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Reviews (38)
Nov 06, 2007
Disappointed
2 of 2 found this helpful I have many watercolor teaching books. I was disappointed in this one, as although it covers a wide range of approaches to painting flowers in watercolors and illustrates some basic techniques such a painting a wet-in-wet wash, brush strokes, I found much of the teaching information to be very vaguely written with few helpful instructional visuals. Example: On "Painting with a Palette Knife" about 3 photos are shown of a flower done by a highly skilled artist. The painting is mostly finished. There is no photo in this lesson that includes a pallete knife. It explains how to do it in such a vague way, that I feel lost and am ready to look for a better book--Example: "Plan a subject first and very looseley sketch it on your paper. Next, use a knife to pick up two, three, or more colors on(e) at a time, using primarily dark colors. The tip as well as the sharp edge of the knife can be used to apply paint to the paper. When your finished applying dark colors...pick up some lighter colors (for the background, perhaps)." With this, there are no demonstrations of what it's talking about. There are no clear instructions with diagrams/photos of what the author means.
I would not recommend this book highly, as I have a lot of much better watercolor books and this is one I was disappointed in. As with most instructional books, there is still something to be gained from it, but it's not near the top of my recommmendation list. I would recommend Susan Harrison-Tustain's Glorious Garden Flowers, and also Fletcher's Watercolor Flowers A to Z.
Oct 24, 2007
OUTSTANDING Watercolor Book!
1 of 1 found this helpful This book is mainly to do watercolor painting and understanding values. Every page is absolutely packed with valuable information and beautiful paintings and demonstration exercises.
This book is less a book on how exactly to draw a human figure correctly, and is more to do with learning to SEE the different values of light, learning to do value sketches correctly, how values are used to paint people, and how to simplify the complex. Hart explains that "figures are patterns of light and shadow." The author has a talent for simplifying complex information, and her style of teaching is easy to follow. This book is unique to most of my other watercolor books, and contains information that I have not had presented in the interesting way that Laurel Hart does. Her paintings throughout the book are inspiring. She demonstrates how light and shadow is used to put people in paintings, find a center of focus, set mood with color schemes, triads for fleshtones, etc.. Demonstrations cover a wide range of situations with people including portraits and getting the light and shadow right to draw attention to certain aspects of your painting.
This is not a basic beginner's watercolor book, but the information and demonstrations and exercises can be useful for watercolorists at all stages. It is a beautiful book with a unique approach to teaching watercolor painting--especially valuable for learning to do value sketching and then transfer that knowledge to painting people.
I love the author's methods of explaining the painting process: An example is:
A demonstration on watercolor washes are taught in a simplified way called "watercolor laundry method"--basically, as in household laundry, learning to separate lights and darks, (i.e. painting lights first, letting it dry (hairdryer), then doing the darks. She then demonstrates how a series of washes over each other builds up the shadows and creates light.
This is a fantastic and unique and beautiful book that is packed with information.
Oct 15, 2007
Outstanding Step-by-Step Watercolor Book
1 of 1 found this helpful This book is very easy to follow, and the paintings that are given in the stepped exercises are beautiful. It can be a a great learning experience for a person with knowledge of the basic watercolor techniques and brushwork. The paintings shown on the front cover are some of the stepped exercises that you will do in the book.
Each exercise gives explicit directions on each step, including what colors you will use on your palette, brushes used, paper used. An outlined drawing is given at the beginning of the exercise that you can transfer to your paper. Then, the stepped instructions begin. Each step is explained in full detail. Example: In the berry-painting exercise (see cover photo), the author shows in a 4-stage, 4-illustration method how to paint one segment on the berry by 1: applying color 2: softening the edge with water and keep new edge moist, 3: rinse out your brush and blot well. Finish softening the edge. Let dry. She also points out the importance of allowing some berry segments to have a white hightlight. An illustration of what your painting should look like after completing step 1 is shown. The next step is about "Painting the background and the shadows in the berries and leaves". The instructions are very detailed and very easy to understand and follow. Next, the "Finishing touches" and "critiquing your work".
I love this book because it takes almost all of the guesswork out of painting in watercolor and allows the student to learn how to achieve realistic effects when painting the variety of subjects given in the book. It is a great teaching book and allows the student to make fast progress. The paintings are beautiful and lively and fun.
This is a beautiful watercolor book to learn from, and I highly recommend it.