The Watercolour Artist's Bible

Watercolour is a wonderful medium, but it does sometimes seem to have a "mind of its own," refusing to do quite what is required. The keys to success are good planning, constant practice and a thorough understanding of your materials, so if you are new to painting, start by trying out some of the techniques and projects in this book as well as experimenting with different colour mixes and types of paper.

Marylin Scott shares over 100 step-by-step sequences demonstrating how to paint a wide range of subjects, from landscapes to buildings, people, and still life. She also includes tips on presenting your finished work in a professional way, building a portfolio, and getting it seen.

• Master the art of watercolour painting with this comprehensive and compact take-anywhere guidebook
• Over 100 step-by-step sequences demonstrate how to paint a wide range of subjects, from landscapes to buildings, people, and still life
• Learn key techniques of the watercolour artist, from composition, brushwork, and blending to special effects like stippling and adding luster
• Includes hints on presenting your finished work in a professional way, building a portfolio, and getting it seen

Book Contents

INTRODUCTION 6

GETTING TO KNOW THE MEDIUM 8

Watercolour choices 10, Watercolour papers 12, Brushes 14, Water 17, Additional equipment 18, Choosing colours 20, Mixing greens 22, Mixing skin tones 24, Overpainting effects 26

TECHNIQUES 28

Basic techniques 30
Washes 30, Graded and variegated washes 32, Dropped-in colour 34, Brushwork 36, Analysis: Brushwork 38, Blending 40, Reserving white paper 42, Masking highlights 44, Analysis: Masking fluid 46, Soft and scratched highlights 48, Lifting out 50, Wet-on-dry 52, Wet-in-wet 54, Analysis: Wet-in-wet 56, Hard and soft edges 58, Underdrawing 60, Altering and erasing 62

Advanced techniques 64
Backruns 64, Brush drawing 68, Analysis: Brush drawing 70, Drawing with a stick 72, Dry brush 74, Analysis: Dry brush 76, Glazing 78, Gum arabic 80, Body colour 82, Analysis: Body colour 84, Spattering 86, Salt spatter 88, Stippling 92, Scraping back 94, Impressing and indenting 96, Wax resist 98, Line and wash 100, Analysis: Line and wash 102, Mixed media 104, Squaring up 106

Useful hints and tips 108
Managing your watercolours 108, Travelling light 114, Paper and paints 116, Special effects 118

SUBJECTS 120

Landscapes 122
Composition 122, Fields and flatlands 124, Rocks and mountains 126, Tutorial: Foreground figures 128, Weather 134, Trees 136, Skies 138, Tutorial: Using opaque paint 140

Waterscapes 142
Waves 142, Still water 144, Reflections 146, Tutorial: Sky and water 148

Buildings 150
Lighting 150, Atmosphere 152, Texture and pattern 154, Buildings and landscape 156, Interiors 158

Still life and flowers 160
Composition 160, Arranging 162, Colour schemes 164, Natural habitat 166, Garden settings 168, Botanical studies 170, Tutorial: Exploiting edge qualities 172

People 178
Figures in landscape 178, Portraits 180, Children and young people 182, The figure in context 184, Tutorial: Working from sketches 186

INDEX 188
CREDITS 192