This versatile and fluid medium has an unpredictable nature that can make it appear intimidating to the novice, making Watercolor: Basics the perfect introduction to a breathtaking and lively medium. With a comprehensive introduction to tools and materials, Watercolour: Basics guides the artist in selecting the appropriate paints, surfaces, brushes, and additional materials needed to become a master in watercolour. Additionally, the book covers basic colour theory and watercolour painting techniques, including how to create washes, work with masking fluid, mix colours, and render textures. Artists will learn to master the art of watercolour through a series of easy-to-follow step-by-step projects covering a variety of subjects, including landscape, still life, portrait, and more. Along the way, artists will discover tips and suggestions from a professional artist as they learn how to render light and shadow, achieve a range of textures, suggest mood or time of day, and bring dimension and depth to their art. With expert instruction, a breadth of coverage, helpful tips, and colourful art, Watercolor: Basics is the perfect resource for artists wanting to get started in this luminous and expressive medium.
Painting: Watercolor Basics is a tutorial technique guide to watercolor. Due out 7th May 2019 from Quarto on their Walter Foster imprint, it's 40 pages and available in paperback format. This is one of a series of technique guides being released this spring by Foster.
The formatting of the booklets is similar, with an introduction to tools and materials (circa 5% of the content) leading directly into the tutorials. The tutorial subjects are formed around specific painting projects which each illustrate a different technique such as creating the illusion of depth, creating mood, creating texture, etc. Note: this is not a how-to introduction for absolute beginners; it presupposes some level of familiarity with papers, watercolors, blending, surfaces etc.
The project paintings themselves are all very appealing. Several of them had my fingers itching to get painting right away.
Four stars. Attractive and worthwhile technique book.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes
