Book Description
Clear Instruction from an Award-Winning Artist
*No other book provides such clear instruction for putting people into paintings *Watercolor and people is a can't-miss combo--the most popular medium with the most popular subject matter!
A lot of books teach artists how to draw portraits or figures, but this book takes that concept one step further, showing readers how to put those people into realistic scenes. It's never been easier to capture the essence of people, with:
*11 step-by-step watercolor demonstrations, featuring interiors, landscapes, cityscapes and more *Inspirational quotes to keep artists motivated and encourage them to put people they care about into their paintings *A look at all the basics: shapes, values, composition, color and watercolor techniques
Customer Reviews:
Help for the beginner to add figures to their paintings.......2007-09-26
The author gives good instruction on how to add figures to watercolor, using her own work as examples. The instructions go from basic palettes to value sketches and show demonstrations.
The author's style is quick and loose. This will seem less intimidating to beginners, who could be easily frustrated when they can't achieve some of the luminous and detailed results of a master.
The author's palette has great suggestions, such as transparent red oxide and yellow oxide, which are transparent versions of palette standards like Venetian Red and Yellow Ochre. But she does recommend alizarin crimson, which today is easily replaced by quinacridone rose or violet and which is less likely to fade. A quibble, but I feel alizarin crimson is better replaced by the quinacridone pigments these days. She shows mixing variation with red-yellow-blue, using manganese blue, but you should be aware this will be manganese hue.
The most valuable part of the book for beginners might be how to do value sketches, using black and white photos or rendering in digital software to see the darks and lights. She shows how dark shadows behind figures can be manipulated to add life and light to the painting--washing in a mix of brighter colors that still have the same value as the deep shadow, but are livelier and more pleasing to the eye.
The best paintings are the ones of Hart's father and his peach orchard. The peaches glow and the shadows on the face and under boxes and barrows are interesting. Her style is not tight and photographic, but it gets the message across beautifully. Any beginner who wants to try portraits and figures can benefit from this book.
amateur.......2007-04-12
The paintings in this book are amateur and uninspiring. It is a good book for a beginning watercolorist, as it offers a lot of the usual paint, paper, brushes advice, but the paintings themselves are less than exciting.
Awesome!.......2007-03-16
This book was amazing. I loved the pictures and it had very helpful information. I would definately recommend this book to anyone intersted in painting. The paintings were beautiful, this lady knows what she's doing!
Book Description
This new title in the Watercolor Basics series provides artists with all the step-by-step guidance they need to bring people and portraits to life through the beauty of watercolor. From achieving proper proportion to rendering skin tones, author Butch Krieger makes mastering the basics--value, shape, line and color--a snap. Seventeen complete demonstrations and thirteen mini demos take readers through every step, everything from selecting materials and mixing colors to creating effects. Whether the reader is an absolute beginner striving to paint people realistically, or a more advanced artist looking to improve a specific technique, Watercolor Basics: People will make a noticeable difference in the quality of their work.
Customer Reviews:
Great Book.......2002-06-10
This book is a great step-by-step guide for portrait painting in watercolor. The importance of value is well illustrated. A wonderful book for the beginner and experienced watercolor painter.
Customer Reviews:
Wow! Get this Book!.......2007-08-25
I did watercolor portraits for a Level I college class. Samples of Powers works were in the book recommended for the course, of which I did not get until the course was over. After getting the book, "Everything you ever wanted to know about Watercolor," I was so intrigued with Powers work that I had to get this book.
"Painting People in Watercolor" is a very thorough book. Powers covers all the design elements and principles of painting and gives examples of each. His style of combining realism with abstraction and the way that he works his portraits in with the backgrounds makes his work both interesting and powerful. My original style was totally representational and I never new what to do with the background. Thanks to Alex Powers I have found a new way to paint that I am very excited about.
If you have any interest in painting watercolor portraits with power, movement and emotion, do miss out on getting this book. I read it twice before I painted another portrait and my work has much more vigor. I'll read this book over and over as I continue to paint.
My all-time favorite art book.......2007-03-10
I happen to like paintings that are not completely realistic and that take advantage of techniques such as using unpainted white paper as highlights. I also like artwork that has lots of lost edges, for example a leg blending into the background and your mind has to fill in the line of the leg. I don't care for 100% realism (take a photo), but I am not a fan of completely abstract paintings either. The point is that I already know what I like and don't like, and you too probably have some idea as to what you like and don't like.
Alex Powers breaks down the different design components of art and shows how he emphasizes the components of value and line to create his art work. However, he encourages you not to just copy his style but to find those components of art (line, color, value, edges, shape, etc.) that appeal to you and make your own artwork by emphasizing them. It is his discussion of the these different components and their relationship to one another that makes this book invaluable. For example, if you want to emphasize the use of value then you should deemphasize color. In this book Alex Powers explains why and covers many other similar design considerations.
The text of this book is fabulous and should appeal to any artist. However, I found the text to be a bonus, as the truth is that I bought the book because I liked the pictures (lost edges, etc.). Although, like a previous reviewer, I don't believe the cover is represtative of the work found inside.
Can be used for all media.......2006-11-22
Well rounded approach that can be used in painting in all media. Although his approach is primarily realistic, the principals work well with abstract and non-objective subjects also.
Painting People in Watercolor: A Design Approach.......2006-07-29
The book is well presented in an easily readable format. The
subject matter is informative with beautiful illustrations and it would appeal to both the beginner and the more experienced artist.
A Must-Have Book for Watercolor Portrait Artists.......2006-07-16
No well stocked watercolor library should be without this important book by Alex Powers. From understanding the human form to a thorough knowledge of design, Powers impacts an artist's skill. The work in this book guides in how to take your portraits from sterile mug shots to emotional works of art, full of drama and motion.
Book Description
Over half a million Lee Hammond books sold!
*Over 20 step-by-step projects walk readers step-by-step through painting realistic and detailed life-like people *Specific demonstrations simplify difficult features such as eyes, noses, hair, and mouths *Includes everything a beginner needs from a quick reference materials list to a glossary of terms Bestselling author Lee Hammond is known for providing artists with friendly and easy-to-follow instruction. Perfect for beginners, this guide shows how to get started with comprehensive lessons on basic techniques using photos as a reference. Focusing mostly on painting portraits from the neck up, each project builds on the previous so readers progressively develop their skills. Ultimately, they will master the art of painting a wide assortment of people--of all ages and ethnicities--from a variety of angles.
Customer Reviews:
Paint People in Acrylic with Lee Hammond.......2007-07-16
I love Lee's instructional art books...she is so down to earth and her easy to follow suggestions make learning fun. I have been drawing portraits for a few years and people can't believe that I never went to art school, this new book has helped me go on to painting portraits in acrylics. I did a baby's portrait in acrylic for the first time and when I presented it to my client she cried. She said it was so beautiful and lifelike. This was due to Lee Hammond's wonderful insight into the world of acyrlic.
Excellent!.......2007-01-10
Having learned to draw from Lee Hammond's books and enjoying her first acrylic book I was on tenterhooks waiting for the publication of this one! I wasn't disappointed. Ms.Hammond's style is straightforward and enables you to tackle the exercises with confidence in order to build skills. This is an important part of Ms. Hammond's technique - the progression and she makes the process enjoyable. I truly believe anyone can learn to draw and paint via Ms. Hammond's techniques and be encouraged by their steady progress. Buy this book you won't be disappointed!
Book Description
Watercolor for the Fun of It: Painting People presents simple, beginning instruction in an uncluttered form, using a concrete, realistic style that beginners like to emulate. Readers will find:
* Step-by-step instruction that covers drawing, composition, lighting and techniques to produce reliable results
* 12 step-by-step demonstrations showing various poses, like head and shoulders, seated, standing and profile
* A Quick-Start Guide provides an essential overview of the best materials to use, basic tips and a glossary of terms
Painters can't help but have fun when they follow the reassuring instruction and inspiring artwork.
Book Description
Virtuoso watercolorist Rick Brosen has been wandering the streets of New York City for most of his life. His paintings capture a city void of urban bustle and noise, a "still" New York in every sense of the word.
Brosen knows the city's hidden jewels-the elegant statues in vest-pocket West Side parks, the terra-cotta ornamentation on Harlem bow-front row houses, and the haunting emptiness of the surviving cast-iron market buildings along the Hudson. He also knows its major landmarks-the Statue of Liberty, Grand Central Station, and Ellis Island, to name but a few. Alongside Brosen's luminous paintings, best-selling author and award-winning documentary filmmaker Ric Burns and New York Times journalist Alan Feuer retrace the origins and growth of this ever-changing city from Tribeca and SoHo through Midtown and on to Central Park and up to the Cloisters, revealing-with Brosen's watercolors-its favorite places and hidden treasures.
Customer Reviews:
Sort of a Chris Van Allsburg feel .......2006-12-28
It's extremely well-executed photo realism with pencil + watercolor, and
the artist has chosen buildings/scenes which are architecturally strong
and visually rich so as to let his technique really shine. However, the
real strength, I think, is actually the artist's ability to impart a
dreamlike quality (reminiscent of children's book illustrator Chris Van
Allsburg). This elevates the book to a whole different, more evocative
level, so that you stop marveling at the technique and start thinking of
the subject matter itself. Anyone who loves New York should love this
book.
Customer Reviews:
Basic People Painting: A Brief Overview.......2007-02-23
The cover of this book caught my eye as an artist just mustering the bravery to paint people. The suggestions of human movement, without minute, photo-like details, suggested the book was a super way to start incorporating people into one's paintings. Simple strokes suggest people and their activities.
However, the book does even more than that. It discusses and illustrates how bodily proportions vary at different ages, provides samples of people in various cultural dress, and even discusses facial shadows, etc.
For the beginner people watercolorist -- this book may be all they will need to achieve results that are satisfying and vital.
This book will make a dramatic difference in your portraits........1998-06-01
Having stumbled upon this book quite by accident, I was thrilled to find that the clear format, easily followed instructions, and wonderful graphics resulted in instant improvement of my watercolour portraits. There are suggestions about layers of color, highlighting, organizing your image, to name a few, that will add life and dimension to your work quickly and easily. This book will be a welcome addition to any reference library that a watercolor portrait artist is compiling.
Book Description
The wonders of Paris never fail to delight both visitors and inhabitants alike. Like many before him, artist Alain Bouldouyre, a long-time resident of the City of Lights, has been snared by the city's charms. My Paris Sketchbook documents his deep attachment to the capital, presenting a selection of sketches made over the past few years, all executed in watercolor.
Bouldouyre takes us on a very personal tour, visiting both the well-known and less frequented streets and sites the capital has to offer. My Paris Sketchbook evokes the true character of the city's particular palette of colors, its imposing historical architecture punctuated by discreet contemporary interludes, and the eternal romance and beauty of the Seine and its banks. This book will provide a treasured addition to the library for Paris lovers, while enthusiasts of watercolor will appreciate the artist's mastery of this highly popular medium.
Customer Reviews:
This Sketchbook Illuminates The City Of Lights!.......2003-11-16
No city touches my soul like Paris. She is the queen of old world charm, of romantic ambiance, bourgeois elegance and bohemian grit. Fine art and cuisine flourish here, as do sidewalk cafes, flea markets and Parisian attitude. The Pont-Neuf, along the banks of the Seine, is one of my favorite places in the world. Artist Alain Bouldouyre, a longtime resident of the City of Light is obviously another person who has been captivated by the delights of Paris. Monsieur Bouldouyre is an illustrator and the artistic director of Senso magazine.
This richly visual sketchbook, filled with Bouldouyre's elegant watercolors, brings the city to life, in all her glory. His sophisticated palette of colors and sensitive line brilliantly capture the historic architecture, contemporary street scenes, the beauty of the Seine and its banks. The Place de la Concorde is depicted at sunrise. Readers are given a poetic portrait of the various Arrondissements and their attractions at different times of day and night, in natural light and illuminated by streetlights. We are taken to the Louvre, the Opera and down less frequented side streets. Christophe Auduraud's narrative complements the illustrations. Auduraud is a film critic and novelist, and a past scholar of the Villa Médicis, the French cultural institute in Rome.
The book has a lovely flow to it. It is handsomely bound with a linen spine and a color-washed cover painting. The paper is a heavy cream colored, heavily ribbed stock with notes written in longhand alongside the vibrant sketches. If you have been to Paris, this is a wonderful remembrance. If you have never been there, Bouldouyre' watercolors capture the city's essence better than any photograph could.
JANA
Book Description
This is one of the rare watercolor guides that focuses on painting people while keeping novices in mind. Readers will enjoy satisfying, near-instant results as they take on the challenge of painting family and friends in a realistic style. Beginners can look forward to:
-19 full step-by-step demonstrations and 14 mini-demos done using proven, time-tested techniques
-A getting-started guide, complete materials lists, glossary and Quick Tips sidebars to begin painting immediately
-The signature No Experience Required! approach--fun, lighthearted and reliable
Book Description
A complete teaching course for eatercolor painting techniques for beginners to intermediates.
Books:
- Secrets to Drawing Realistic Faces
- Sultan Ibrahim Mirza's Haft Awrang: A Princely Manuscript from Sixteenth-Century Iran
- Take This Bread: A Radical Conversion
- The Big Book of Breasts
- The Chinese Brush Painting Bible: Over 200 Motifs With Step-by-Step Illustrated Instructions
- The Doubtful Guest
- The Draw 50 Way: How to Draw Cats, Puppies, Horses, Buildings, Birds, Aliens, Boats, Trains and Everything Else Under the Sun (Draw 50)
- The Enchanted Forest Chronicles: Dealing with Dragons / Searching for Dragons / Calling on Dragons / Talking to Dragons
- The Encyclopedia of Grasses for Livable Landscapes
- The Encyclopedia of Grasses for Livable Landscapes
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Meggs' History of Graphic Design
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
- Applied Sonochemistry: Uses of Power Ultrasound in Chemistry and Processing
- Don't Tell Anyone
- Graphic Design Solutions, Third Edition
- History: Fiction or Science
- Fabric, Form and Flat Pattern Cutting
- My Italian Sketchbook
- Christina Kubisch: Klangraumlichtzeit
- Plant Disease Management: Principles and Practices
General
| Instructional & How-To
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Daring Color: Mix and Mingle Watercolor on Your Paper
How to Make a Watercolor Paint Itself: Experimental Techniques for Achieving Realistic Effects
Stunning Crystal & Glass: The Watercolorist's Guide to Capturing the Splendor of Light
Finding Your Visual Voice: A Painter's Guide to Developing an Artistic Style
The Figure in Watercolor: Simple, Fast, and Focused (Simple Fast & Focused)
