Book Description
Every truly great watercolor painting hinges on the qualities of light and texture. In this concise guide, James Toogood shows readers exactly how to use these elements to add more drama, depth and believability to their work. Beginning and advanced artists will appreciate the wealth of instruction, including: - Clear explanations of natural and artificial light, as well as how light influences texture - Complete step-by-step demonstrations that show how a whole painting comes together - Basic color theory and pigment lessons to help artists get the most from their materials - Mini demonstrations with close-up views of techniques for light and texture - Drawing and composition basics to build a strong foundation for any piece of artwork
It's never been easier for painters to enrich their work with breathtaking light and texture!
Customer Reviews:
Warning.......2007-08-04
This is a good book for those who want to paint watercolour copies of photographs. Unfortunately, Mr Toogood doesn't show that part of his working method involved in tracing the photographs he copies. If you're looking for more expressive styles, study the work of Winslow Homer or John Singer Sargent. If you want a good instructional book on watercolour, check out Mastering Atmosphere and Mood in Watercolor by Joseph Zbukvic.
Incredible, Mr. Toogood!.......2007-03-27
Initially I bought this book for its beautiful and inspiring watercolors. Is there nothing this man can't paint? Breathtaking clouds, the wettest water I've ever seen in paint. You wouldn't know it from the cover, but the book also contains a chapter on portrait painting, step by step. He is as proficient in portrait painting as he is in landscapes, cityscapes, seascapes. I teach a "portraits in watercolor" class and I recommend this book to every student of the medium who is searching for an artist they can admire, who is willing to part with his "secrets".
Great Art, Great Instruction.......2007-01-25
There are watercolor books with great artwork, and then there are watercolor books with great instruction. This book combines both. Toogood's realistic style is gorgeous. His instructions are very clear and concise. I am a professional artist and own over a hundred books on painting, yet I was able to learn get quite a few tips from this author--expecially about painting water. An alltogether excellent book.
Incredible Light and Color in Water Color.......2006-08-22
This was not what I was looking for in watercolor books. I did not like the realism that he taught, but it may well be that for those looking for intense realism this may be a good book.
Had to own this one!.......2005-10-03
I checked this book out from my local library 3 times. When my husband saw it sitting on my table again he said, "Why don't you just buy it for yourself." I did. James Toogood has an incredible way of using watercolor to portray texture. His examples are clear and easy to follow. His paintings which are reprinted in the book are marvelously detailed and clear. I also recommend getting his demo DVD in which he shows several of the paintings in the book step-by-step. I learned so much from him.
Book Description
This giant treasury of watercolor florals brings together a popular medium with a popular subject matter. With North Light's Big Book of Painting Watercolor Flowers, readers can:
* Paint all their favorite flowers in watercolor--everything from wild daffodils and gladiola to hollyhock and mums
* Brush up on the basics, including composition, wet-into-wet washes, mixing color and stretching watercolor paper
* Create finished pieces in no time with easy step-by-step demonstrations
Page after page of gorgeous artwork and clear instruction make this the perfect choice for artists of all levels. Painting flowers has never been easier!
Customer Reviews:
North Light's Big Book of Painting watercolor flowers.......2005-08-23
Very nice book,looked like a new book
nice book.......2005-04-15
Very instructive. Many different styles of painting demonstrated in a way easy to follow. Very well worth the money.
Book Description
This liberating guide to pouring transparent watercolor makes this unusual technique achievable and fun. By following clear, encouraging instruction, watercolorists of all levels can experience the instant gratification of success as they learn to capture the elusive qualities of light in their own work.
Nationally renowned artist and workshop instructor Jean H. Grastorf breaks down her innovative pouring process with visual guidance that includes:
-Basic, step-by-step instruction that covers everything from choosing materials to finishing the painting
-Four full-length demonstrations and multiple mini-demos that outline her techniques and show how to build strong light-based compositions
-Detailed, hand-in shots that clearly illustrate how to create clean, transparent color and translucent glazes
-Design summary sidebars that pinpoint how each demonstration succeeds, along with quick-reference tips for the artist
-Paintings from contributing artists that show how to apply this technique to many different styles
Going beyond masking and glazing, Grastorf's masterful instruction empowers artists to tackle the larger challenge of loosening up, so they can push their art to a dynamic new level of luminosity and value.
Customer Reviews:
beautiful work, detailed and tedious methods.......2007-05-18
The book is nicely printed and formatted and contains detailed well illustrated instructions for creating watercolor paintings by a unique method. The method is tedious and requires careful drawing and use of several layers of masking fluid. This is not the traditional approach to watercolor painting but Grastorf achieves excellent results.
Need patience.......2007-04-06
I have painted in watercolor over 20 years. The processes described in this book are valid, however, one must have endless patience to spend the amount of time required to complete a project as directed by this author.
Pouring LIght.......2007-03-21
I was recently introduced to the technique of pouring watercolors to get some fabulous looks. I took a one-day workshop, which is a great way to start. The book is a great way to continue. The author gives her instructions clearly with plenty of pictures of describe what is happening. I've reviewed it a couple of times already and feel better equipped to do my fourth or fifth painting now. I highly recommend this book for use at home.
I recommend this book........2006-07-14
It is helpful, informative, and gives a new way to achieve unusual color patterns. Excellent.
Outstanding Workshop in a Book.......2006-04-19
If you want to grow as an artist and put some new "tools" in your watercolor know-how kit, this is the book for you. If you have never taken a workshop with Jean Grastorf or, even if you have, you owe it to yourself to buy this book and learn or reinforce her exciting and unusual method for achieving beautiful, luminous paintings. If you are expecting the average, ordinary same-old, same-old watercolor how-to book, you will be unexpectedly delighted and surprised with this volume. And when you see her work, so beautifully reproduced in this book, you will understand why Jean uses this technique to create her award-winning paintings.
Jean has done an outstanding job of demonstrating and explaining her method of pouring brilliant, glowing watercolors, and Northlight has done an outstanding job of setting up the book, complete with masking maps and other goodies that tell you exactly how to get from Point A to Point B to achieve the beautiful results possible only with this method. It's a book that every watercolorist should have on their shelf.
Customer Reviews:
OUTSTANDING INFORMATION!!.......2004-04-08
This book contains so much valuable information for artists!! No matter what medium you paint in, you will find the step by step help you need to paint with great techniques!!
A book crammed with helpful guidance.......2002-02-22
Wonderful book!!! I collect watercolors and have one of Skip's. His is clearly my favorite of all of my many watercolors, aside from one by my son. I was especially excited to find and to read Skip's book. What a great teacher he is! The book is clear and easy to follow and apply. Incidentally, I have it as one of my coffee-table books, and find myself regularly re-thumbing through it. Many of its illustrations are very pleasing to the eye, and capture the essence of points he makes so well in the text. Oh, to have just a small fraction of his watercolor talent!!!!
Inspiring, essential!.......2001-08-28
Whether you're a painter who has worked for years, or a 'newbie' you will appreciate and be inspired by Skip Lawrence's fresh and candid approach to more powerful painting via the tools of light and shadow. This is not a 'paint-like-I-do" guide, it's an intelligent conversation with examples of his and other terrific artists, to show how color and light and design all work together to create compelling and meaningful art that truly expresses your vision as an artist. This is a most essential and useful addition to any painter's resources, and it's valuable for both watercolorists and painters of other media as well.
Recommended.......1999-10-12
This book is much different than the usual technique books because it clearly stays with one goal - light. Everything in the book is organised around achieving the perception of light and shadow in your paintings. It is a wonderfully elegant and logical approach.
Great Teacher.......1999-09-30
Concise use of Paintings to convey clear thought
Book Description
Features unique "dark-to-light" painting technique!
*Second only to flowers, crystal and glass are the most popular subjects for watercolor painters *10 step-by-step demonstrations cover requested items, including cut crystal, jewel-toned vases, Italian beveled glass, Depression-era pieces, canning jars, copper tea kettles, and more *Author's unique method will attract a wide range of readers, from oil painters to watercolorists looking for a fresh approach
In Stunning Crystal and Glass, dramatic light-filled paintings become possible no matter what your skill level. Where most watercolorists paint from light to dark, expert Joyce Faulknor's teaches how to go from dark to light--a technique she says is easier to learn and ultimately adds more depth and texture to any work. Composition examples show ways to add flowers, colorful cloths, and reflective surfaces to backgrounds to create spectacular effects.
Customer Reviews:
Enjoyable!.......2007-09-05
This is the first book I've been able to follow easily and actually enjoy the whole process. Joyce has a very colorful way of describing the steps and making you feel like you are getting a one-on-one lesson from her. I was so pleased with my own painting results and look forward to my next painting following Joyce Faulknor's descriptive and fabulous book.
Complete book, covering light, set up, palettes and techniques.......2007-07-04
The art of painting glass or crystal is a challenge to most watercolorists. The shadow glancing through the crystal is suffused with the colors of the diffracted light and reflected light, making a play of not only dark and light, but of various colors in the shadow tones. Rendering this is not easy. Equally difficult--getting the reflections on facets and surfaces of glass objects and vessels.
Author and painter Faulknor paints with an ultra-realistic style--the shapes and lighting are almost surreal. She shows you how to set up your painting area, choose a palette of colors, photograph your still life or use reference photos and then paint your picture. There is another similar book by another author Painting Crystal and Flowers by Susanna Spann but it is more about flowing color and limited palettes. This book is great if you desire that super-real look with high-key lighting and very dramatic dark-and-light shadow and highlight. It is not easy, but the author makes a heroic effort to take you along with her and the amazing talent she possesses. Not for the faint of heart, but can really make you think about how you are painting still life.
Good book!.......2007-05-15
Book is well made and each lesson is done step by step, with plenty of details to discuss the process. Compared to other painting books out there, important details aren't just glossed over and I didn't feel lost going from one step to the other. Book does what it says and I would recommend it.
Not what I expected.......2007-01-11
As I went through the book and its tutorials. I couldn't get the same effects the author demonstrated. There is info missing. The ideas are good though.
Stunning Crystal and Glass.......2006-12-04
This author gives very clear instructions on how to paint these complex looking compositions into fun and beautiful images. She helps you to create a very "do able" puzzle piece that lights up your canvass.
Book Description
With two popular mediums and a favorite topic, Dramatic Light is sure to become a staple on every artist's bookshelf. This guide shows painters how to capture the elusive quality of light and make their work glow from within. Highlights include:
-Instruction in both watercolor and oils
-23 step-by-step demonstrations on seeing and painting light
-An in-depth look at basic light principles: transparency, translucency, luminosity and reflections
-Gorgeous transparent and translucent subjects such as glass jars, sheer curtains, stained-glass windows and water
Artists at every level will come away with a better understanding of light--and more dramatic paintings!
Customer Reviews:
Drool over the paintings, select your medium (oil or watercolor).......2007-07-04
The example paintings in this book (such as on the cover) are the drool-over sort that you want to paint but can't--or can but don't.
The author lets you in on secrets; how to paint translucence, using a banana and a fictious cellophane screen. Then you move on to copy an exercise of those translucent shopping bags from trendy little boutiques. After that, you will have little problem rendering translucent windows, bags and even diaphanous material over skin.
There are bags of sweets in cellophane, glass jars, sheer curtains, stained-glass windows and water. A lot of material on differently-lit surfaces and scenes. And the book is not just for watercolorists--oils are also included (by figuring out how oil works, you could probably extrapolate these studies to acrylics.)
A very nice book just to peruse, helpful for the actual examples and 23 different studies-in-progress. Big Thumbs Up.
City Artist.......2007-04-13
I purchased this book based on the available descriptions. It is well laid out and a really good book for a beginner. It includes demonstrations and description of needed materials to achieve the various desired light effects. It has lots of organized color photos and would be a good first painting book for special effects. I gave it 4 stars only because I am well beyond the beginner stage and was looking for more advanced information. If you are serious about starting out, this could be good for you.
Customer Reviews:
a beautiful wise book.......1999-09-22
i devoured this book with the same pleasure i'd get from reading a beautiful children's book. the illustrations -- step by step images of simandle paintings in process -- are beautiful to look at. the stories -- how to put together a painting, from first sketches to last touches of detail -- are simple and engaging. simandle's approaches to brushwork (including the palette knife), mixing colors, preserving white and developing visual rhythms are well worth learning. a very fine guide for the intermediate painter looking for more poetry in their watercolor technique ... one of my favorite watercolor books.
FOR EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO BECOME A LIGHT WATERCOLORIST.......1998-09-14
I am a Swedish girl who bought this book by chance and it turned out to be just what I was looking for. A wonderful book, a "must" for everyone who like bright, light, sparcling and fresh watercolor paintings. M Simandle teaches you really how to capture light and how important it is to use, as she calls it, "broken color" - many, many fragments of bright pigment, sparkling and contrasting with the white of the paper. A book that I HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
Wow! This is perfect for any watercolorist!!.......1998-06-20
I found Marilyn's unique approach and palette knife techinique a real find in the world of watercolor instruction books. The beautifully designed step by step latouts and gorgeous subject matter really hit the spot for the starving artist in all of us. Each lesson makes everyone an editor so we can go on to design and illustrate our own personal world in watercolor. I love this book!! (like you didn't notice)
Book Description
Anyone can learn these simple and fun methods for producing outstanding watercolor landscapes and flowers. One of the reasons that Roland's first book has been so popular (Fill Your Watercolors with Light & Color--over 65,000 copies sold) is that his techniques make watercolor fun and successful for a great number of otherwise frustrated artists.
Roland has a gift for simplifying the process of painting into a few readily understood steps. In this book, he expands the teaching of his pouring technique and goes into the underlying structure of a painting. He presents a unique way of teaching composition that will delight the reader. He then presents his three-step process of painting a landscape--masking to preserve the lights, pouring on the atmosphere and spattering the textures. Next, he shows two great techniques for painting flowers, a subject that does not appear in his first book. Also included is a chapter of fun experimental techniques that readers are sure to enjoy and another chapter that answers some frequently asked questions.
* Enables any artist to produce landscapes and flowers, two of the most popular painting subjects
* This author has a proven sales track record
Customer Reviews:
Fill Your Watercolor With Natures Light.......2007-05-25
Helpful well put together book, which encouraged trying new techniques
Great Service.......2006-08-10
It was a surprise when the book was delivered in a couple days, I had expected a week. It is in superb condition. Impressive seller and delivery.
Nice loose painting.......2003-08-19
This is a nice book for soft landscapes. However, I don't use it nearly as much as I thought I would. Check out the authors style first, and if you really like it...then the book is for you. I use some techniques, but the subject matter is a little soft for me. I didn't stay interested enought to use the lessons, but I did read it through and apply concepts to some of my own work.
These techniques are nothing short of fantastic!.......2001-12-24
I love these books by Roycraft. If you love painting landscape or natural subjects, you cannot go wrong reading this book. Roycraft's techniques look simple (a lot of splashing going on) but they are controlled and well thought out. If you love floral painting you should not miss his examples here of a peony and an iris. JUST Breathtaking. I picked up so many ideas from this book.
Not only are Roycraft's paintings beautiful to see, he knows how to communicate his techniques incredibly well. I'm glad I found this watercolor artist's books.
A power tool for watercolorists.......2001-08-09
Having read "enough" art technique books, I have learned that until one gets "down and dirty" trying out what is discussed in the book, then one does not actually spend the money wisely (on the book).
The same for this book. Beautiful artwork by the author. Did I say beautiful? No, BREATHTAKING, rather. However, to be able to generate beautiful artworks, the readers will need the following:
- An ability to SEE (light, dark, positive and negative space)
- Follow instructions from the book (which is PROBABLY the easy part, since it is rather well-written)
- A decent craftsmanship to finesse the final painting after the "mask and pour paints" phase of the process.
Briefly, I would think this is a power tool for watercolorists. How great the final products turn out to be will depend on the aforementioned factors.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Book Description
Capturing light is a challenge all watercolorists struggle with. Whether depicting sunlight, backlighting, shadows, or even textures, these artists need the instruction in Capturing the Magic of Light in Watercolor to create realistic-looking paintings. By breaking down the topic into simple concepts, best-selling North Light author Susan D. Bourdet shows watercolor artists at any level how to:
-Take reference photos with exciting light and translate them into a believable composition -Develop their painting skills, including masking, washes, glazing and textures -Use color and light hand-in-hand to build form and shape -Bring light out in a range of subjects, from wildlife and gardens to interiors to everyday objects
With over 20 step-by-step demonstrations, mastering this perennially popular topic has never been easier.
Customer Reviews:
Book as gift.......2007-01-04
This book was purchased as a birthday gift for our daughter-in-law, who is an amateur painter. It arrived just in time and we thank you for the service.
Alan Platt
Book Description
All in color! "Look over the shoulder" of Trevor Chamberlain and find out how an award-winning watercolorist interprets the fleeting effects of weather, light, and atmosphere in his work. See superb reproductions of landscape, marine and coastal, townscape, figure, and interior paintings, and understand the artist's approach to painting them. It's almost as if you're watching Chamberlain in action as you learn by example. A Selection of F&W's North Light Book Club
. Trim size: 8 1/2 x 11 1/4.
Customer Reviews:
Great.......2003-10-28
This book is more like reading an illustrated autobiography than a how to book. This is fine with me. Chamberlain is a master of the traditional British style landscape. With a limited palette of earth tones and simplified brush work he creates muted, moody landscapes that to my mind are more compelling than the brightly colored items in most watercolor instruction books. Its a matter of taste, but Chamberlain's work really speaks to me. He's more concerned with communicating the beauty of the world than his own artistic cleverness.
beautiful style.......2003-06-30
I like this book for the illustrations. Chamberlain has a fresh spontaneous style and draws well. The paintings illustrated are representational, easy to like, well composed and very attractive. I haven't paid much attention to the text...no criticism, I'm just burnt out long ago on how-to painting books. But this is worth while for the quality of the paintings.
Very inspiring.......2002-01-08
This is an awesome book. It has inspired me to paint on-site more and has given me some invaluable additions to my palette. His style is attractive to me because it's more masculine and similar to my own. His narrative is very inspirational and instructive. Reading it and viewing his work will get you out painting every time.
An enormously attractive plein-aire painter........1999-11-02
Trevor Chamberlain is one of the most authentic outdoor painters working today. He is a "painter's painter," and anyone who has ever picked up a brush wishes in his or her heart of hearts that Chamberlain's style could be his or her own. His books make this dream almost seem a reality.
Books:
- Indigo
- Josef Albers: To Open Eyes: The Bauhaus, Black Mountain College, and Yale
- Kaleidoscope: Ideas And Projects to Spark Your Creativity
- Kamikaze, Cherry Blossoms, and Nationalisms: The Militarization of Aesthetics in Japanese History
- Landscape Painting Inside and Out: Capture the Vitality of Outdoor Painting in Your Studio With Oils
- Landscape Painting Inside and Out: Capture the Vitality of Outdoor Painting in Your Studio With Oils
- Legacy of Honor: The Values and Influence of America's Eagle Scouts
- Leroy Neiman on Safari
- Michelangelo : The Complete Sculpture, Painting, Architecture
- Modeling the Head in Clay (Practical Craft Books)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Homepage Usability: 50 Websites Deconstructed
- Dragonology: The Complete Book of Dragons
- Vibrational Spectroscopy of Molecules and Macromolecules on Surfaces
- A Month Of Sundays: Searching For The Spirit And My Sister
- Change Your Life in Seven Days: The World's Leading Hypnotist Shows You How
- Death by Black Hole: And Other Cosmic Quandaries
- Born On The Fourth Of July
- Historical Grammar of the Visual Arts
- 864 Humorous Cuts from the Twenties and Thirties
- Morphological studies of the Kallymeniaceae
General
| Instructional & How-To
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Paint Watercolors That Dance With Light
Painting Water (Watercolour Tips and Techniques)
Painting Light and Shade: How to Achieve Precise Tonal Variation in Your Watercolors (Quarto Book)
Watercolor Painting Outside the Lines: A Positive Approach to Negative Painting
How to Make a Watercolor Paint Itself: Experimental Techniques for Achieving Realistic Effects
