Watercolor Techniques for Artists and Illustrators

[annieb123]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Watercolor Techniques for Artists and Illustrators is a tutorial and style guide for watercolor. Due out 1st Sep 2020 from Penguin Random House on their DK imprint, it's 256 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

The format is easy to follow and the tutorial projects are very attractive and useful. The introduction and technique tutorials (~20% of the content) cover tools, materials, and techniques such as wet on wet and wet on dry painting. The intro chapters are followed by step by step tutorial studies for various motifs arranged in beginner, intermediate, and advanced techniques, and specific subjects: landscapes & townscapes, patterns still lifes & flowers, and finally portraits figures & animals.

All of the tutorials contain a full color finished photo, tools and supplies and process photos. Step by step tutorial instructions are provided in color as well as written instructions. Special tips, alternative methods, and other info is provided in sidebars throughout the book. The tutorials are written by a number of different artists, which provides a nice overview of widely varying styles and working methods. This was one of the most valuable aspects of the book for me personally.

There is an index, an abbreviated glossary, som resource links and short capsule biographies for the contributing artists.

Well made, very high quality, this book got my fingers itching to get my supplies out and have a go. This would make a superlative gift for anyone who wants to do watercolor; many (most) of the study projects are accessible for anyone, but will provide instruction and good learning opportunities for more advanced artists as well. These would make lovely cards, placecards, framed pieces, etc. Lovely. Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.