallet, protecting finished works and caring for tools is here as well. There are even demonstrations on stretching and priming a canvas as well as preparing panels.

Basic concepts such as mixing paint, blending with both soft and hard edges, layering, scraping and spraying are covered next. Demonstrations include mixing paints on the pallet and creating a hard edge with masking tape. Color characteristics and relationships are also discussed.

Acrylic painting techniques follow, starting with a discussion of how to plan a painting and draw a preliminary sketch. You will find out how to use acrylics to mimic other styles of painting such as watercolor, opaque watercolor, oil painting and egg tempera. There is further instruction on how to combine techniques, paint on a wet canvas, create a collage, work with a gel medium and make a relief painting. Using acrylics with other media and in craft applications is also explored. Brief demonstrations show how they can be used with pencil and wash, colored pencil, lithography crayon, pastels and oil pastels.

There is a good list of suppliers and a detailed index. I recommend this book for acrylic painter of all levels because of its excellent coverage of both materials and a wide range of techniques.

A painter's review
This is a great book on acrylic painting whether you are a beginner or an accomplished painter, one of the best I have found, and I am quite a collector of "how to" books as I am basically a self taught painter. It includes many easy step by step lessons using the techniques used by the author to paint realistic looking pictures, or, techniques to use for any style painting you prefer. Painting in acrylics is not that easy to do because they dry so fast but the instructions in this book help you learn how to get professional looking results in a short period of time. I find this book to be user friendly and much more informative than most of the books out there on acrylic painting. And, it doesn't spend half the book talking about brushes, paper, etc. It is a technique orientated instructional book. I like this book so much I have given it to friends as a present. 5 stars! ... Read more

Book Description

Using picture after picture (and handwritten instructions, for a more intimate feel), Claudia Nice teaches artists how to use dots, fine lines, brush strokes, black & white and color-a mixture of mediums and techniques to create the gleaming transparency of glass, rolling surf and ocean waves, the warmth of brick and adobe, rainbows that glimmer, sunrises and sunsets that glow, dramatic wood grain, smoothed driftwood, foliage of distant trees, intricate leaf textures, the woven texture of basketry, lifelike animal hair and dozens of other textures!

Artists will learn how to use such diverse materials as technical pens, paint brushes, colored inks and liquid acrylics, along with ways to alter and combine ink and watercolor for exciting texturing effects. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Nice, but material is duplicated in another of her books...
This is an excellent book... IF you don't already own "Painting with Watercolor, Pen and Ink" by Claudia Nice. The material in this book is entirely duplicated in the "Painting with..." except for the last chaper called "Fur and Feathers".Please do not buy this book if you already own a copy of "Painting with Watercolor, Pen and Ink". I did and was disappointed that there was only one chapter of new material in this book.

Now, if you own the other book "Painting Nature in Pen & Ink with Watercolor" then I highly recommend this book as it has subject matter that was not covered in the "Painting Nature..." book.

If you don't own any of her books, then buy the "Painting with Watercolor Pen and Ink" ISBN 158180265X because it completely combines the material in both "Creating Textures..." and "Painting Nature..." books.

New title for this excellent book.
I recently checked this book out from the library and found it to be an excellent resource for me, a student new to these media. I enjoyed the book and decided to purchase it. Amazon lists the book as out of print. Indeed this title is out of print. However, don't despair. This book has been re-released under the new title "Painting with Watercolor, Pen and Ink."

Not what I expected or wanted
A better title would have been, "Creating Textures in Pen & Ink, Enhanced with Watercolor."75% of each texture comes down to "make a detailed ink drawing".The other 25% is enhancing that ink drawing with watercolor.The pen & ink predominates everywhere.If this is the style of drawing you desire (e.g., detailed drawings where pen&ink predominates), then you will probably give this book 4 to 5 stars.I was looking for watercolor texture techniques and was disapointed.

With that said, the drawings are very well executed and the instruction quality moderate.The author relies too heavily on step-by-step examples as a teaching tool.The addition of color greatly enhances the pen & ink drawings, with spectacular results.

Texture for illustration
The style of this book is of ink illustrations colored with watercolor.Very good resources to use as examples.I would call it more illustration than watercolor painting.If you like the style, it is a great resource.I keep it my library and pull it when I need it.Good for the well-seasoned beginner.

I love this book.
As a new botanical illustrator working in mostly in watercolor I have often found rendering realistic fine detail and texture a difficult and frustrating task. This marvelous book introduces the artist to a new approach that produces detail and textural effects that are both effective and fairly easy to achive.

The illustations are beautiful and the explanatory text is clear, to the point, and easy to follow. The book is well organized; starting with the various pen and ink methods and how they can be combined with watercolor techniques. This is followed by the demonstration of how these techniques can be applied to achive realistic rendering of multitudes of surface textures from apples to zebras and almost everything in between.. ... Read more

Book Description

Artists can sometimes feel as though they're in a creative rut.With Painting From the Inside Out, readers will use fun and inspiring exercises to break out of that rut and create exciting, innovative new paintings every time they pick up a brush!

Each chapter highlights demonstrations and inspirations that will enable readers to push past boundaries and explore new ideas, including exercises for loosening up, improvisational painting, combining mediums and more. These lessons will help readers think about art in new and imaginative ways, then render such imaginings with a variety of useful techniques. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Best Art Book I've Ever Read and Really Used
If you want an exciting and adventurous read, get this book. It turns you on aesthetically as well as giving you a strong dose of artistic guidance, incorporating wisdom in a special spiritual way.
It has tremendous humor with well written and direct instructions in the "how-tos," and yet, at the same time, it encourages you to be an adventurer and to create your own way of expressing yourself in paint. Although there are basic rules, it transcends mere technique and allows you the freedom to follow your own path. I love this book!

Free your creative spirit to fly
While this book is an excellent manual on fresh ideas, innovative techniques, and unusual and creative uses for painting materials, it is much more. With each turn of the page, Stroud beckens your artistic spirit to soar with the possibilities that lay before all of us who crave to create with freshness and vitality. The art is a visual feast and the text is evidence that the author is both an accomplished painter as well as a an author with wit, clarity and something worth saying. This is a must for everyone who is serious about their journey as an artist.

Engagingly personal
A wonderful book, written with the freshness and exuberance that characterize the author's paintings, many of which appear here in all their splendor. The illustrations are themselves worth the price of the book, but they are perfectly complemented by an eminently readable text that is concise and to the point, yet engagingly personal in tone. The author's remarks are keyed to the paintings and provide practical directions and inspiring observations on everything from materials to techniques to subtleties of composition, form and color. Very highly recommended.

Grab Your Brushes!
Painting From The Inside Out: 19 Projects and Exercises to Free Your Creative Spirit. by Betsy Dillard Stroud.

Run! Grab your paint brushes and get ready for an adventure in creating. Stroud takes you up and down, in and out on an eye-boggling excursion into a realm of discovery. From zen and ignota to swashbuckling freestyle with Picasso she guides the willing participant through various channels to your inner being. While there she nutures and instructs you through her knowledge of art history and years of practice in art to find a painterly mode of expression for your thoughts and feelings. This book teaches, illustrates and inspires you to let go and enjoy the wonder and esthetics of the painting experience. It employs techniques in layering, stamping, pouring, resists, lifting etc. to free you for your creative endeavors. Stroud has found herself in her love of dramatic color, energetic design and daring freedom of imagination.
: Mary Todd Beam AWS. DF.

Looking From the Outside Into Painting From the Inside Out
You don't have to be an artist to enjoy this book on painting. Betsy Dillard Stroud's writing is as colorful as her painting. Her book is full of beautiful paintings, elegant prose, and creative ideas. Through her skill as a writer, she takes the reader on a humorous and interesting journey that combines technical skill with a masterful use of color. Even for those of use who are not artists, Painting From the Inside Out is entertaining and deserves a place on the coffee table. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great Book for Beginners- Great Reference for Experienced
Very good reference book for brush strokes and techniques. The directions are very detailed and include full color examples. Great section on brushes, paints, and tools so you will know what you need to get started.

What I enjoyed most is that she not only showed you the strokes but also variations and ideas for how to use them in your painting. Also, the elements all build on each other as you go through the book so you are building your techniques step by step. Finally, this book does contain a pattern section along with example patterns throughout the entire book.

Easy to follow with many illustrations. GOOD BOOK
This book allows anyone who is into any art recognize the spectacular use of the acrylic paint with its many illustrations. This book is good to read and to just browse through and look at its illustrations.

Sybil Edwards' book was easy to follow and understand.
The author did an excellent job at breaking down a somewhat intimidating craft medium (decorative painting) into simple steps & brush strokes. The reader gains a better understanding of the techniques and more confidence in applying them. (Hint: practice does indeed make perfect!) This book is the perfect starting point for beginning as well as experienced decorative painters. Don't let the title ("Acrylic Decorative Painting...) fool you, the techniques shown in this book would apply to oil painting as well. Sybil Edwards' book shows how to paint decorative backgrounds, floral motifs and other characters or "bold" painting. The decorative painting book by Priscilla Hauser focuses solely on floral techniques (which she does very well). "Acrylic Decorative Painting Techniques" is a must-have book for any crafter's home library! ... Read more

Amazon.com

With its wealth of charming watercolors, poems, and notes on the language of flowers, The Country Flowers of a Victorian Lady is destined to be a coffee-table fixture in the home of any lover of old-fashioned flowers. Kept as a private family keepsake for several generations, this gorgeous book was originally created by Fanny Robinson, who lived a quiet English country life in the last half of the 19th century. The rich, creamy paper provides a perfect backdrop for Robinson's drawings, and for those who have difficulty reading ornate penmanship, her fanciful poetry is copied onto each painting's facing page in an easily readable typeface. Most flowers tend toward the fragrantly romantic--scented geraniums, violets, pansies, and rosebuds of all types appear frequently--and researcher Gill Saunders provides fascinating comments on the historical language of flowers, providing a contextual framework to Robinson's poetry and pictures. One print shows a flowing nosegay of pansies, fuchsia, yew, and Canterbury bells, with this accompanying poem: "I have here only a nosegay of culled / flowers and have brought nothing / of my own, but the string that ties them." When we learn that pansies were sent to loved ones as a token of remembrance, and that yew was "an emblem of sadness and sorrow," readers are given a clear view not just of exquisite art but of the emotions that gave rise to that particular painting. There are plenty of happier pages as well--seasonal celebrations, love poems, memories of childhood--that gardeners, historians, poets, and artists will love. You'll want to send a thank-you bouquet to this talented woman for the generous gift of her closing poem: "The fruits I have gathered of memory / the ripened harvest of my musings / these I give unto thee." --Jill Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A nice look at the Victorian lady and her watercolors
I love flowers and keep a journal myself, so it was a nice treat to find this book. The artist and domestic poet was Fanny Robinson, and her book reminds us all of how shallow modern life can be. Oh, we can make fun of these Victorian domestic ladies, sitting alone, doing their watercolors and romantic verse, but when you think about it seriously, it was active and not passive as many of our feminist lives are now. We work and struggle for power, recognition, and money. But we never slow down to take in life's simple pleasures, to stop and just be.

This book is an inspiration to me in many ways. It has taught me to sit alone again, to write real letters, and to paint the flowers that I grow in my garden. It has inspired me to slow down, to not analyze everything, to turn off the TV, and be more at one with my community, my own neighbors, and yes, my garden.
My world has become small in its largeness.

Fanny Robinson's paintings are beautiful. Her scroll work a delight, and her poems heartfelt. If you think her trite, then try to do the work she did yourself. You will find it a difficult task for our modern hands.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. A lovely book for all fans of flowers and Victoriana.

Excellent in Beauty and Historical Value
"Country Flowers of a Victorian Lady" is a wonderful book of botanical watercolors made as a personal album by Fanny Robinson in the latter half of the 1800's. Watercolor painting at that time was considered an acceptable and edifying pastime for women both young and old, and this grouping of flower portraits is superb. The comentaries on the facing pages offer quality insight into the hidden meanings of the flower groupings and educated speculation on the unknown aspects surrounding each picture.
I highly recommend this book for flower lovers, watercolor painting enthusiasts, and students of victorian culture. I participate in historic role acting, and this is one book I will request be added to the library of training materials for the program.

Mixed Emotions~
"Exqusite" is one of the many words I could use to describe this book. The most beautiful collection of Victorian watercolors one will ever see. The images were taken directly from an album that was created by Fanny Robinson (1802-1872) entitled "The Book of Memory". The author wove a mystery throughout her album. Each gorgeous watercolor is accompanied by a handwritten poem, which leaves the reader musing as to whom, or what, the verses were written. Was it a lost love...? a faded youth....?

She added a phrase on the front of her "Book of Memory" that is so very true "O, like a book of sport thou'lt read me o're ! but theres more in me than thou'lt understand". The Language of Flowers has never been more beautifully...or dramatically, illustrated. I will treasure this book, and a copy for my daughter is inevitible. I wish I could rate it more than five stars... ... Read more

Book Description

Combining the most popular medium--watercolor--with the most significant element of the landscape--the sky--this spectacular gallery of paintings will appeal to a variety of readers. It includes:

* 23 start-to-finish, step-by-step demonstrations showcasing a spectrum of methods for painting emotive and moody skies

* An eclectic mix of styles from household name artists

* Insight into the way each artist's vision is translated onto the paper, for readers seeking to bring their own vision to light

With chapters from artists in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada, this book provides the credibility and scope every painter seeks in a painting guide. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A "Must-Have"
If you can only purchase one book on acrylic painting, this is the one to have. The author covers every aspect of painting from landscape (trees, leaves, bushes, rocks, etc.) to portrait painting. She covers the types of brushes and how they are used. This book has everything I was looking for and more. There are some nice illustrations to follow. I'm so glad I purchased it! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Painting Houses, Cottages and Towns on Rocks
I found this book very inspiring. The instructions are clear and easy to follow. Very detailed and informative. Leaves lots of room for growth of your own ideas. I would recommend this book to any level of artist from beginner to advanced. Just let your imagination take over.

Fun with "rocky" real estate.
I have never had so much fun with a book before! Being anewcomer to painting I thought I would try my hand at"rocks"--why not? The author, Lin Wellford, has made her instructions to simple to understand. She goes step, by step taking you through the whole process of painting a house or cottage on an ordinary rock. You begin following her instructions, but you suddenly find yourself using your own imagination and making your own little piece of real estate "just a little different" and totally unique! I find this painting on rocks to be a totally relaxing and enjoyable pasttime. I am absolutely amazed at what I have accomplished! So much so, that people I have shown my "rocky real estate" to have asked if I'm willing to sell them! I absolutely recommend this book for many hours of fun and creativity. ... Read more

Book Description

Sumi-e is the classic painting style of Japan, and its gracefulsimplicity is admired around the world. A natural follow-up to the best-sellingThe Sumi-e Book, The Sumi-e Dream Book demonstrates how to take the classicbrushstrokes of sumi-e to a new level of painting, where creativity is inspiredby deeply felt memories and spiritual expression.First, sumi-e artist Yolanda Mayhall provides a brief history and explains thephilosophy behind this classic Japanese painting style. She highlights its manymasters, one of them her ancient mentor the master brush painter, woodblock, anddream journey artist Hokosai. Next, she reviews the classic materials and thebasic brushstrokes of sumi-e known as the Four Gentlemen: Bamboo, Wild Orchid,Chrysanthemum, and Plum Branch, along with their variations.Finally, Mayhall puts it all together to demonstrate the sumi-e art of dreamjourney painting. Readers will learn a variety of creative and excitingtechniques for using color to add a delightful dimension to the sumi-e image aswell as discover exciting techniques for visually capturing important lifememories and spiritual reflections in a painting. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A real "dream" for those interested in Sumi-e Painting

Being an afficionado of Chinese Brush painting, I was intrigued when I first saw this book. I'm not easily impressed by art books, and I've reviewed hundreds over the years, but this is one of those books that actually surprised me. It really is a dream for artists intersted in the brush painting of China and Japan. Here's why...

Mayhall's style is both beautiful and spontaneous, and the imagery in this book is breathtaking. What is really refreshing about this book, however, is that it isn't just another *how to* brush technique book. While she does go into great detail on history, materials, technique, and subject matter, the artist puts you into the mindset of a Sumi-e artist. Rather than simply show her readers "how" to paint, Mayhall encourages them to begin their own journey into Sumi-e "dream" painting, and equips them with the knowledge necessary to find their own artistic voice. She states, "it is not only the subject that gives life to art, it is the spirit that is within the artist's genius." Well said!

Material covered in this text includes:
* Chapter 1 - A Brief History of Sumi-e
* Chapter 2 - Studying the Dream Journey Painters of China and Japan
* Chapter 3 - Starting on Your Own Dream Journey (tools, brush strokes)
* Chapter 4 - Practicing the Four Gentlemen (bamboo, wild orchid, chrysanthemum, plum branch)
* Chapter 5 - Beginning the Creative Process (incorporating the four gentlemen)
* Chapter 6 - Learning Advanced Brush Strokes for Birds & Flowers (Yo birds, iris, hummingbirds & its flowers)
* Chapter 7 - Internalizing the Three Essential Elements of Sumi-e (creativity, composition, color)
* Chapter 8 - Planning the Journey (sketching, structure, Exploring new techniques, beginning your dream journey)
* Chapter 9 - Dreaming (more ideas & demonstrations)
* Chapter 10 - Enhancing Your Dream Paintings (calligraphy)

If you're interested in the brush painting style of China and Japan, or would like to incorporate these techniques into your watercolor and/or ink painting, I recommend this book along with "Chinese Painting Techniques for Exquisite Watercolors" by Lian Quan Zhen... two excellent books to inspire you and bring your own artistic dreams to life.

Friend and admirer
As a long time friend and collector of Yolanda's beautiful paintings, I was overjoyed to see her latest book. I have found it to be not only well organized and illustrated but written in a style that is easily understood and followed. The inclusion of historical and contemporary works accompanied by poetic translations elevates the instructional format to a book to be cherished for its contribution to understanding the mysterious and ancient culture of Japan.

"Bravo" What an "ENCORE"
Being an avid admirer of Yolanda's 1st Best Seller-"The Sumi-E Book" and having used it to teach many student's this wonderful technique of brush painting I would have been the first one to say "No one could author a better one" but obviously I did not realize that she would out-do herself.

The "Dream Book" is outstanding in every aspect. It has many beautiful color scenes that draw you right into them and truly take you on a "Dream Journey". The wonderful illustrations and instructions make it possible for student or teacher alike to practice and apply the technique to their own unique style of painting with ease and enjoyment.

For anyone who is interested in helpful and instructional books that truly "TEACH" you how to do "Sumi-E" both of Yolanda's wonderful books should be in their library--and by the way she also has a fantastic video-"A Sumi-E Dream Journey" that allows you to see the "Master" at work.

A fan of painting wisdom, inspiration, and joy.
The Art of Traditional Japanese Painting is a complex and exquisite ancestral Art form, which the Artist- Author Yolanda Mayhall has been able to synthesize, so that any beginner might have full access to one of the most beautiful ways of painting.

The Artist's first book initiates us into the basics, and this new one gives us the philosophical background needed to learn and understand it fully. It is a very beautiful book, full of colour and wonderful stories. An excellent company to her recent video, and a wonderful guide to this fascinating Art.
The book is enchanting and a must for any Art lover's library, and the wealth of information is so easily understood, that it is a delight for anyone to read. Because we are speaking of one of the most outstanding Western Artist specialised in Sumi-e painting, only she, true to her desire to pass on to others her painting skills, has once again spread out to us her fan of painting wisdom.

As a self-taught, and an exhibiting Artist now, I can only say that Yolanda's books have been all along a permanent source of inspiration and joy.

Truly a Dream Book
Having lived for years in the Far East I must say that this is the best Sumi-e book I have seen. Very readable with gorgeous art work ! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great reference
The illustrations are a wonderful source of reference and inspiration for the beginning and intermediate painter. There are plenty of examples to get you started if you're thinking of trying something new and aren't quite sure how to approach it. The sections I find myself using all the time are trees and human elements.

I learned from a teacher when I was living in Japan, so the bad translation doesn't bother me. I use this book for the images, which is what you really should buy it for. If you want something more of step-by-step instruction for the very beginner, this book isn't it.

A Classic of Chinese Painting
While the English translation leaves much to be desired, this book is THE classic manual of traditional Chinese painting. It is a must for the library of any fan of Chinese brush painting, but it should not be the only book used for instruction, especially if you don't have a teacher. Since the true original book was written in the 17th century, it was printed with woodblocks, so the subtleties of ink shading are not very well illustrated.

However, it is an excellent summary of the myriad of brush techniques, especially for rocks and trees. I highly recommend it as a reference book for anyone serious about Chinese brush painting.

If the translation were better, I would give it 5 stars. Unfortunately, this is the only English version in print, as far as I know. But once you know how to paint, most of the words are not important anyway.

A good book, a bad translation
The Mustard Seed Garden Manuel of Painting had been a standard reference book for Chinese beginners of painting for a long time (though it ceased to be so quite a while ago). It remains a valuable summary of styles and methods in traditional Chinese paintings, and is of a lot of historical interests because it represents the scope and perspective of the authors some 300 years ago. It is really a fun book to read, but it would be dangerous to use the book as a guideline for appreciating traditional Chinese paintings cause this book was, after all, compiled with a very strict ideology of paintings, even ignoring and misinterpreting many art-historical facts. I would have given the book a 10 if this was not a bad translation. First, we have to admit, it is an old translation. For whatever reasons which I suspect are related to the fact that the book was first published at 1956, there are simply many wrong translations in the English text. If you can read Chinese, I bet you would hardly resist the temptation of giving the book a thorough revision. I often laughed hurting my stomach when I read it. I will leave you to judge whether it's a good aspect or a bad one of this book.

Lots and Lots of lllustrations
Wonderful book. A great book for any painter or artist with a fascination or desire to understand chinese paintings. This book would have been a ten if it was in color but despite that it's many (many!) illustrations and the translation make this book a genuine treasure. It encompassed several volumes from books over 200 years old - but the wisdom and teachings shared are invaluable and timeless ... Read more

Book Description

Since its creation in the early years of the twentieth century, Sir Hickman Bacon's collection of British landscape drawings and watercolors has been recognized as the best private holding of such works anywhere in the world. Sir Hickman Bacon had advanced tastes for his time, favoring the late, ethereal Turner watercolors that became widely popular only with the advent of abstract painting in the 1940s and 1950s. Turner's friend Thomas Girton, one of the first artists to exploit watercolor as a medium in its own right, is also prominently represented, demonstrating the visual, spatial, emotional, and technical breadth of his landscape art. One of the glories of the collection is its group of watercolors by another of Turner's contemporaries, John Sell Cotman. Sir Hickman Bacon began collecting these works, astonishing in their apparent modernity, long before the First World War, when the artist's reputation was only just beginning to emerge from total obscurity; his work really began to become popular only in the 1920s. Other nineteenth-century watercolors, by both English and French artists, anticipate Impressionism in their growing freedom of expression. This, the first English-language publication on the collection, offers a critical text and full-color reproductions of these important and little-known works. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A GLORIOUS COLLECTION
Sir Hickman Bacon was a man ahead of his time as is reflected in his magnificent collection of British landscape drawings and watercolors. It is now the largest collection of English watercolors still in private ownership.

As an accompaniment to a London exhibit The Golden Age Of Watercolours presents the best of this collection - works by artists who painted during the mid nineteenth century and the early part of the twentieth century.

We find J. M. W. Turner, premier watercolorist, who, it is said, painted with his doors locked so as not to risk anyone discovering the secrets of how he obtained the effects of depth and breadth in his paintings.

Thomas Girtin, a rambunctious artist who was imprisoned for defaulting on his apprenticeship, was also favored by Bacon. While incarcerated Girtin amused himself by covering the walls of his cell with landscapes. A guard was astonished to see this artwork, and played a part in Girtin's eventual release.

The inventiveness of John Sell Cotman was recognized by Bacon long before Cotman won popular approval, as was the work of Richard Parks Bonington.

Art historian Eric Shanes has penned an essay recounting the making of this collection which accompanies the glorious illustrations.

- Gail Cooke

AN AMAZING COLLECTION
Sir Hickman Bacon was a man ahead of his time as is reflected in his magnificent collection of British landscape drawings and watercolors. It is now the largest collection of English watercolors still in private ownership.

As an accompaniment to a London exhibit The Golden Age Of Watercolours presents the best of this collection - works by artists who painted during the mid nineteenth century and the early part of the twentieth century.

We find J. M. W. Turner, premier watercolorist, who, it is said, painted with his doors locked so as not to risk anyone discovering the secrets of how he obtained the effects of depth and breadth in his paintings.

Thomas Girtin, a rambunctious artist who was imprisoned for defaulting on his apprenticeship, was also favored by Bacon. While incarcerated Girtin amused himself by covering the walls of his cell with landscapes. A guard was astonished to see this artwork, and played a part in Girtin's eventual release.

The inventiveness of John Sell Cotman was recognized by Bacon long before Cotman won popular approval, as was the work of Richard Parks Bonington.

Art historian Eric Shanes has penned an essay recounting the making of this collection which accompanies the glorious illustrations.

- Gail Cooke ... Read more

Book Description

Using inks and liquid watercolor paints specially made for pens,Claudia Nice shows artists of all skill levels how to achieve the warm moods, roughtextures and mellow hues of aging barns, farmhouses, mansions and more.Featuringdozens of step-by-step demonstrations along with her written instruction, Nice revealssimple methods for rendering a range of charming subjects.

Claudia is a multi-media artist, but prefers pen, ink and watercolor when working in thefield.She has been an art consultant and instructor, has authored 15 art instruction booksand travels across North America conducting workshops, seminars and demonstrations atschools, clubs, shops and trade shows.She has recently opened her own teaching studionear Mt. Hook, Oregon. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Absolutely great !!!!
I'm always impressed by Claudia Nice's books and this one it is a confirm that she an absolutely brilliant artist and moreover a great writer. Suggestions and tips are rich and clear. Pictures are very nice. A great book to buy.

The answer to my prayers!!
As an artist who paints buildings and landmarks, this book has been the answer to my prayers. In the past, it has been a trial and error effort to create realistic looking bricks, stones and other building parts without any real quide to teach me. This book included solutions for every texture I've tried to create and saved me valuble time with step by step instructions and examples. I recommend this as a guide for every artist whether beginning or advanced that wants to paint buildings. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Bravo Jacqueline Penney!
Thank you Jacqueline Penney for making my introduction to watercolor painting fun, informative and very helpful.
The book, Painting Greeting Cards in Watercolor, was a step by step introduction to watercolor painting through the practice of greeting card design. The lessons were fun, quick and very easy to follow, making the student beg to beging the next lesson. After every lesson I felt like I really learned something and was proud of my accomplishment. I'll be honest, as a first time watercolorist I would have given up if this book wasn't easy, fun and easy to understand. Luckily it was a superb introduction and I am very happy.
Thank you again.

Perfect for little ditties
I really enjoy using this book for inspiration and practice. I don't use her ideas for greeting cards, but for small paintings. Most of the paintings can be finished rather quickly. The topics are appealing and I have sold a number of them. I like her 3-in-1 compositions, dividing the paper with masking tape and having related subjects treated differently within each block. It is a practical and user-friendly book, well worth the purchase.

Excellent step-by-step instruction
I have painted all the pictures in Jacqueline's book. Her detailed instructions make copying her art miniatures easy. Her instructions apply not only to miniatures but also larger sized pictures. I have used several of her designs for greeting cards. ... Read more