First Steps Painting Watercolors (First Step Series)
by Cathy Johnson
Our Price: $25.75
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $25.27 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Cathy JohnsonBrand: Writers Digest
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1995-08-15
ISBN: 0891346163
Number of pages: 128
Publisher: North Light Books
Book Reviews of First Steps Painting Watercolors (First Step Series)
Book Review: This book "holds your hand" through the basics
Summary: 5 Stars
basically this is the most helpful of the three beginner books I got about watercolor painting. The book makes no assumptions, so you get to start from the ground up. Author Cathy Johnson tells you what materials to buy, and how to experiment with them before moving on the "easy-to-learn ways to paint"; followed by exercises in painting specific things such as trees, flowers and a little about still life items and animals; and finally a chapter comprising about 12 step-by-step demonstrations of complete paintings. The last chapter, I might add, is not a slavish copying exercise, but includes much general advice for planning and executing you own creative work.
A couple of points about materials. Johnson recommends that you only buy professional artist grade paints and materials, and claims that, at the time of writing (1995) you could get set up for around $50.00. You could expect to easily double that figure for such supplies in today's world. In fact, professional paints alone could run you over a hundred dollars and pro brushes are very pricey, too. My opinion is that you can do these exercises and projects quite well with good student-grade paints and supplies. Right now I am using a set of Grumbacher Academy paints, and that is working just fine. I also have large sheets of Bienenfang watercolor paper, which is useful because you can cut them up into small rectangles to practice things like "pulling a wash", AND you can paint on both sides of it. You will need a few basic brushes such rounds and flats, something called a "rigger", as well as a fan brush you can chop up a bit, and other brushes if desired. There is a full page devoted to ideas of how to play with your brushes to see what they can do--like jabbing, swooping, using the edge, etc. My favorite was the rigger, a supple long-haired brush you can practically dance with!
A word about progress: you will be doing all this brush stuff and trying techniques like dry brush and wet on dry brush for a while before you even start on making anything that "looks like something". Then you'll get some simple tree shapes such as poplar, cedar, oak, etc before moving on to grasses and skies. That is where I am right now. But these basic picture elements are also satisfying to produce. Today I finished page 55, working a couple of hours in the afternoons for a week or so. That is about half of the book, but I expect the later sections to be more involved. Will revisit this review at that point.
I hope this helps!
Summary of First Steps Painting Watercolors (First Step Series)
The absolute beginner's first strokes can now be fun and rewarding. First Steps offers friendly instruction that is clear, simple and encouraging.Watercolor Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Watercolor Books
Watercolour Pb (Step By Step Art School)by Jenny Rodwell
Hamlyn Octopus; Published: 1990-10-19; Paperback; Book
Watercolor Landscapes Step by Step (Dover Art Instruction)by Wendon Blake, Art Instruction
Dover Publications; Published: 1998-06-18; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.17
Price in other shops:
Watercolor Painting For Dummiesby Colette Pitcher
Wiley Publishing; For Dummies; Published: 2008-02-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.76
Price in other shops:
Painting in Gouache (Studio Vista Beginner's Guides)by Patricia Monahan
Sterling Pub Co Inc; Published: 1993-08; Paperback; Book
Best price: $137.94
Light in Watercolor (Studio Vista Guides)by Patricia Monahan
Cassell; Published: 1996-03; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $15.55
Price in other shops:
Watercolour for the Absolute Beginner: Great Value with More Than 70 Step-by-Step Exercisesby Alwyn Crawshaw, Sharon Finmark, Trevor Waugh
HarperCollins UK; Published: 2007-10-28; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.99
Price in other shops:
Collins Learn to Paint Watercolour With the Expertsby a Et Al Crawshaw
Harper Collins; Published: 2003-10-06; Hardcover; Book
The Artist's Watercolour Problem Solver: Practical Solutions to Common Watercolour Problemsby Artist Magazine
HarperCollins UK; Published: 2003-08-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $20.91
Price in other shops:
Watercolour Pencils: Everything You Need to Know to Get Started (Collins Learn to Paint Series)by Judy Martin
HarperCollins UK; Published: 1998-06-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.99
Price in other shops:
Watercolour Workshop: Collin's Workshopby John Lidzey
Harpercollins Pub Ltd; Published: 2000-10; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $48.96
Similar Books and other products
Reeves Water Colour Paint Sets set of 12Reeves; Reeves; Reeves; Kitchen; Art and Craft Supply
Best price: $5.21
Price in other shops:
Water Colour Paper Pad 9X12REEVES; Reeves; REEVES; Art and Craft Supply
Best price: $4.74
Price in other shops:
Strathmore 300 Series Watercolor Paper 11 in. x 15 in. pad of 12 wire boundStrathmore; Strathmore; Strathmore; Home
Best price: $5.49
Price in other shops:
Watercolor Tricks & Techniques: 75 New and Classic Painting Secretsby Cathy Johnson
North Light Books; Published: 2010-02-08; Spiral-bound; Book
Best price: $19.06
Price in other shops:
Royal & Langnickel Watercolor Easel Art Set with Easy to Store BagRoyal & Langnickel; Royal & Langnickel; Royal & Langnickel; Misc.; Art and Craft Supply
Best price: $29.88
Price in other shops:
Royal & Langnickel Aqualon Watercolor Painting Box SetRoyal & Langnickel; Royal & Langnickel; Royal & Langnickel; Misc.; Art and Craft Supply
Best price: $33.94
Price in other shops:
Watercolor Painting For Dummiesby Colette Pitcher
Wiley Publishing; For Dummies; Published: 2008-02-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.76
Price in other shops:
Strathmore 300 Series Watercolor Paper 9 in. x 12 in. pad pad of 12 wire boundStrathmore; Strathmore; Strathmore; Kitchen; Art and Craft Supply
Best price: $3.07
Price in other shops:
The Complete Watercolorist's Essential Notebook: A treasury of watercolor secrets discovered through decades of painting and experimentationby Gordon MacKenzie
North Light Books; Published: 2010-10-19; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $19.79
Price in other shops:
Watercolor Basics - Let's Get Startedby Jack Reid
North Light Books; Published: 1998-10-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.50
Price in other shops: